The 10 most poular U.S. National Parks

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park has more than 9.5 million visitors annually and ranks as the most-visited National Park.

Located between Tennessee and North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for waterfalls, wildlife, and wildflowers.

This park has more than 1,660 species of flowering plants and is therefore known as the "wildflower park".

There are more than 800 miles of maintained hiking trails where visitors often observe white-tailed deer, turkeys, black bears, and even elk that were reintroduced in 2001.

2. Grand Canyon National Park is located in Arizona and receives more than 4.3 million visitors. The Grand Canyon is one of the natural wonders of the world and the park is one of the most famous of America's national parks.

Grand Canyon National Park was created in 1919 and boasts some of the most impressive scenery in the world. Popular activities include rafting the Colorado River, riding mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, hiking, and of course photography.

3. Yosemite National Park received 3.7 million visitors a year. Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains east of San Francisco, Yosemite National Park is known for the granite peaks, gigantic Sequoia trees, and spectacular waterfalls. Yosemite is a great place to hike, camp, ride horses, and rock climb. More than 95% of Yosemite National Park is designated wilderness.

4. Yellowstone National Park gets around 3.3 million visitors and has the honor of being the first established national park in 1872.

Yellowstone National Park is primarily within the state of Wyoming, but also lies in Montana and Idaho.

The most popular features of Yellowstone are the geysers and the abundant wildlife. Yellowstone contains 60% of the world's geysers.

Old Faithful is the most famous geyser and Grand Prismatic Hot Spring is the largest hot spring in America. Yellowstone is also home to large herds of elk and bison as well as the wolves and grizzly bears that prey upon them.

5. Olympic National Park had 3.3 million visitors and is located in the state of Washington. Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse of our national parks because it includes ocean beaches and mountain peaks. There are several unique lodges that provide overnight accomodations. Expect rainy weather while you are at Olympic National Park. Certains parts of the park can get up to 12 feet of rain annually.

6. Rocky Mountain National Park is located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and gets 2.8 million visitors a year. Rocky Mountain National Park has over 60 mountains that are at least 12,000 feet in elevation.

Trail Ridge Road provides visitors vehicle access to the fragile alpine tundra. Elk, mule deer, and bighorn sheep are commonly seen throughout Rocky Mountain National Park.

7. Zion National Park receives 2.7 million visitors annually.

Located in Utah, the multi-colored canyon walls, towers, and mesas of Zion National Park attract visitors year-round.

Zion Canyon is the most popular formation and provides for great photographic opportunities.

Hiking and camping are popular activities in Zion National Park.

8. Grand Teton National Park gets around 2.6 million visitors every year. Located in western Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park has spectacular mountain peaks and beautiful lakes.

Grand Teton park is known for its wildlife which includes elk, bison, moose, black bears, grizzly bears, and wolves. There are some great lodges in the park and some famous guest ranches that accommodate visitors on the edge of the park.

9. Cuyahoga National Park is located in Ohio and has 2.6 million visitors a year. The park provides lots of hiking trails, horse trails, bike paths, waterways, and even the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. There are 5 campgrounds and a historic bed and breakfast located in the park.

10. Acadia National Park is located along the Maine coastline and gets more than 2.2 million visitors. Acadia National Park was the first national park to be established in the eastern part of the United States. Famous for the ocean scenery and tidal pools, Acadia is a great place to take the family.

Glacier National Park has around 1.6 million visitors and is located in northwest Montana and didn't make the top 10 list, but 2010 is Glacier Park's 100 year anniversary, so we decided to add it to this list. Mountain glaciers have carved the rugged mountains that straddle the Continental Divide.

Glacier National Park has spectacular mountain scenery, waterfalls, wildlflowers, and wildlife. The Going-to-the-Sun Road provides summer visitors the chance to experience the interior of Glacier National Park. While you are in the park, watch for mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, wolves, black bears, and grizzly bears.