The 5 Best National Parks for Sunrises and Sunsets

Similar to yesterday’s top 5 National Parks feature, by their very nature all National Parks have amazing sunrises and sunsets. Having said that, some are a little better than others. Without further ado, here is today’s list.

5) Shenandoah National Park: Fighting off strong challenges from Canyonlands National Park and Haleakala National Park is Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. Shenandoah’s Skyline Drive runs north/south atop the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains giving a gorgeous sunrise on one side of the road and an amazing sunset on the other side. Fog is common in the mornings creating a fabulous sunrise.

Sunrise in Shenandoah National Park.

4) Acadia National Park: Next on this list is Acadia National Park. From the summit of Cadillac Mountain you can be the first in the USA to see the sunrise. Really the views from any of the mountains in this park are amazing.

View from Champlain Mountain.

3) Grand Canyon National Park: 3rd on our list is also one of the most visited. Sunrise and sunset bring out amazing colors in the rocks that washed out by the bright sun during the day.

Mather Point.

2) Saguaro National Park: The final two entries on our list are very close. Both are amazing and beautiful. At #2 is Saguaro National Park. A sunset here with a giant saguaro cactus in the foreground is almost as good as it can get.

Saguaros can grow over 40 feet tall!

1) Joshua Tree National Park: California’s Joshua Tree National Park has the best sunsets in the National Park system. Look at this sunset and try to disagree. Congratulations Joshua Tree National Park!

Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park.

Picture of the Day: Sunrise in Shenandoah National Park

Check out this gorgeous sunrise in Shenandoah National Park. It looked more like a painting than a picture to me. rk

The Best National Parks To See Autumn Foliage This Year

National Parks are known for their beauty whether that is desert landscapes or majestic mountains.   Perhaps the most beautiful time of the year to visit the National Parks is in the fall.   The cooler weather and changing colors of the leaves makes for a memorable visit in the National Parks.   The best National Parks to see the autumn foliage in my opinion are as follows:

Acadia National Park in Maine is gorgeous in the fall.   This park features Birch, Beech, Spruce, Oak, and Maple trees.   The panoramic views are best seen from Cadillac, Champlain, or Mansell Mountains in the park where you can see the fall colors against a backdrop of the dark blue Atlantic Ocean.

Shenandoah National Park in Virginia has the best scenic drive to see Autumn colors.   The Skyline Drive travels for over a hundred miles across the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains.   This park features Chestnut, Red Oak, Birch, and Yellow Poplar trees.

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is one of the few National Parks in the west to feature fall foliage.  Here the Yellow Aspens reflected in the lakes with the Grand Tetons situated behind them make this park even more beautiful in the fall.

Cuyahoga National Park in Ohio is notable because it offers a railroad tour through the most beautiful parts of the park to see the changing colors of the leaves.   The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad allows you to relax in style while enjoying the Birch, Oak, Maple, Hemlock and Sycamore trees.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee has a later season of fall foliage due to being farther south.   Even into mid November you can see the striking colors of the Oaks, Sweetgum, Red Maple, and Hickory trees.