7 Best Natural Wonders To Visit In The United States This Year

The United States is perhaps the most diverse country in the world when it comes to its landscapes. Whether you want to travel through arctic tundra, arid deserts, tropical swamps, ocean-sized grasslands, or whatever else, its vast borders pretty much have it all. Within these various biospheres, you are bound to run into a natural wonder or two.

From towering waterfalls to impossibly deep canyons and more, here are seven must-visit places in 2025, all located in each corner of the U.S.

General Sherman Tree

The General Sherman Tree stands within Sequoia National Park in California and is recognized as the largest tree in the world by volume. While taller trees do exist, none match General Sherman's overall mass.

This giant sequoia measures about 275 feet in height and has an astonishing base circumference exceeding 102 feet! The tree’s trunk alone contains over 52,000 cubic feet of wood. Its estimated age ranges between 2,200 and 2,700 years, placing it among the oldest living organisms on Earth as well.

Located along the Congress Trail in the Giant Forest, the tree has become a central feature of this renowned parkland. It is accessible via a paved trail with educational signs detailing its history and significance. Keep in mind that seasonal conditions affect the best viewing times. Summer and early fall draw the most visitors, while winter offers quieter access and the possibility of a light dusting of snow covering the scenery.

This real-life giant remains a powerful symbol of the iconic Sierra Nevada Mountains, making it a must-visit for anyone adventuring around SoCal.

Thor's Well

Thor’s Well can be found on the Oregon Coast near Cape Perpetua. It is a natural sinkhole carved into a volcanic basalt shoreline, often described as the “drainpipe of the Pacific,” as it appears to swallow seawater during high tide. This creates the eye-catching illusion of an endless hole in the ocean, although it is only about 20 feet deep in reality.

In reality, the well is a collapsed sea cave connected to underwater channels, which causes water to surge in and out with dramatic force. Most active during incoming tides and storm conditions, waves often crash over the surrounding rocks and pour into the opening before being expelled again.

Many locals will suggest coming about an hour before high tide, so that you can peer down into the empty well. Late spring is probably the best time of the year to go, as the weather is also a bit warmer, yet crowds tend to be thinner.

While visually quite striking, note that the site is also quite hazardous, too, with strong currents and slippery rocks making close observation dangerous. Please maintain a safe distance while checking out this incredible destination.

Thor’s Well is accessible via the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, which hosts viewing platforms and coastal trails offering safe vantage points. Lesser known than some of the other features on this list, it is an essential stop for any road trip on the Pacific Coast.

Denali

Recently renamed to "Mount McKinley", the better-known title of Denali means “the tall one” in the Koyukon Athabaskan language, a very appropriate name for this impressive mountain. Located in Alaska’s interior, it is the highest peak in North America at 20,310 feet. Rising abruptly from the surrounding subarctic lowlands, it is one of the greatest vertical reliefs on Earth, climbing nearly 18,000 feet from base to summit (and 20,310 feet above sea level).

The mountain is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve, which includes over six million acres of wilderness. This landscape is highly diverse, ranging from boreal forest to alpine tundra and glaciated peaks, with glaciers such as Kahiltna stretching more than 40 miles. The area supports a diversity of wildlife, too, including grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves, and Dall sheep, all thriving in this truly wild, unfenced ecosystem.

Denali is renowned for being a formidable climbing challenge. Severe cold, unpredictable weather, and the thin air caused by its northern latitude create harsh conditions for mountaineers, but also make summitting a sought-after accomplishment for many.

While the park is accessible by a single road, travel beyond the first dozen or so miles is restricted to buses, preserving its remote feel and minimizing negative human impact. With Alaska's long, grueling winters, June and July are generally the peak times to arrive, although that time of year also means lots of mosquitoes!

Everglades

The Everglades rest in southern Florida, forming the largest subtropical wetland ecosystem in the country. Covering roughly 1.5 million acres, this slow-moving “river of grass” flows from Lake Okeechobee down toward Florida Bay, creating an amazingly diverse environment of sawgrass marshes, mangroves, cypress swamps, and coastal estuaries. Its seasonal water patterns primarily shape these habitats and sustain a wide range of species, including the endangered Florida panther, West Indian manatee, and American crocodile.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve, the Everglades are vital for water filtration and flood control, and provide habitats for nearly 400 bird species. Interestingly, they are also the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles coexist.

Situated just west of Miami, popular access points for human visitors include Shark Valley, known for its observation tower and wildlife viewing, and Flamingo, which offers further opportunities for boating, fishing, and camping. This is a yearlong destination too, as Florida's famously warm weather continues through pretty much all seasons. Winter, however, brings lower levels of humidity and is quite a bit drier overall, meaning fewer bugs as well.

Unfortunately, the Everglades face a variety of ongoing environmental challenges, such as water diversion and pollution due to human development, and invasive species (namely, an invasion of Burmese pythons and boa constrictors), making current restoration efforts a priority for conservation in this ecologically important region.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon, located in northern Arizona, is one of the most significant geological formations in the entire world, let alone the United States. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, it stretches approximately 277 miles in length, up to 18 miles in width, and reaches depths of more than a mile! The exposed rock layers deep within it reveal nearly two billion years of Earth’s geological history, making it a key site for studying tectonic activity, erosion, and sedimentation.

Another designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the canyon is divided into the North and South Rims, each offering distinct viewpoints and ecological zones. The South Rim is the most developed and easily accessible, with lots of modern facilities, while the North Rim remains less visited and more remote. Notable overlooks such as Desert View, Moran Point, and Bright Angel Trailhead provide panoramic vistas of the layered cliffs and the river below.

Beyond its extreme beauty, the Grand Canyon serves as an ecological refuge for the region's wildlife, hosting unique plant and animal species adapted to its varied elevations. Furthermore, its remoteness has made it tough for humans to reach many of the canyons' various plateaus and depths, meaning that many spots within still have never been tread upon (and potentially ruined) by man.

Summers here are hot, and winters can be quite cold (with snowfall common), so spring and fall boast more manageable, comfortable conditions for exploration. Remember that regardless of the season, nights usually get cold in this arid region of the country, so bring a jacket if you plan to be out.

Mammoth Cave

Mammoth Cave in central Kentucky is the world’s longest known cave system, currently with 426 miles of surveyed passageways. As with many great geological wonders of today, its formation began millions of years ago, in this instance as acidic groundwater dissolved layers of limestone, creating a vast underground network of tunnels, chambers, and deep shafts.

The cave hosts a unique array of animals that have somehow survived its lightless reaches, including rare eyeless fish and cave-adapted invertebrates. It also preserves traces of early human activity, with archaeological evidence showing that Native Americans explored its passages over 4,000 years ago. Later, in the 19th century, Mammoth Cave became a saltpeter source used in gunpowder production during the War of 1812.

Now, the site is protected as Mammoth Cave National Park and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its complex geology continues to attract researchers studying karst landscapes and subterranean ecosystems. However, you can choose from a range of tours, from short walks to multi-hour spelunking experiences, providing access to notable features such as the Rotunda and "Frozen Niagara."

Although the cave maintains a temperature of about 54 degrees year-round, it is recommended to come before winter if you want to check out the above-ground offerings. If you don't mind the cold and snow, winter here is substantially quieter.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls straddles the border between the United States and Canada, where the Niagara River connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Formed around 12,000 years ago during the last Ice Age, the falls consist of three sections: Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side, and American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls on the U.S. side, totaling a height of about 170 feet. Combined, they move 3,160 tons of water per second, making Niagara one of the most powerful waterfalls on the planet.

Must-see viewpoints include Prospect Point and Goat Island on the U.S. side, both offering direct views of the cascades. For a closer experience, the Cave of the Winds walkway and Maid of the Mist boat tours will bring you near the base of the falls. Be sure to bring a rain poncho to stay dry if you opt for a boat tour!

Beyond its unmistakable size, the falls play a crucial role in regional hydroelectric power production, supplying energy to large parts of New York and Ontario. Moreover, the surrounding Niagara escarpment boasts tons of trail networks (including some great cycling paths) and serves as an important migratory stopover for birds, making it a hotspot for nature and landscape photographers alike.

Different seasons bring different experiences at Niagara Falls. Winter sometimes ices over portions of the river, creating truly stunning and unique scenery, while late spring, summer, and fall allow you to easily navigate the various foot and cycling paths in the area.

See These Impressive Natural Features in 2025

The United States is clearly home to an extraordinary range of natural wonders, each shaped by powerful forces of geology, water, and time. From immense mountains to hidden caves and dynamic coastlines, these sites are not just cool tourist destinations, but vital aspects of the environments around them. Appreciating and preserving them ensures future generations can experience their scale and significance as well.