Nature in the United States

Discover 453 places to experience unusual nature in the United States.

Maquoketa, Iowa

Maquoketa Caves State Park

A wonderland of caves in eastern Iowa.

Saline, Louisiana

Briarwood Nature Preserve

The home and birthplace of Caroline Dormon, a naturalist, artist, and the "mother of the Kisatchie National Forest."

Collapsed adit of May Lundy Mine.

Lundy, California

May Lundy Mine

A scenic hike in the High Sierra that ends at an old gold mine.

View looking up from Ocean Beach

San Francisco, California

Sutro Heights Park

A hidden gem, named after a San Franciscan icon, offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

The Martis Peak Lookout.

Kings Beach, California

Martis Peak Lookout

An early 20th-century fire lookout, still in intermittent use, preserves legacy fire-locating equipment.

Milford, Connecticut

Silver Sands State Park

This park is home to a massive bird sanctuary.

Sheep Range (skylined) east from Alamo Road.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Desert National Wildlife Refuge

Improbably, the largest wildlife refuge in the conterminous 48 states sits just northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Wilmington, Delaware

Enchanted Woods at Winterthur Gardens

An award-winning children’s garden enchants visitors at the intersection of natural beauty and fairy tales.

Sponsored by Visit Delaware

Devil's Honeycomb

Irondale, Missouri

Devil's Honeycomb

Some of the oldest exposed rock formations in the United States.

Seven Keyholes Slot Canyon

Seven Keyholes Slot Canyon

An unusual slot canyon in the Aztec/Navajo Sandstone has a cross-section like an inverted old-fashioned keyhole.

Winona, Missouri

Rocky Falls

A 40-foot waterfall flows into this unique natural swimming hole.

Tilted strata on the way out.

Barstow, California

Rainbow Basin

Colorful sedimentary rock layers provide opportunities both for hiking and photography.

Montauk Springs

Montauk Springs

Around 50 million gallons of water flow from this spring every day.

Cape Flattery

Neah Bay, Washington

Cape Flattery

At the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States lies a trail leading through an ancient forest to stunning cliff-side vistas and massive oceanside caves.

Panorama of the Little Niagara Falls.

Sulphur, Oklahoma

Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Once the smallest park in the national system.

The Clam sitting upon its pedestal.

Cheboygan, Michigan

The Man-Killing Clam

This small, nautical gift shop is home to a 500-pound behemoth.