13 stunning natural wonders in the American West you have to see to believe
This is part of a new USA TODAY network project showcasing breathtaking – and perhaps, underappreciated – views throughout the United States. These are some of the most beautiful landmarks, scenic vistas and hidden gems you can truly treasure throughout the nation.
Here are a few of our favorites from the West:
Glacier Bay National Park, in southeast Alaska, is a jaw-dropping wilderness where massive tidewater glaciers calve into icy waters and humpback whales surface with breathtaking grace. The park is accessible primarily by boat or plane. Most visitors arrive via cruise ship or guided excursion from Juneau, which is reachable by air from Seattle. Once in the park, expect a surreal landscape of snow-capped mountains, deep fjords, and glacial ice in hues of aquamarine. — USA TODAY staff
One of Arizona's most photographed and Instagrammed sites, Horseshoe Bend is near the Arizona-Utah state line where the Colorado River flows. It's part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and is adjacent to the Navajo Nation. Horseshoe Bend gets its name from the sinuous river meander around a sandstone formation. It has a lot in common with the Grand Canyon: Horseshoe Bend was carved out by the Colorado River over millions of years and is one of Arizona's most visited natural landmarks. It costs $10 to park a car or $5 to park a motorcycle at Horseshoe Bend. The closest town is Page, about 5 miles north. More info at: horseshoebend.co. — Michael Salerno, Arizona Republic
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Joshua Tree National Park treats visitors to a glimpse of how two deserts, the Mojave and the Colorado, can make for extraordinary sights with its impressive rock formations and the curiously shaped Joshua trees. Springtime wildflowers, cactus, and other shrubs dot a landscape that is at times flat and in some other cases elevated, and a perfect lookout. Thousands of acres comprise Joshua Tree National Park, and all that undeveloped land makes for a noticeable quietness and serenity, making it easy to get great views of the sky. — Palm Springs Desert Sun
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Found in southern Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park is home to the tallest dunes in North America. The dunes themselves are an incredible sight to behold during the day. Still, the park is also an International Dark Sky Park at night that features some of the best stargazing opportunities in the nation. In a state with thousands of breathtaking views, the combination of daytime and nighttime sightseeing is unmatched at Great Sand Dunes National Park. — David Dishman, The Coloradoan
Rising 10,023 feet above sea level, Haleakalā is a dormant volcano whose summit often sits above the clouds – especially at sunrise, when the sky erupts in color and reveals the island of Maui below. Most visitors drive up from Kahului (about a two-hour trip), with many booking sunrise reservations months in advance. But beyond the iconic sunrise, Haleakalā offers hiking trails through surreal volcanic landscapes, rare native species, and stargazing unrivaled by anywhere else in Hawaii. — USA TODAY staff
The Sawtooth Mountains are a stunning mountain range in central Idaho that author Ernest Hemingway loved. Sawtooth National Recreation Area has more than 700 miles of trails, 300 mountain lakes and 40 major peaks. Come for the scenic views and stay for the hiking, fishing, boating, rafting and cycling opportunities. — Shelby Slade, USA TODAY Network
Located in scenic Glacier National Park in Montana, Swiftcurrent Lake features beautiful views and opportunities for hiking and tour boating. Swiftcurrent Lake is located in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, north of the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road and many hiking trails originate in the area. Swiftcurrent Lake is also home to the largest hotel in Glacier Park, the Many Glacier Hotel. Boat tours of Swiftcurrent Lake are available as well as shuttles for the many hiking opportunities in the area starting on July 1. — Grady Higgins, Great Falls Tribune
A few miles to the west of Las Vegas is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, affording breathtaking views of big blue skies, abundant wildlife and the eponymous red rocks. It's a popular spot for cycling, hiking, horseback riding and cooling off from the desert heat (its elevation is nearly 2,000 feet higher than the Strip); more than 1.2 million visitors make the trek each year. — Brett McGinness, Reno Gazette Journal
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Towering above the landscape in northern New Mexico, Shiprock (Tsé Bitʼaʼí ) stands over 7,000 feet in elevation on the Navajo Nation. The formation, a National Natural Landmark, is one of the most recognizable vistas in the state, having been featured in film, photography and postcards for decades. Before it gained popularity as a media darling, the Shiprock formation held a prominent place in Navajo history and culture. — Las Cruces Sun-News staff
Somehow, Oregon is home to only one national park. But if we're forced to pick just one place, an exploded volcano filled with some of the world's purest water in the deepest lake in the United States makes a logical choice. Crater Lake National Park gets so much snow that it's only open to summer activities for a relatively short time. So if you want to drive the Rim Road, take a boat tour, hike mountaintops, or swim the lake's bone-chilling water, focus your trip between July and September. — Zach Urness, Salem Statesman Journal
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Utah is known for its national parks and the plethora of scenic views they offer visitors. However, North Arch in Arches National Park may contain the most treasured of those views. Once visitors pull into the trailhead, the red rock arch is immediately visible, looking almost like a window into the heavens or a perfect frame for the gorgeous scenery surrounding it. — Shelby Slade, USA TODAY Network
Puget Sound, pronounced "Pew-jet," stretches from the Straight of Juan de Fuca, at the northernmost corner of the United States, down through Elliott Bay and the bays and intricate inlets to the south. The Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas border to the west and Western Washington's urban centers of Seattle and Tacoma are east of the body of water. — David Nelson, Kitsap Sun
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Though Grand Teton National Park is well-known for its majestic scenery, Jenny Lake may be the park's greatest gem. The cool, clear waters of the lake give visitors an awe-inspiring view of several mountains and valleys. The lake also offers many boating and hiking opportunities. — Shelby Slade, USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From deserts to glaciers: 13 breathtaking views in the Western US
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