10 National Parks That Are Instagram Gold
The U.S. has over 400 national parks all over the country. Choosing which one to visit can be pretty tricky, especially if you’re trying to judge them by how beautiful each looks in a picture.
If you’re on Instagram, you’ve surely seen your friends and family share magnificent pictures of the great outdoors. But what’s the best national park to visit where you can snap photos of nature to impress your Instagram followers?
DeerHuntingGuide lists out the most Instragrammable national parks. These 10 parks have an excellent track record of impressing those who visit them.
Ranking the Parks
The list is ranked according to DeerHuntingGuide’s findings on Instagram. They searched the number of hashtags on posts mentioning national parks to create this top 10 list.
The findings lean toward what Instagram users consider to be the most picturesque and shareable on their accounts. In what might be seen as a surprise, the most visited national park in the U.S., the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, doesn’t make the most Instragrammable list at all.
So, we encourage you to consider visiting America’s national parks that aren’t on this list as well.
1: Yosemite National Park
Number of hashtags: 1,616,744
Yosemite’s iconic granite cliffs, majestic waterfalls, and lush meadows have made it a favorite among nature enthusiasts and photographers alike. Make sure to clear up extra space on your phone for all the photography opportunities Yosemite offers.
2: Zion National Park
Number of hashtags: 1,481,402
Renowned for its huge red rock formations and stunning slot canyons, Zion National Park promises captivating vistas at every turn. From the breathtaking views along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to the iconic Angel’s Landing hike, this park is a paradise for landscape photographers seeking vibrant natural colors.
3: Yellowstone National Park
Number of hashtags: 1,294,642
As America’s first national park, Yellowstone boasts an array of geothermal wonders, including the iconic Old Faithful geyser and the vibrant Grand Prismatic Spring. Its diverse landscapes range from colorful hot springs to lush forests and majestic waterfalls.
4: Glacier National Park
Number of hashtags: 1,109,166
With its soaring snow-capped peaks, pristine alpine lakes, and expansive glaciers, Glacier National Park is a
photographer’s dream. Whether you’re capturing the iconic views along the Going-to-the-Sun Road or exploring the park’s remote backcountry trails, Glacier promises unparalleled beauty and tranquility.
5: Rocky Mountain National Park
Number of hashtags: 789,606
Rocky Mountain National Park beckons adventurers with its rugged mountain landscapes, alpine meadows, and abundant wildlife. The stunning vistas of Trail Ridge Road and the serene beauty of Bear Lake offer endless photo opportunities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
6: Joshua Tree National Park
Number of hashtags: 738,261
Whether you’re capturing the park’s iconic Joshua trees silhouetted against a colorful desert sunset or exploring its hidden oases and ancient rock formations, Joshua Tree promises unforgettable photo opportunities.
7: Arches National Park
Number of hashtags: 692,794
Arches National Park is home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, making it a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. You can visit the iconic Delicate Arch or take a photo of the stunning red rock formations of the Fiery Furnace.
8: Grand Teton National Park
Number of hashtags: 624,512
Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Grand Teton National Park boasts breathtaking mountain landscapes, pristine alpine lakes, and abundant wildlife. Whether you’re capturing the jagged peaks of the Teton Range mirrored in the glassy waters of Jackson Lake or exploring the park’s lush valleys and meadows, Grand Teton promises unforgettable photo opportunities year-round.
9: Acadia National Park
Number of hashtags: 608,158
Acadia National Park’s rugged coastline, granite peaks, and dense forests offer a picturesque backdrop for outdoor adventures and stunning photography. Seeing the breathtaking cliffs along the Park Loop Road is a must.
10: Olympic National Park
Number of hashtags: 597,802
From its rugged Pacific coastline and lush temperate rainforests to its towering snow-capped peaks and pristine alpine lakes, Olympic National Park offers a diverse range of landscapes to explore and photograph. Take a long hike through the park’s old-growth forests to experience this amazing park’s unparalleled beauty and tranquility.
Can’t-Miss Sights
With 429 national parks currently open in the U.S., the number one most Instagrammable park is Yosemite National Park. The park features lots of natural wonders, including the largest block of granite in the world, called El Capitan, which towers 3,000 feet tall. Notably, the award-winning documentary Free Solo features free soloist climber Alex Honnold attempting to climb El Capitan without a rope.
Yosemite also has America’s tallest waterfall with a drop of 2,425 feet named Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Falls went through a large restoration to maintain its natural beauty, which wrapped up in 2005. The trail system located near the base of the waterfall was improved. Also, the natural habitat in the 52 acres around the falls was revitalized.
Largest National Park
Yellowstone National Park, the third most Instagrammable national park, also comes in eighth on the list of largest national parks in the U.S., spanning 2.2 million acres. Another on the list is Joshua Tree National Park, which is the 15th largest park in the U.S. with almost 800,000 acres.
Wrangell St. Elias National Park in Alaska is not on the most Instagrammable list, but it is ranked first when it comes to the largest parks in the U.S. The park is spread across approximately 13 million acres. Alaska is the largest state, so it’s no surprise it contains the four largest national parks within its 586,000 square miles.
Oldest and Newest Parks
Rocky Mountain, Glacier, and Yosemite are some of the oldest national parks on the list, with Yellowstone National Park as the oldest ever. President Ulysses S. Grant designated Yellowstone the first national park on March 1, 1872.
The newest park on the list, Joshua Tree National Park, was designated a national park in 1994. The beauty of the park has influenced several artists to feature visuals from its scenic views or write songs about it, including The Eagles, U2, and Childish Gambino.
Most and Least Visited States
Data company YouGov compiled the states Americans have visited the most and least. How many of the states on their list have you been to?
Most and Least Visited States by Americans
10 Top Foodie-Friendly American Cities
Calling all foodies! These are the top culinary hotspots in the US that are both affordable and appetizing.
