The Most Instagrammed National Parks In the World
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Nature has the power to heal, which is why travelers all over the world love exploring national parks. Of course, they also love capturing their nature adventures and sharing it with the rest of us. (If a tree falls in a national park and there’s no one there to Instagram it, does it make a sound?)
If you’re dreaming of getting to see some of the most incredible natural wonders in this beautiful planet, use this ranking of the most instagrammed national parks in the world to find inspiration.
30. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — United States
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Location: Big Island, Hawaii
Hashtag: #hawaiivolcanoesnationalpark
Number of posts: 25,149
Bottom line: If you love adrenaline and unique experiences, this incredible national park has two active volcanoes you can actually explore. Trek to see their calderas and see hot lava in action — a sight which is made even more incredible when it falls into the cool ocean.
*All numbers are based on research done by Mainland Aggregates.
29. Huascaran National Park — Peru
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Location: Ancash
Hashtag: #huascaran
Number of posts: 28,360
Bottom line: The biggest draw of this Peruvian national park is Mount Huascaran, which is the country’s highest peak. Intrepid travelers come here to trek in the snow up to the summit, see pristine glacial lakes and encounter species like the spectacled bear and the Andean condor. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
28. Los Glaciares National Park — Argentina
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Location: Santa Cruz province
Hashtag: #parquenacionallosglaciaries
Number of posts: 32,033
Bottom line: As one of the countries closest to the Antarctic continent, Argentina has many glacial landscapes to offer in this beautiful nature preserve. Some of the most famous points are the Perito Moreno glacier, notable for its icefalls, and Mount Fitz Roy, a majestically imposing mountain.
Popular activities include ice trekking, boating, climbing and fishing. Kick back at the end of the day with a bottle of fine Argentine wine.
27. Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park — Spain
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Location: Huesca
Hashtag: #ordesaymonteperdido
Number of posts: 34,918
Bottom line: Situated in the Spanish Pyrenees, this mountainous wonderland has meadows, gorges, forests and glaciers. That’s right, no matter the time of the year, you can enjoy snow in Spain if you visit this astonishing place. For this, Monte Perdido (Lost Mount) is the best place to visit.
26. Tatra National Park — Poland & Slovakia
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Location: Tatra Mountains
Hashtag: #tatranationalpark
Number of posts: 35,173
Bottom line: This national park is unique for its dual citizenship, with Poland and Slovakia working together to protect it. Because of this transnational effort, UNESCO designated the park as a transboundary biosphere reserve.
The park is situated in the Tatra Mountains, so you can expect some gorgeous mountain scenery that changes with the seasons. Skip the touristy Alps, and head here instead.
25. Valley of Flowers National Park — India
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Location: Uttarakhand
Hashtag: #valleyofflowers
Number of posts: 39,702
Bottom line: Thousands and thousands of endemic flowers cover the valleys of one of India’s most astonishing — and most Instagrammed — national parks. Located in the West Himalaya, the park is beautiful in its ruggedness and is home to species like the Asiatic black bear, blue sheep and snow leopards.
Unsurprisingly, the area has a great significance in Hindu mythology and has been recognized by UNESCO because of its botanical importance.
24. Vatnajokull National Park — Iceland
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Location: Klapparstígur
Hashtag: #vatnajökull
Number of posts: 57,553
Bottom line: As Europe’s largest national park, Vatnajokull has no shortage of amazing experiences that attract adventure travelers. Glaciers dominate the landscape, contributing glacier caves that can be explored (with a guide) and challenging peaks that offer great views as a reward.
23. Hot Springs National Park — United States
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Location: Arkansas
Hashtag: #hotspringsarkansas
Number of posts: 74,374
Bottom line: Though certainly not the most famous U.S. national park, Hot Springs still manages to be one of the country’s most Instagrammed ones. As its name implies, the park is all about natural hot springs, with 47 springs for visitors to soak their worries away.
Famed visitors that have sought tranquility here include presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman and George H.W. Bush.
22. Durmitor National Park — Montenegro
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Location: Žabljak
Hashtag: #durmitor
Number of posts: 96,005
Bottom line: Montenegro as a whole is largely ignored by tourists, but Durmitor National Park seems to be calling in more and more people to visit the small but wonderful country.
Situated in the Dinaric Alps, you’ll get snow peaks, large forests, glacial lakes and even impressive canyons. Climb Bobotov Peak for the park’s most famous panoramic views.
21. Fiordland National Park — New Zealand
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Location: Te Anau, South Island
Hashtag: #fiordland
Number of posts: 112,197
Bottom line: As its name suggests, this national park is made up of majestic fjords (or fiords in Kiwi) and boasts having New Zealand’s deepest lake, Lake Hauroko.
New Zealand as a whole is renowned for its natural beauty, so when a park is extremely popular, you know it has something special. Go on a boat tour to see Milford Sound or hike the Chasm Walk for views of powerful waterfalls and beautiful mountain scenery.
20. Krka National Park — Croatia
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Location: Lozovac
Hashtag: #krkanationalpark
Number of posts: 121,906
Bottom line: Besides Dubrovnik and Split, Krka National Park is amongst the best things to do in Croatia. Made up of a series of waterfalls that splash against a clear lagoon, it is the perfect place to visit in the summer.
Enjoy hiking along numerous trails and seeing ancient monasteries before cooling down with a swim by the waterfalls.
19. Grand Teton National Park — United States
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Location: Wyoming
Hashtag: #grandtetonnationalpark
Number of posts: 294,813
Bottom line: Named for the gray peaks of the Teton mountain range, this park is rugged in the very best sense. Follow the Snake River that winds around the park like a slithering serpent, visit Jackson Hole Valley and kayak in Jenny Lake.
Grand Teton’s natural beauty earned it the top spot in Tripadvisor’s 2021 ranking of the best national parks in the U.S.
18. Plitvice Lakes National Park — Croatia
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Location: Lika-Senj and Karlovac counties
Hashtag: #plitvicelakes
Number of posts: 297,612
Bottom line: Croatia’s oldest and largest national park, this is an absolute must-see landmark. You will find numerous lakes, waterfalls, mountains and hiking trails.
Though several tours offer a half-day excursion from Zagreb to the park, we recommend giving it an entire day at least! The less you rush, the more time you will have to take in the turquoise waters of this picturesque landscape, which is one of Europe’s best national parks.
17. Iguazu National Park — Argentina
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Location: Misiones
Hashtag: #iguazu
Number of posts: 345,97
Bottom line: As one of the biggest waterfalls in the world, Iguazu Falls attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The majority of the falls are located in Argentina, but they can also be seen in Brazil.
However, we recommend you visit the Argentinean part, which is situated within a national park that is home to jaguars, caymans, toucans and other interesting species. Visit the Devil’s Throat, the falls’ most famous spot, where you can see the waterfalls in all their powerful glory.
16. Uluru-Kata Tjunta National Park — Australia
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Location: Central Australia
Hashtag: #uluru
Number of posts: 395,202
Bottom line: This Australian national park has been named after its two most famous landmarks, Uluru rock and Kata Tjuta, both of which have been venerated by the Anangu people for hundreds of years as places intrinsically connected to their creation.
Uluru is a massive red monolith that rises from the desert. It is one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks. Similarly, Kata Tjunta is a collection of imposing red-rock formations. They contrast the flat landscape that surrounds them in an almost surreal way that makes it obvious why the Anangu people consider them sacred.
15. Jasper National Park — Canada
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Location: Alberta
Hashtag: #jaspernationalpark
Number of posts: 405,464
Bottom line: Nestled within the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Jasper is one of the country’s most visited and most beautiful national parks. It has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its role in the preservation of Canadian biodiversity, including moose, elks and grizzly bears.
14. Arches National Park — United States
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Location: Utah
Hashtag: #archesnationalpark
Number of posts: 449,999
Bottom line: Utah has its fair share of natural wonders, but Arches National Park definitely deserves a place at the top. The park is known for its, well, arches. Formed naturally over time, it can be difficult to believe that the stone arches aren’t man-made. Their red hue and the arid landscape that surrounds them give them an even more ethereal appearance.
Visit during sunrise or sunset for the best views.
13. Sequoia National Park — United States
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Location: California
Hashtag: #sequoia
Number of posts: 478,163
Bottom line: The giant sequoias are the largest single-being organisms by volume in the world. This alone makes this awe-inspiring national park worth a visit. Hiking around the sequoia groves is the absolute best thing to do, but you can also expect to see picturesque mountain scenery and clear lakes.
See General Sherman, a giant sequoia that is believed to be around 2,300 years old!
12. Serengeti National Park — Tanzania
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Location: North-Central Tanzania
Hashtag: #serengeti
Number of posts: 511,640
Bottom line: This massive national park is 5,695 square miles and is one of the most famous in the entire African continent. At any time of year, you’ll be able to see the Big Five: lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants and Cape buffaloes as well as crocodiles, African wild dogs and other species.
But the ultimate Serengeti experience happens during the annual Great Wildebeest Migration, when thousands upon thousands of wildebeest, zebras and other species migrate en masse across the great plains of the park. Lions and other predators follow them in what is considered one of the most impressive natural occurrences in the world.
11. Bryce Canyon National Park — United States
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Location: Utah
Hashtag: #brycecanyon
Number of posts: 518,327
Bottom line: Clay-colored hoodoos are the signature feature of this Utah national park, which also features arid valleys and sharp drops. You can traverse the canyon on foot or horseback and take in the landscape that seems like it belongs more in a sci-fi film than on planet Earth.
10. Rocky Mountain National Park — United States
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Location: Colorado
Hashtag: #rockymountainnationalpark
Number of posts: 536,808
Bottom line: As Colorado’s most popular national park, we are not surprised that the Rocky Mountains enjoy Insta-fame. The park boasts incredible scenery of (rocky) mountains that reflect on clear lakes and are surrounded by aspen trees.
Popular activities include hiking, rock climbing and — weather permitting — taking a dip in one of the lakes.
9. Kruger National Park — South Africa
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Location: Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces
Hashtag: #krugernationalpark
Number of posts: 567,909
Bottom line: Another park where you can see the Big Five, Kruger National Park has the most large-mammal species of any park in Africa. Perhaps because of this, it is one of the most frequented parks in the continent, and that's certainly the case in South Africa.
The reserve has bush plains, forests and mountains, making for a diverse natural experience.
8. Torres del Paine National Park — Chile
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Location: Magallanes region
Hashtag: #torresdelpaine
Number of posts: 568,634
Bottom line: The Chilean Patagonia is without a doubt one of this world’s most breathtaking nature reserves. This national park is named for its most famous site, the horn-shaped mountains appropriately named Cuernos (horns) del Paine.
You’ll also find glaciers, grasslands and even large icebergs.
7. Glacier National Park — United States
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Location: Montana
Hashtag: #glaciernationalpark
Number of posts: 709,325
Bottom line: Glacier National Park is most famous for its, you guessed it, glaciers, 25 of which remain standing, though it is unclear for how long. The park also has around 700 glacial lakes and two mountain ranges, making it the perfect place to get on a kayak and truly immerse yourself in the beauty of nature.
6. Zion National Park — United States
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Location: Utah
Hashtag: #zionnationalpark
Number of posts: 962,438
Bottom line: Utah comes back with another other-worldly canyon that enjoys worldwide popularity. Zion is absolutely breathtaking, with giant cliffs that are traversed by blue rivers and hanging gardens that contrast the reddish landscape with their greenery.
The best thing to do is hike through the Narrows, the slimmest part of the canyon. But if you only have limited time, you can hop in your car and do the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
5. Yellowstone National Park — United States
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Location: Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
Hashtag: #yellowstone
Number of posts: 1,399,905
Bottom line: With the colorful Grand Prismatic Spring, geysers that erupt forcefully and wild bison running through plains, is it any wonder that people go out of their way to post pictures of Yellowstone?
As the oldest national park in the U.S. — and some say, the world — this park is very much worth a visit, even if it's just a virtual one through Instagram.
4. Banff National Park — Canada
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Location: Alberta
Hashtag: #banff
Number of posts: 2,410,547
Bottom line: Canada’s first national park is also one of its absolute best. You’ll find grizzlies, moose, wolves and bighorn sheep as well as peaceful lakeside views at the scenic Lake Moraine and Lake Louise.
The park is a feast for the eyes and senses at any time of the year. Go in the winter to witness a frozen wonderland and in the summer for the chance to swim and enjoy water sports.
3. Lake District National Park — United Kingdom
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Location: Cumbria
Hashtag: #lakedistrict
Number of posts: 2,571,048
Bottom line: The Lake District has inspired poets, painters and writers for hundreds of years. Soft hills hiding small farms and lakes make this the U.K.’s most captured park.
There really is no wrong way to do the Lake District. A road trip is certainly a popular way to see many parts of the park, but you can also choose a small town as a base and do hikes, bike rides and tours around. The only thing you shouldn’t do is rush it, as this is the perfect place to lean into a more tranquil pace.
2. Yosemite National Park — United States
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Location: California
Hashtag: #yosemite
Number of posts: 2,897,973
Bottom line: Situated in the imposing Sierra Nevada mountains of California, Yosemite is world-renowned for its beauty.
You can walk around giant sequoia groves, climb the famed Half Dome or El Capitan granite cliffs and see the landscapes that inspired photographer Ansel Adams to dedicate his life to conservation and art.
1. Grand Canyon — United States
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Location: Arizona
Hashtag: #grandcanyon
Number of posts: 3,648,494
Bottom line: The Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and is the second most visited national park in the U.S.
Carved by the mighty Colorado River, its deep valleys, rock formations, textured waves and powerful river leave visitors in absolute awe. You can raft the Colorado River, see the canyon from above in a helicopter tour, bike and hike its trails, or even ride a train through it.