Some of the most breathtaking spots on Earth are right in our own backyard, and you don’t even need a passport to experience them. Yes, the U.S. is home to some incredible places that truly justify the phrase “America the Beautiful.”
Whether you’re looking for stunning geological formations, intense natural colors, or otherworldly terrains, these destinations will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a sci-fi movie.
Here are 20 surreal places in America you need to visit before you die.
Image Credit: Depositphotos.com.
1. Mendenhall Glacier Caves, Alaska
Located in the Mendenhall Valley near Juneau, these otherworldly caves form beneath a 12-mile-long glacier. The caves’ hypnotizing blue hue is a result of light filtering through the dense ice, creating an ethereal glow. The caves constantly change due to the melting and shifting glacier, so each visit can offer a new and unique view.
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2. Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
Horseshoe Bend, located near Page, Arizona, is a striking meander in the Colorado River. This natural wonder, with its dramatic 270-degree bend, offers breathtaking views from a cliff that drops 1,000 feet down to the river. The horseshoe shape was formed over millions of years through the relentless erosive force of the river.
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3. Oneonta Gorge, Oregon
Oneonta Gorge is a hidden gem in the Columbia River Gorge. It’s like walking through a fairy tale with moss-covered walls and a creek you have to wade through to reach a stunning waterfall.
The gorge has earned the title “one of the state’s most dramatic chasms” thanks to its stunning array of 50 types of trees, wildflowers, and flowering plants. The 25-million-year-old basalt canyon was designated by the US Forest Service as a botanical area, hosting rare aquatic and woodland plants, lichens, and mosses unique to the Columbia River Gorge.
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4. Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
Stretching over 30,000 acres, the Bonneville Salt Flats are a vast, white expanse of salt crust left behind by an ancient lake. This stark and flat landscape offers a surreal experience that feels almost otherworldly.
It’s famous for land speed records, so don’t be surprised to see high-speed vehicles testing their limits.
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5. Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington
Every spring, the Skagit Valley in Washington transforms into a vibrant carpet of blooming tulips. This colorful display attracts visitors from all over, especially during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which runs from April 1-30. The fields, ablaze with reds, yellows, purples, and more, make for stunning photos.
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6. Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
Located in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States. Its vivid colors, created by microbial mats around the edges, make it look like a giant, natural rainbow.
The intense colors of the spring are most vibrant during the summer when microbial growth is at its peak.
Image Credit: Ajith Kumar/ istockphoto.
7. Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach is famous for its iconic Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack that rises dramatically from the Pacific Ocean. The beach is a haven for tide pooling, kite flying, and enjoying stunning sunsets.
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8. Sequoia National Park, California
Sequoia National Park is renowned for its giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman Tree, one of the largest living trees on Earth.
This park in the Sierra Nevada mountains offers breathtaking hikes, scenic drives, and the chance to stand beside these ancient giants.
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9. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
The rugged beauty of Badlands National Park seriously makes it look like an alien planet. The park’s striking geology was formed over millions of years through the deposition and erosion of sediment.
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10. Palouse Falls, Washington
Palouse Falls, a stunning 198-foot waterfall, is located in the Palouse region of southeastern Washington. This dramatic waterfall was created during the Ice Age floods and now offers picturesque views and hiking opportunities.
Image Credit: svetlana57/istockphoto.
11. Nā Pali Coast State Park, Hawaii
The Nā Pali Coast on Kauai’s northern shore is famous for its dramatic cliffs, lush valleys, and pristine beaches. Accessible only by boat, helicopter, or the challenging Kalalau Trail, this remote paradise is a haven for adventure seekers. The Nā Pali Coast has been featured in several blockbusters, including “Jurassic Park,” “Indiana Jones,” “Avatar” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Image Credit: Depositphotos.com.
12. Devils Tower, Wyoming
Rising 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, Devils Tower is a striking monolith and the first declared United States National Monument. The tower’s vertical rock walls make it a popular climbing destination. According to Native American legend, the tower was created to protect several girls from giant bears, with the bears’ claw marks still visible on its sides.
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13. Monument Valley, Arizona / Utah
Monument Valley, straddling the Arizona-Utah border, is famous for its towering red sandstone buttes and dramatic desert landscape, which have been featured in numerous Western films.
Its unique formations are remnants of an ancient seabed and volcanic activity.
Image Credit: ronnybas / istockphoto.
14. Caddo Lake State Park, Texas
Caddo Lake State Park, located on the Texas-Louisiana border, is a sprawling maze of bayous, sloughs, and ponds covered in bald cypress trees draped with Spanish moss. Visitors can canoe or kayak through the serene waters and enjoy the abundant wildlife.
Image Credit: Dennis_Casey / istockphoto.
15. Mono Lake, California
Mono Lake is one of the oldest lakes in North America, and its unique ecosystem and striking tufa towers create a surreal landscape. The lake’s high salinity supports a variety of life, including brine shrimp and alkali flies, which attract numerous migratory birds. The tufa towers, formed from calcium carbonate deposits, rise eerily from the water.
Image Credit: Depositphotos.com.
16. Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley is the ultimate land of extremes. It’s the hottest, driest, and lowest place in the U.S. Key attractions include Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, and the mysterious moving rocks of Racetrack Playa. It holds the record for the highest air temperature ever recorded on Earth at 134°F.
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17. Hamilton Pool Preserve, Texas
Located just outside Austin, Hamilton Pool Preserve, is a natural swimming hole formed when the dome of an underground river collapsed thousands of years ago. The pool features a 50-foot waterfall that plunges into a jade-green pool surrounded by limestone cliffs and lush vegetation.
Image Credit: wisanuboonrawd / istockphoto.
18. Hubbard Glacier, Alaska
Hubbard Glacier is located in eastern Alaska, but might as well be on another planet. It’s one of the most active glaciers in North America, spanning 76 miles. It’s known for its rapid calving events, where massive chunks of ice break off and crash into the water. Visitors can witness this breathtaking spectacle from cruise ships or smaller boats.
Hubbard Glacier is advancing rather than retreating, which is unusual given the current trends of glacial melting.
Image Credit: Depositphotos.com.
19. Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness, New Mexico
Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness is like wandering through an alien landscape right here on Earth. Located in northwestern New Mexico, the area is famous for its bizarre rock formations, hoodoos, and multicolored badlands. The surreal shapes and colors of the eroded sandstone create a photographer’s paradise. The wilderness area is also rich in dinosaur fossils, making it a hotspot for paleontologists and fossil hunters.
Image Credit: Depositphotos.com.
20. Haiku Stairs of Oahu, Hawaii
Also known as the “Stairway to Heaven,” this steep hiking trail on Oahu consists of 3,922 steps that offer breathtaking views of the island and the ocean. The stairs were originally constructed during World War II to provide access to a radio tower at the summit.
Although officially closed to the public since 1987, many adventurous souls still attempt the climb, much to the frustration of officials who voted in April to have the stairs demolished, so you’ll have to hurry if you want to see them.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
Image Credit: Depositphotos.com.
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