20 Best UNESCO World Heritage Sites In USA

UNESCO, which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation, has designated magnificent landmarks and natural areas to be World Heritage Sites. They offer the traveller a mixture of beauty, culture, and history making them wonderful destinations to explore. In the USA, there are 26 World Heritage Sites which include national parks and the ruins of ancient civilisations. It is hard to decide which are the best, but I have chosen what I think are the 20 most amazing sites in the country.

20 Of The Most Amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites In The USA

1- Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978, covers a massive 8,992 km2 (3,472 miles2) and houses the world’s largest collection of geysers and other thermal attractions in one area.

In total, there are 500 active geysers, 290 waterfalls, and 10,000 other thermal features.

The park is home to the most famous, though not the tallest, geyser in the USA, Old Faithful. In 1870, the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition gave it this name because it spouts between every 63 and 70 minutes.

Yellowstone National Park is in the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest super volcano in the USA. It has, however, been dormant for 70,000 years so you don’t need to worry too much about it erupting.

The park is mainly in the state of Wyoming as well as in Idaho and Montana. It has been home to Native Americans for over 11.000 years.

The park is teeming with wildlife so you need to be aware that you might come across a bear, wolf, bison, elk, or moose, among other animals. Admire them from afar, especially the bears.

You can drive through the park in a few hours, but it is so beautiful that it is a pity not to stay a night or two.

There are nine lodges with a total of 2,000 rooms in the park, but they fill up quickly, especially in the summer months, so book well in advance.

Best tour: Yellowstone Lower Loop Full-Day Tour

2- Everglades National Park, Florida

The Everglades in Florida are subtropical wetlands which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

They are a habitat for rare and endangered species of animals, reptiles, and marine life, such as the American crocodile, the manatee, and the Florida panther.

You will also find the largest breeding ground for wading birds in the USA so it is a bird watcher’s paradise.

The flora is also spectacular with many beautiful plants and flowers to be seen, such as 39 different types of orchids, bromeliads, and succulents. There are over 750 seed-bearing plants in the park, including more than 100 that are endangered.

The Everglades have been called the River of Grass because they have the largest unbroken area of sawgrass. They also have the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere.

There are hiking trails that you can explore but as the area is mainly composed of wetlands, it is best explored by boat. Board an airboat to search for alligators and crocodiles.

In fact, the Everglades are the only area where these two reptiles coexist. You can take guided kayaking or canoe tours if you are brave enough to risk facing one of these reptiles close up.

The best time to explore the Everglades is from December until late April when it is dry. In the summer, it is turns hot and humid and is full of mosquitoes.

Best tour: Everglades National Park Biologist Led Adventure: Cruise, Hike + Airboat

3- The Statue Of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty in New York was created by the French sculptor Bartholdi together with Gustave Eiffel who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

It was a gift from France to the USA, recognising the New World as a champion of freedom and democracy.

The Statue of Liberty welcomed the 12 million immigrants who came to the country between1892 and 1954 when they landed close by on Ellis Island.

A highlight of your trip to New York should be a visit to this iconic statue.

It is situated on Liberty Island, a mere 10 minutes away by boat. Trips take in both Liberty Island and Ellis Island.

In the pedestal of the statue, you will find a museum telling you about its history.

Head to the observation deck for fantastic views of the city and if you are feeling fit, climb the 162 narrow steps to the Crown. From here the views are also great but the windows are small, so you won’t get great photos.

Ellis Island has a museum where you can learn about the immigrants who came to the USA in the last century.

The Statue of Liberty was designated a World Heritage Site in 1984.

Best tour: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour: All Options

4- Papahanaumokuakea

It may take some time to conquer the pronunciation of this World Heritage Site in Hawaii and it is isolated so you may never have heard of it, but it is a spectacular area. It covers 1,510,000 km2 (583,000 miles2) and stretches over the ocean and 10 islands and atolls.

It is the place where native Hawaiians believe that life starts and where your spirit goes when you die.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, the region is inhabited by more than 7,000 species of wildlife, including the threatened green sea turtle and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

It is a protected region and access is restricted. If you want to visit, you have to get a permit, and these are limited.

5- Mesa Verde National Park

The Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado was once the home of the native American people, the Puebloans, who lived there between 450 and 1300 AD in cliff dwellings.

The park sits on a plateau more than 2,600 metres (8,530 feet) high and houses almost 5,000 archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings made of sandstone and mortar.

The most impressive of the cliff dwellings are Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Square Tower.

They can be explored along well-set out trails as well as on organised tours. Cliff Palace has to be seen to be believed. It is enormous with 150 rooms and 23 kivas which were used for religious ceremonies.

It is thought that around 100 people lived there. Most of the other dwellings, however, only had between one and five rooms so would have fitted a normal-sized family.

When you first get to the park, stop by the Mesa Verde Visitor & Research Centre where you will learn more about the Pueblo people and the history of the park.

There is also a museum housing 3 million artefacts found iin the park.

There are car and bike trails, so you don’t have to walk everywhere if you don’t want to.

There are many stops along the trails where you get fantastic views of the four states surrounding the park.

The Mesa Verde National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978.

Best tour: Immersive Mesa Verde National Park Tour with Guide

6- Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in the Chihuahuan Desert in New Mexico is one of the most unusual national parks in the USA.

Yes, it has interesting trails as well as varied plant and animal life, but it is underground where the magic happens.

Underneath the park is a cave system made up of 119 caves, one of the largest cave systems in the USA.

The highlight of the caves is the Big Room, an underground extravaganza of rock formations, stalactites, and stalagmites.

It covers a 2 km (1.25 mile) trail so expect to be there for at least an hour and a half.

You can explore by yourselves so you can do it at your own pace.

One of the best experiences at the park which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, s the nightly bat flight.

At dusk, the resident Carlsbad Caverns bat population emerges from the caves like a tornado, but all you can hear are their wings.

7- Glacier Bay National Park And Reserve

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is in Alaska and can only be reached by plane or boat.

It is frequently visited by cruise ships sailing through the Inside Passage. It became a World Heritage Site in 1992.

As the name suggests, the park is home to glaciers, totalling over 1,000. Glacial activity has taken place here for more than 100,000 years and a quarter of the park is covered in ice.

The tidewater glaciers which flow from the mountains to the ocean are particularly spectacular. They can be as wide as 2.4 km (1.5 miles) and 91.44 metres (300 feet) above the water level.

There is plenty to do here apart from viewing glaciers. You can watch the wildlife which includes humpback whales, sea otters, and bald eagles ,or go river rafting, kayaking or fishing.

In addition, there are full-day boat tours which cover 209 km (130 miles) starting at Bartlett Cove.

The park also has 16 km (10 miles) of hiking trails.

8- Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon National Park, designated a World Heritage Site in 1979, covers an area of 4,926 km2 (1901 miles2) and is in Arizona.

It has a 1.5 km (0.9 miles) deep gorge which is 445 km (276.5 miles) long.

The width of the gorge varies between 500 metres (0.3 miles) and 30 km (18.6 miles). It was formed around six million years ago.

There are four areas from where you can experience the spectacular views into the Grand Canyon: the South Rim, the North Rim, Grand Canyon East, and Grand Canyon West.

The South Rim is the most visited and gives some of the best views. At Grand Canyon West, there is the amazon Skywalk, a glass bridge that extends over the canyon.

It is possible to hike the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim which is a distance of 38 km (24 miles).

You descend below the level of the rim, cross the Colorado river and then hike back up the other side. It is possible to go rafting on the river.

One of the best ways to experience the Grand Canyon is by taking a helicopter ride over it.

It lasts around 45 minutes, though it is possible to take a ride that lands in the canyon.

Best tour: 45-minute Helicopter Flight Over the Grand Canyon from Tusayan, Arizona

9- Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park, a World Heritage Site since 1984, is in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range of central California and covers 3,028 km2 (1,169 miles2).

It is a beautiful park of contrasts, with amazing waterfalls, tall mountains, two active glaciers, giant sequoia forests, deep valleys, and lovely meadows.

There are plenty of opportunities to hike in the park and see the amazing rock formations created over millions of years, such as Half Dome and Yosemite, a 1 km (0.6 mile) glacier-carved cliff with sheer granite walls.

The park is filled with wildlife.

There are over 400 species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, including American black bears, deer, bobcats, Sierra Nevada Bighorn sheep, and mountain lions.

As wonderful as they are to see, it is advisable to keep your distance.

You can drive around Yosemite and see it in one day. However, there is so much to explore that it is a good idea to spend a few days there.

There are hotels, cabins, and campgrounds, but book early to ensure your spot.

Best tour: San Francisco: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoia Day Tour

10- Independence Hall

Independence Hall is in the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.

It was built in the 18th century and is where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and the Constitution of the USA in 1787.

It is an important place to visit because of the significant part it played in the history of the country. It became a World Heritage Site in 1979.

You can take a guided tour of the building where you will learn about the events that took place here and how they affected the spread of democracy in the USA.

The building is a brick structure with a wooden steeple which used to house the Liberty Bell.

It went through many changes over the years but the National Park Service. restored it to its original appearance in the 1950s.

Best tour: Revolution and the Founders: History Tour of Philadelphia

11- Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a World Heritage Site since 1983, is located in two states, eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina and covers 2,104 km2 (812.35 miles2).

It is easy to access which makes it a popular destination for visitors.

It is a great place to hike with 1,287.47 (800 miles) of trails to enjoy, some of them on the Appalachian Trail covering 123 km (77 miles). There are amazing waterfalls throughout the park, babbling brooks, and a rich, green landscape.

One of the main reasons that it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site is that it has a wide range of flora and fauna.

For example, there is a large population of black bears and the most diverse salamander species the world over, totalling 31.

The park also has the largest concentration of virgin red spruce trees in the world.

There is a total 3,500 plant species in the park as well as 130 different trees.

Best tour: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour

12- Redwood National And State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks runs along the Pacific Ocean just north of San Francisco in California.

Here you will find a range of mountains with towering redwood trees which have been around for 160 million years, making them some of the oldest trees in the world.

The park was created to protect these magnificent trees.

The park also has some stunning oak woodlands to explore, rivers, and vast prairies.

On the Klamath river, you can kayak or take a cruise to the World War II radar station on Klamath Beach.

You can also fish at the Yurok reservation, home to California’s biggest Native American tribe.

Spring and autumn are great times to visit as the park is full of migratory birds.

Throughout the year, you can see a diverse selection of marine, land, and air fauna including sea lions, bald eagles, and the endangered California brown pelican.

There are plenty of hiking trails in the park with varying degrees of difficulty from easy to challenging.

The site comprises three parks covering just 562.51 km2 (217 miles2) so you could conquer it in a couple of days.

It has been a World Heritage Site since 1980.

Best tour: Redwood National Park Tour 2-Day Private Tour Package Hotel Included

13- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a World Heritage Site since 1987 is home to two active volcanoes, Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and the taller Mouna Loa.

Both tower over the Pacific Ocean on Big Island.

Kilauea began its latest eruption in 1983 and is still going strong.

Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984 so you are less likely to see action from it than from Kilauea.

The park covers 1.355.69 km2 (523.43 miles2) and has 241 km (150 miles) of hiking trails.

They take you to the craters of the volcanos, through burned deserts, and into rainforests filled with enormous ferns.

Best tours:

• Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes Waterfalls Sightseeing and History
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Hilo Highlights Small Group Tour

14- Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park is in south Kentucky and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.

It houses the world’s longest cave system at 643.73 km (400 miles). However, only 16 km (10 miles) have been explored and are open to the public.

You can take a tour of the caves with a ranger, but you need to be fit as there are 500 steps to go down and get back up again.

The caves are filled with beautiful stalagmites, stalactites, and other formations.

The lighting is atmospherically dim, reminding you that you are deep below the surface of the earth.

The park itself is beautiful with hills, valleys, green landscapes, and underground rivers. You can take part in various outdoor activities such as kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, camping, and biking.

15- Monticello And The University Of Virginia In Charlottesville

Thomas Jefferson was not only the main draughtsman of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the USA, but he was an architect.

He designed his home, Monticello, and the Academical Village at the University of Virginia, which combined make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated in 1987.

The village is spectacular with a stunning Rotunda in the centre, designed to look like the Pantheon in Rome, though half its size.

It took over 40 years to build Monticello. It is a combination of Italian Renaissance design, ancient architecture, and new American style.

It is on three floors and has 21 rooms.

You can visit the house on your own or you can take a guided tour to learn more about the Thomas Jefferson.

There are many beautiful artefacts on show, the rooms are well-preserved and there is a spectacular octagonal dome in the entrance hall.

16- Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park, a World Heritage Site since 2017, is in Washington State and is a stunning park where glacier mountains exist side by side with alpine meadows and a temperate rainforest.

It is one of the larger National parks in the USA, covering 4,050 km2 (1563.7 miles2).

Because of its size, you need around three days to explore the park fully.

There aren’t any lodgings in the park but plenty on the outskirts.

Highlights of the park include Hurricane Ridge where you will have spectacular views of snow-capped mountains and forests filled with evergreen trees.

You can take a short hike here along the High Ridge Trail but for a real adventure, there is a hike that takes you to the peak of Mount Angeles.

From here you get 360-degree views of the park.

If you are feeling brave, drive along Obstruction Point Road to Obstruction Point.

The road is narrow with sheer drops, but the views are fantastic. From Obstruction Point, you can hike along one of the trails.

Best tour: Best of Olympic National Park from Seattle: All-Inclusive Small-Group Day Tour

17- San Antonio Missions

We’ve looked at a lot of National Parks with UNESCO World Heritage Site status so here’s something different.

The San Antonio Missions are five Spanish colonial missions lying along the San Antonio River in south Texas.

Four of these are preserved and can be visited. The Spanish Catholics set up the missions to introduce Christianity to the Native Americans of southern Texas.

At that time they were under attack from the Apache tribe and were suffering from disease and drought.

They believed they would be safe in the foreign missions.

The best way to explore the missions is by bicycle.

There is a trail of 24 km (15 miles) to follow, and each mission is around 4 km (2.5 miles) from the next.

There is also a paved hiking trail.

Mission San Jose is the most impressive and has a stunning detailed facade. Mission Concepcion is the oldest unrestored church in the USA and displays the original frescoes.

Mission San Juan Capistrano was once the trade centre of the area and now showcases historic and religious artefacts as well as paintings.

Mission Espada was the first of the missions to be built in 1690 and you can visit the church and museum.

The San Antonio Missions became a Wold Heritage Site in 2015.

18- Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Taos Pueblo is in New Mexico in a valley situated along a tributary of the Rio Grande River.

The villages here have been home to the native Pueblo people since the 14th century and around 150 of them still live there.

The area is the only living Native American site that is both a World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark.

It has been a World Heritage Site since 1992.

Here you will see the adobe buildings that the Native Americans have lived in for centuries.

Adobe buildings are built from earth and straw bricks which are cheap to build, give great insulation, and are highly resistant to earthquakes and fire.

The dwellings were built in terraced tiers and there are also ceremonial buildings to be visited.

You can take a tour of the site which will enlighten you about the Pueblo people.

Best tour: Taos Half Day Cultural Tour | A Magical Taste of Taos and its Cultural Diversity

19- Kluane/Wrangell – St Ellis/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini – Alsek

These four parks in Alaska and Canada cover 97,124.5 km2 (37,499.9 miles2) and are stunning.

There are towering mountains, river valleys, and the largest non-polar icefields in the world. They have been a World Heritage Site since 1994.

Unfortunately, just a small part of the park system is accessible by road.

Wrangell – St Ellis is the only one of the parks which has a road that explores the area.

However, an exciting way to see these parks is by flying over them. It is particularly spectacular flying over Kluane with the snow and ice beneath you.

In Tatshenshini – Alsek you can explore the area on the water by kayaking and rafting.

Cruise ships go to Glacier Bay where you can see glaciers close up. There is also a chance of seeing humpback whales in the waters and bears strolling along the shore.

20- La Fortaleza And San Juan Historic Site

The San Juan Historic Site is in Puerto Rico and houses three stunning hilltop forts, San Juan la Cruz, Castillo San Cristobal, and San Filipe del Morro, all offering fantastic views over the San Juan Bay.

You will see many of the fortifications which were built hundreds of years ago as well as having the opportunity to explore the tunnels and passageways.

La Fortaleza is the other part of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated in 1983.

It is now the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, but it was the first fort built to protect the Spanish colonial town of San Juan back in the 16th century making it the oldest governor’s residence in the western hemisphere.

You can take a tour of La Fortaleza and see the stunning State staircase, the original towers, and the beautiful gardens.

It was remodelled in the 19th century and now looks neoclassical.