Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Best National Parks for Wildlife

The United States has an incredibly diverse landscape, with multiple ecosystems and climates packed into one country. With that geological and geographical diversity comes an incredible array of fauna, each suited to their particular climate. As such, the wildlife we see in the Southwest is quite different from what we see in Alaska or Florida for example. While I typically visit the National Parks for their outdoor adventures such as hiking, camping, and kayaking, I have really started to look forward to getting a chance to see a park’s famous wildlife. And maybe it’s because I’m in my 30s, but birding has also suddenly become enjoyable? I think that may be a right of passage for adults though, like you cannot advance towards middle age until you have correctly identified an American goldfinch. Anyway, I’ve been to 48 of the 63 National Parks so far; here are a few of my favorites for wildlife.

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Best for: black bears, elk, salamanders, bugs

Most people think of the adorable black bears when it comes to the Great Smoky Mountains, however, this park is bursting at the seams with wildlife if you know where to look. The park is known as the salamander capital of the world, with several rare and endemic species located here. In fact, the combined weight of the salamanders living here is greater than the weight of all other vertebrates in the park, including the bears and human tourists, which is saying something as the GSMNP is the most visited national park year after year. The park is also famous for its synchronous fireflies that put on a magic show each year in early June. Speaking of bioluminescent critters, the park is also home to “glow worms”, the larvae of fungus gnats which usually show up around late May and early June. These appear as neon blue pinpricks and are tricky to find as they avoid light and hate being disturbed. We happened to see some just off the Appalachian Trail near Newfound Gap, but they can be found in the foliage near creeks as well. Be sure to turn off your headlamps/flashlights (in general stick to red light when walking around at night to help your eyes adjust) and sit in the darkness for a bit to see if you can spot any.

• For black bears: Cades Cove; low-to-mid elevation areas of the park. 

• For elk: Oconaluftee Visitor Center before sunset; Cataloochee. Go in September to mid-October for the rut.

• For fireflies: synchronous fireflies by lottery only at Elkmont in late May to early June. Blue ghosts at Cades Cove or Elkmont in mid-May to early June.

• For salamanders: around creeks and streams and at higher elevations like the mossy areas on Mount LeConte. If you remove an object and find a salamander, please replace the object next to the salamander and not on top of it to avoid accidentally injuring or crushing it. 

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Shenandoah National Park

Best for: black bears, birds

If seeing a black bear in the wild is on your life list, head no further than Shenandoah in Virginia. If you spend a few days at this park in the summer then you are almost guaranteed to see at least one black bear. The concentration of bears relative to the size of the park here is very high so your chances of a sighting are higher here than, say, the Smokies where they are more spread out. This park is also excellent for birdwatching, with over 190 species of birds calling this area home. Some birds you are very likely to come across here include: eastern towhee, dark-eyed junco, American goldfinch, Carolina chickadee, indigo bunting, brown thrasher, eastern bluebird, various warblers and woodpeckers, barred owl, and red-tailed hawk. I really liked Big Meadow, Story of the Forest Trail, and Stony Man Trail for birding, but anywhere is good. While you’re in the park, take a peek in the creeks for a glimpse at the adorable and colorful native brook trout, the fish on which I did my “Wild Side” ranger talk when I worked there one summer.

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Congaree National Park

Best for: owls, birds, snakes

Congaree really surprised me with the diversity of wildlife I was able to see in just one day. While it doesn’t have the more “flashy” animals like bears and elk, its collection of snakes, owls, and birds was really impressive. I went on a guided kayak tour down Cedar Creek in late May and along the way saw barred owls along with owl chicks, water snakes, and even a tree frog. While hiking the boardwalk, I was able to watch a barred owl catch a small snake and feed it to one of its chicks which was just incredible. Don’t sleep on this park!

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Everglades National Park + Big Cypress National Preserve

Best for: birds, alligators, crocodiles, manatees, snakes

Everglades National Park and neighboring Big Cypress National Preserve are Florida at its best. With birds such as anhingas, herons, egrets, white ibis, etc., this area is a birdwatcher’s paradise. I particularly enjoyed driving down the Loop Road at Big Cypress as we saw tons of different birds plus a few gators. If you walk down the Anhinga Trail in Everglades or down any of the roadside boardwalks in Big Cypress, you are almost guaranteed to see an alligator at some point. Even better, ride a bike or take the tram around the Shark Valley Loop for a safari-like experience. Seeing manatees is hit or miss, but you may have some luck down at the Flamingo Marina where the manatees enjoy the fresh water from boats being washed or in the canals during the winter months where the water is warmer. We also got lucky and saw a crocodile at the Flamingo Marina. 

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Biscayne National Park

Best for: fish and other sea life, coral

With 95% of this park being underwater, Biscayne National Park is unique in the National Park Service. The best way to get out and explore this park is by taking a snorkeling or diving tour. Typical tours will take visitors either out to the coral reefs, the mangroves, or a shipwreck site where fish are abundant and diverse. Keep your eyes peeled for stingrays and morays as well! You may also see dolphins on the boat ride out to the snorkeling/diving site. I didn't take many photos since I don't have an underwater camera so you'll have to take my word on how cool snorkeling was!

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Channel Islands National Park

Best for: birds (the Western Gull in particular), dolphins, sea lions, island fox

The Channel Islands have multiple opportunities for outdoor recreation, but if your focus is wildlife, you can’t do better than visiting Anacapa between late April and July. During these months, this island becomes the nesting ground for thousands of Western Gulls and it is quite the sight to see! These birds and their nests and chicks are absolutely everywhere and the noise is deafening. The other animal this national park is famous for is the once endangered island fox, an endemic species of fox that is tiny and apparently very cute. A great place to find them is on Santa Cruz Island. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to see them on my last visit as I did a sea kayak tour around the island and didn’t have enough time to go up onto the island itself, so I can’t wait to return and see these cuties for myself!

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Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Best for: bison, feral horses, prairie dogs, pronghorn

Theodore Roosevelt is a sneakily underrated park that blew me away. From bison on the trail and side of the road, to a coyote trotting through a prairie dog town, to feral horses galloping across the fields, it seemed like everywhere we turned, there was another animal encounter. We saw tons of bison along the Caprock Coulee Trail and the Painted Canyon Trail in particular, but one of the most magical moments was watching a giant herd of bison crest and come down a hill while watching the sunrise from the Boicourt Overlook Trail. I would highly recommend taking the scenic drive in the south unit in the early morning for an increased chance of seeing wildlife as that was when we finally got to see the sometimes elusive feral horses. Be sure to give these wild animals plenty of space when out hiking and NEVER approach one!

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Yellowstone National Park

Best for: bison, black and grizzly bears, pronghorn, and if you’re very lucky, wolves, wolverines, and lynx

I feel like Yellowstone National Park is the obvious choice for wildlife spotting. I mean, who hasn’t heard tales of visitors stuck in “bison jams” or people gushing over seeing their first grizzly here? The most iconic spots for pulling out the binoculars are at Lamar Valley, also colloquially known as the American Serengeti, and Hayden Valley. The rule of thumb for seeing wildlife here is if you spot a group of people out with binoculars or spotting scopes, go ahead and pull over. Be sure to carry bear spray when hiking.

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Rocky Mountain National Park

Best for: elk, moose, marmots, pikas

In my experience, the best time to see elk in RMNP is in September when the elk are in their rut. There is nothing like hearing the bugle of a male elk sounding across the meadow in the early evening, or watching the elk fight if you’re lucky. I’ve had good luck finding them down the road towards Moraine Campground but I’ve also seen them hanging out in the fields between the main visitor center and the turn off for Bear Lake Road. Moose are a bit more finicky to spot, but Sprague Lake in the early mornings or early evenings can be a good spot to try. I’ve also seen them randomly near creeks off the side of the road so you never know!

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Katmai National Park

Best for: brown bears, salmon

Getting campground reservations here in July 2025 felt like winning the lottery. I had been trying to camp here for years but I never was able to snag a reservation before then. Katmai National Park is where you see the iconic photo and videos of brown bears snagging salmon out of the air as they leap up a waterfall. 2025 was an interesting year because the water was a bit low so the salmon were concentrated near the bridge that connects Lake Brooks with Brooks Lodge and as such, the bears followed. We had so much fun watching the bears catch salmon and oohed and aahed at the little bear cubs following their moms around and learning. The best time to see the bears is in July and September. 

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Kenai Fjords National Park

Best for: whales, otters, seals, birds (puffins and bald eagles in particular)

If you want to see the wildlife at Kenai Fjords, taking a boat tour is an absolute must. We did the Captain’s Choice tour and it blew me away. We got to see orcas jumping, floating sea otters, seals lounging on ice blocks near the glaciers, puffins, bald eagles, and most exciting of all, humpback whales bubble net feeding! It felt like I spent the entire boat trip with my jaw open. I would highly recommend you do a tour that will take you out to a glacier so that you are able to get out of the bay to the open ocean for a better chance at seeing whales. 

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Big Bend National Park

Best for: birds, reptiles, javelinas, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, ringtails

With over 450 documented bird species found in the park, Big Bend is perhaps the best place in the US for birding. Due to its location in southwest Texas along the Mexico border, it is a hotspot for migratory birds, particularly during the late winter and spring months. I particularly enjoy watching Mexican Jays and Greater Roadrunners, but I just adore the song of the Canyon Wren, which has a downward cascading melody that echoes far across the desert. Big Bend also has tons of interesting reptiles, including various snake species and the Texas Horned Lizard which apparently can shoot blood from its eyes which is crazy. Perhaps the most elusive of the animals here, however, is the infamous mountain lion. The saying goes, “It’s unlikely that you will see a mountain lion, but they are sure to have seen you.” I did get to see one on my last trip there as it crossed just in front of my car while driving into the park at night, causing me to scream in excitement and almost giving my snoozing friend a heart attack. I was ecstatic to have finally seen one, and even more excited to have seen one from the safety of my car.

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Glacier National Park

Best for: black and grizzly bears, mountain goats, moose, elk, bighorn sheep

Glacier National Park, like many other higher elevation mountain parks, is famous for their largest mammals, the black and grizzly bears. Grizzly bears are so common here that trails are often closed due to their presence, and hikers are strongly encouraged to carry bear spray at all times. While the thought of seeing a grizzly here is thrilling, mountain goats do seem to be the star of the show at this park. I have found myself part of many a “mountain goat jam” on the trail, as they strut around posing for hundreds of photographs from nearby hikers. Are mountain goats particularly unique? No. Are they a joy to see? Absolutely.

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Mount Rainier National Park

Best for: foxes, marmots, pikas, mountain goats

While many mountainous parks are known for their large and dramatic mammals such as moose and bears, Mount Rainier has some of the cutest wildlife in the NPS. You are almost guaranteed to see marmots at some point, scurrying around the rocks and trails at upper elevations. The largest rodent in the US, these furry cuties will entertain you as they play together and whistle and screech to each other. I have also had several fun encounters with the endemic Cascade Red Fox, which is very fluffy looking with an adorable little face. But perhaps the cutest of all the Mount Rainier animals are the pikas. These precious little nuggets, more closely related to rabbits than mice, can be found dipping in and out of the rocky talus slopes at higher elevations. They are quick and sneaky and you will almost certainly hear their little squeaks before you see them. 

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Honorable Mentions: even more cool animals you may also see while visiting the parks:

• Banana slugs: Redwood N&SP, Olympic NP

• Starfish, anemones: tidepools at Olympic NP, Cabrillo NM

• California Condors: Pinnacles NP, Zion NP (Angel’s Landing), Glen Canyon NRA (Navajo Bridge)

• Bats: Carlsbad Caverns NP (evening summertime bat program)

• Bison: other parks for fluffy cow sightings include Badlands NP, Grand Teton NP, Grand Canyon NP (North Rim), Caprock Canyons State Park in TX

• Wild/feral horses: outside of Theodore Roosevelt NP, check out Assateague Island NS, Grayson Highlands State Park in VA (adorable ponies!), and various BLM lands in Arizona and Utah

• Black bears: pretty much any mountainous national park will give you a chance to see black bears. Outside of Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains, I’ve personally had the best luck at North Cascades NP, Yosemite NP, and Glacier NP.

This list is just a sampling of some of the National Parks I’ve been to where I’ve experienced incredible wildlife. There are several that I haven’t been to yet such as some of the Alaska parks and the US Virgin Islands where the wildlife watching is supposed to be spectacular so this list is certainly not exhaustive. Let me know in the comments if there is another park that should be on this list!

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