These 6 Rocky Mountain National Parks, in my opinion, are some of the most amazing national parks and wild places in all of the United States.  You need to get out and visit them now for your chance to see wildlife, mountains, and beautiful landscapes.

The Western United States has some of the most dramatic and beautiful landscapes in the world.  Spring, summer, and fall are great times to visit and explore them with your family.  I’ve spent a lot of time traveling around the US and Rockies, both pre kids and with my kids.  It is hard to choose my top parks, but here you go.  These all hold special places in my heart and I have fond memories of them.  Get outside today and make sure you go visit them soon.  Don’t wait!

The 6 Rocky Mountain National Parks You Need To Visit

*Remember at any of these Rocky Mountain National Parks your kids can work to become Junior Rangers.

Yellowstone National Park – Wildlife and Geyers

The first National Park in the world is truly a special place.  Don’t be put off by the crowds because there are a lot of cool things at this park.  You can drive around and feel like you are on safari as you watch herds of bison and look out for predators.

Or you can park at one of the many road side stops and take a short walk to check out geysers.  Of course, you have to stop by and watch Old Faithful put on its show.

Grand Teton National Park – Wildlife, Mountains, and Lakes

Wow!  This park is one of the most dramatic as the Tetons seem to stand straight up from the valley floor.  There are a number of somewhat shorter hikes you can take here to get up towards the mountains.  Or you can wander around Jenny Lake.

Make sure you take the time to relax, picnic, and play at one of the many lakes.  A swim in the waters feel so nice.

Rocky Mountain National Park – Big Mountains

Admittedly, I haven’t spent as much time in this park as the others, but it is also awesome.  This is one of the two parks to go to if you want to get into big mountains.

Glacier National Park – Bears, Moose, Lakes, and Mountains

This park is as far north as you can get in the Rocky Mountains and still be in the USA.  Thus, be warned that in the middle of summer it can still get quite cool here.  We spent a week here in summer and were caught off guard by the cold temps.

We saw many big lakes, glaciers, and wildlife.  I recall seeing a Moose with two babies cross a river right near us.  We also had the experience of watching Grizzly bears from our campsite on the mountains around us!  Tip – be sure to bring binoculars.

Mesa Verde National Park – Ruins, Cliff Dwellings

This is the park to visit if you are ready to see some ruins and learn about the history of the region. It is pretty cool to climb down old wooden ladders with a ranger who then explains the cliff dwellings to you.  There are lots of cliff dwellings and ruins to explore.

Keep in mind that to visit the better ones you need to schedule a guided walk with a  ranger.  It is definitely worth it, both to see the ruins and to learn from the ranger.

Capitol Reef National Park – Desert, Canyons, Red Rock

This is a lesser known park in Utah that we enjoyed visiting as a family.  There are many short walks to arches, narrow canyons, and great look outs.

At the end of the day you can camp in an old apple orchard or stay in one of the hotels in the nearby town of Torrey.