Top 10 U.S National Parks for Wildlife Enthusiasts
Hello and welcome to the world of National Park exploration! If you revel in stunning scenery, exhilarating hikes and unbeatable wildlife encounters, you’ll appreciate this guide. I’m Eric and as an experienced National Park explorer and wildlife enthusiast, I’m bringing you my top 10 list of U.S National Parks for extraordinary animal sightings. I’m not just basing this on my personal experiences, but also on the statistical likelihood of spotting diverse wildlife in these parks.
The Beauty of Experiencing Wildlife in U.S National Parks
There’s nothing quite like being out there in the wilderness, a safe distance of course, observing magnificent animals like bison, bears, sharks and so many more in their natural habitats. These remarkable wildlife experiences are one of the key highlights of visiting U.S National Parks. Let’s embark on this wildlife journey, starting with number 10 on my list:
10. Channel Islands National Park, California
To get to this park, you have to venture into the Pacific on a boat or plane. Definitely worth the journey as you are very likely to spot several dolphins, sea lions, whales, porpoises and the exceptional Channel Islands Fox on the islands.
9. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
This park offers a wonderful chance to see moose, elk, deer, bears, coyotes, bighorn sheep, and a myriad of other wildlife. Be it at the park entrance, around different parts of the park or even on a trail, you’re bound to come across some magnificent wildlife!
8. Everglades National Park, Florida
Imagine coming face to face with gators and crocodiles, or bird-watching to your heart’s content with a variety of bird species such as rosette spoonbills, blue herons, wood storks, cormorants, and hingas. Everglades National Park delivers on all this and much more!
7. Glacier National Park, Montana
Bordering Canada, this park offers great wildlife viewing. Along with common sightings of deer, there are over 300 grizzly bears in the park! Keep a lookout for moose, mountain goats, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot an elk or a bighorn sheep.
6. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
From native bison and elk to bighorn sheep, every corner of the park offers magnificent sightings of diverse wildlife. Bird watchers will also appreciate spotting beavers and bald eagles. This park is teeming with wildlife opportunities!
5. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
One of the least visited parks, yet its wildlife sightings are simply extraordinary. It offers an amazing opportunity to see massive herds of bison as well as wild horses, elk, deer, pronghorn antelope, coyote, and the amusing prairie dog boroughs.
4. Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
Rich in wildlife sightings, Lake Clark National Park is a prime destination for spotting grizzly bears, wolves, moose, and dull sheep – four of the five ‘biggest’ Alaskan mammal species!
3. Denali National Park, Alaska
Spotting the ‘big five’ Alaskan mammals here is a must-have experience. With moose, dull sheep, caribou, and bears as permanent residents, it’s a wildlife paradise. Apart from these, you might also spot tarmigans and red foxes.
2. Katmai National Park, Alaska
Katmai is best for spotting brown bears – the crown jewel of the park’s wildlife. And if bears aren’t enough, look out for caribou and moose! The wildlife experience here is bound to leave you awestruck.
1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone takes the top spot for its awe-inspiring wildlife experiences. From bison, elk, deer, bear and bighorn sheep to countless smaller animals, Yellowstone guarantees a wildlife sighting on virtually every visit.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you found this guide insightful. Do share your favorite wildlife sightings or experiences in National Parks, and subscribe for more National Park content! See you next time.