The West's Best National Parks – Sunset Magazine

Brown Bears at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, Alaska

Indulge Your Adventurous Side with These Outdoor Excursions

Climb a tree, go rafting, even get pulled behind a horse with one of these adventurous Western activities.

September 9, 2026

September 9, 2026

The Iconic Western Destinations Everyone Should Visit at Least Once

Put these on your bucket list.

September 9, 2026

September 9, 2026

These Are the West’s Best Campsites, According to People Who Actually Camp There

Consider these for your next trip.

August 21, 2026

August 24, 2026

Steamboat Rock Dinosaur National Monument

This National Monument Is the Closest Thing to a Real-Life Jurassic Park

Discover the place where dinosaurs once roamed.

August 14, 2026

August 21, 2026

The Latest From Sunset

Grand Canyon at Sunset

National Parks Are Offering Free Entry on Veterans Day—Here’s How to Plan Your Visit

Make your reservation now.

November 6, 2026

November 5, 2026

Venice Front Room with Fireplace

Decorating & Design

This Is Why Your Home Needs Its Own Merch

Custom matchbooks, coasters, and other little keepsakes are bringing hotel-style souvenirs home. Here’s how to make the hosting trend your own.

November 6, 2026

November 5, 2026

Gifts & Shopping

These Are the Winners of the 2026 Sunset Best Product Awards

Just in time for the holidays, we tested the things that make life in the West work better—from kitchen, garden, and travel gear, to everyday comforts. Here are the standouts worth giving or keeping.

November 5, 2026

November 5, 2026

Sweet-Potato Pecan Pie

15 Thanksgiving Pie Recipes That Aren’t All Pumpkin

We love a classic pumpkin pie, too, but there are other fall flavors to tuck into a crust. (Don’t worry; we didn’t neglect the big squash entirely!)

November 5, 2026

November 5, 2026

Explore Our National Parks

Grand Canyon Desert View

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Grand Canyon

The eternal yet ever-evolving Grand Canyon is as mystical and awe-inspiring as ever.

May 19, 2026

September 20, 2026

Crate Lake National Park

Here’s How to Support and Protect Our National Parks

What’s happening to America’s national parks—and how you can help.

August 13, 2025

October 6, 2025

Cathedral Cove

These Are the Best Ways to Explore the Channel Islands

Kenan Chan shares secrets of Channel Islands National Park’s underwater wilderness.

August 11, 2025

June 1, 2026

Firefall Ranch Yosemite Cabins Across Pond

5 New Ways to Explore Yosemite

One of America’s oldest national parks has a whole lot of newness nowadays.

August 8, 2025

August 5, 2026

For a View to Wow You

Grand Canyon Mohave Point

These Are the Best Viewing Spots in the Grand Canyon

Five views you can’t miss.

May 21, 2026

June 2, 2026

Outdoor Adventure

Top Wow Spots of Arches National Park

The spots you can’t go to Arches without seeing

April 29, 2016

April 30, 2018

Outdoor Adventure

Top Wow Spots of Bryce Canyon National Park

From Sunrise Point to the night sky, Bryce Canyon National Park doesn’t disappoint in views

May 3, 2016

April 30, 2018

Bison in Lamar Valley, one of the things to do at Yellowstone

Top Wow Spots of Yellowstone National Park

There are more things to see in Yellowstone National Park than you can count, but these 13 places—from giant geysers to valleys stocked with wildlife—can’t be missed

July 1, 2009

January 13, 2023

Top Wow Spots of Grand Teton

High in Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park shows you the West in a new and beautiful light

June 8, 2009

April 30, 2018

Top Wow Spots of Channel Islands National Park

From stunning views to some of the world’s rarest trees to amazing marine life

July 23, 2015

April 30, 2018

Woman near Emerald Lake at autumn in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

Top Wow Spots of Rocky Mountain National Park

From jaw-dropping views to lush, wildlife-filled meadows, these are the park’s can’t miss attractions

July 21, 2015

January 28, 2022

Glacier National Park’s Top Wow Spots

Fall in love with the park’s unforgettable scenery―sapphire lakes, knife-edge ridges, hanging valleys, and towering peaks

July 7, 2009

November 5, 2019

More Stories in National Parks

National Parks Are Offering Free Entry on Veterans Day—Here's How to Plan Your Visit

National Parks Are Offering Free Entry on Veterans Day—Here’s How to Plan Your Visit

America Just Got a New National Park—Here's How to Plan Your Visit

America Just Got a New National Park—Here’s How to Plan Your Visit

The Iconic Western Destinations Everyone Should Visit at Least Once

The Iconic Western Destinations Everyone Should Visit at Least Once

Indulge Your Adventurous Side with These Outdoor Excursions

Indulge Your Adventurous Side with These Outdoor Excursions

These Are the West's Best Campsites, According to People Who Actually Camp There

These Are the West’s Best Campsites, According to People Who Actually Camp There

This National Monument Is the Closest Thing to a Real-Life Jurassic Park

This National Monument Is the Closest Thing to a Real-Life Jurassic Park

California State Parks Are Cracking Down on Reservation No-Shows

California State Parks Are Cracking Down on Reservation No-Shows

These Are the Road Trips Worth Taking for America's 250th Birthday

These Are the Road Trips Worth Taking for America’s 250th Birthday

These Are the Best Viewing Spots in the Grand Canyon

These Are the Best Viewing Spots in the Grand Canyon

The Best Places to Stay in the Grand Canyon

The Best Places to Stay in the Grand Canyon

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Grand Canyon

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Grand Canyon

Spring Is the Best Time to See Baby Animals in the Wild. Here's Where to Spot Them Safely.

Spring Is the Best Time to See Baby Animals in the Wild. Here’s Where to Spot Them Safely.

A Once-in-a-Decade Wildflower Superbloom Is Sweeping Across Death Valley

A Once-in-a-Decade Wildflower Superbloom Is Sweeping Across Death Valley

Visiting National Parks Without Reservations in 2026? Read This First

Visiting National Parks Without Reservations in 2026? Read This First

These National Parks Are Even More Spectacular in Winter

These National Parks Are Even More Spectacular in Winter

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