US West Coast National Parks: The Ones We Are Visiting

The American West.

A place where, within just a few hours of driving, the landscape can transform from a barren desert into red canyons, towering mountains, or a forest filled with giant sequoias.

And that is exactly why, when planning our US West Coast road trip, we knew one thing almost from the very beginning – national parks would be one of the main highlights of the entire journey.

But we don’t just want to "check them off" a list. We have a full day reserved for some, we plan to head out on a proper trek in others, and in some places, we will simply stand and stare at landscapes we have only ever seen in photographs until now. Multiple entirely different worlds await us on this single journey.

I have picked out just a few of the national parks we are truly looking forward to:

Joshua Tree – A First Taste of the American Wilderness

The first national park on our itinerary will be Joshua Tree National Park in California. And we actually love the fact that we are starting right here. After landing in Los Angeles, we will head straight into the desert, where the Mojave and Colorado desert ecosystems meet. The ultimate symbol of the park is, of course, the oddly twisted Joshua trees, after which the park was named. Compared to some of the other parks on our journey, Joshua Tree should offer a relatively peaceful start.

Grand Canyon – A Place That Needs No Introduction

There are places you have seen so many pictures of that you feel like you already know them.The Grand Canyon is exactly one of those places. Except a photograph can probably never prepare you for the moment you first step up to the canyon rim and realize just how massive it truly is.We have a whole day dedicated to our visit. We don't want to just show up, snap a photo at the first viewpoint, and move on. We want to explore several overlooks, walk a portion of the rim trail, and above all, not rush anything.

The Grand Canyon will also be the first place on our road trip where we will fully grasp the scale of the American landscape. It is simply impossible to see it all in one go. We fully expect to return to the US West in the future – and probably more than once.

Bryce Canyon – A Forest of Stone Spires

After Arizona, Utah awaits us. And this is one of the landscapes we are most curious about. Bryce Canyon National Park is famous primarily for its thousands of rock spires called hoodoos.

In photos, they look almost unreal. The red and orange rock formations create massive natural amphitheaters, and we think Bryce is a beautiful example of why we don’t want to see just one or two American national parks during our trip.Each one looks completely different.

Plus, since we are visiting in early November, we might even run into some snow. Orange rocks dusted with white snow? We would definitely love to see that.

Zion – Where Angels Landing Awaits Us

If there is one park we have a healthy dose of respect for before the trip, it is Zion National Park.Not because of the park itself. But because of Angels Landing. One of the most famous hikes in the US leads, in its final section, along a narrow rock ridge where chains help hikers stay steady in some places.

Moreover, you can't just show up and hike up Angels Landing these days. To access the final section of the trail, you need to secure a permit through a lottery system. And we managed to get one! So, if everything goes according to plan, on November 3, we will be standing at the top of Angels Landing.This will likely be one of the most powerful experiences of the entire trip. And perhaps also one of those moments where we will repeatedly ask ourselves why we willingly signed up for this.

Death Valley – From the Mountains to One of the Most Extreme Places in the US

After a few days in Las Vegas, we will head back into the wild. And the contrast could hardly be greater. Death Valley National Park awaits us. One of the hottest and driest places in North America. Fortunately, in November, the conditions should be significantly more pleasant than during the summer, when temperatures can reach extreme highs. And Death Valley will provide a beautiful contrast to what comes just a few days later.

Sequoia – Among the Largest Trees in the World

From the desert, we will move into the mountains. Sequoia National Park will be a completely different world.The main reason for our visit is, of course, the giant sequoias. This is where the General Sherman Tree grows – the largest known living tree on Earth by volume. It is hard to fully grasp its size from a photograph.

And that is exactly why we are looking forward to the moment we actually stand beneath it. However, November also brings one big unknown – the weather. Snow can already fall at higher elevations, and mountain conditions could impact our route. This time, we will just have to adapt our plans to what nature allows.

Yosemite – A Finale Among Granite Walls

And finally, comes Yosemite National Park.

One of the most famous national parks in the world.

El Capitan.

Half Dome.

Yosemite Valley.

Waterfalls.

Granite walls towering high above the valley. This is a place where we don't want to rush anything, which is why we have set aside more time for Yosemite than for most of the other parks.

Plus, in 2026, a vehicle timed-entry reservation is not required for standard entry into Yosemite. However, the park entrance fee still applies. This is a change from some of the previous seasons when Yosemite utilized a reservation system.

A Few Parks, Seven Completely Different Worlds

And this exact part of the journey is what we are looking forward to the most.The desert.Canyons.Rock spires.

Angels Landing.

The lowest point in North America.

Giant sequoias.

And finally, Yosemite Valley

.All of this within a few weeks and a single road trip.Which park draws us in the most?

That's a tough question. We have wanted to see the Grand Canyon for as long as we can remember. Yosemite might end up being the most beautiful. Sequoia will be completely different from everything else. But if we had to pick just one single experience before the trip, it would probably be Angels Landing in Zion.

We already have our permit. Now, only one thing remains.To get there.

This article was written prior to our US West Coast road trip. After we return, we will update it with our own experiences, photos, actual conditions, and our reviews of each national park.