The United States can best be described by one word: “variety.” Its landscapes stretch from icy Arctic regions to warm subtropical areas, from lush rainforests to dry deserts, and from towering mountains to wide, flat plains. Even though it includes some of the largest cities in the world, much of the country remains sparsely populated, with many places almost untouched by people.
So when a Reddit user, u/driedkitten, asked others to share what they think is the most beautiful place in the U.S., it’s no surprise the answers varied widely. That diversity is exactly what makes the discussion so fascinating—it highlights the country’s rich range of scenery and even serves as inspiration for anyone planning a visit.
1/
Silver Falls State Park outside Salem, OR. Nine waterfalls along a very narrow canyon. The waterfalls were 50-200 feet and hit the rocks below, turning to mist. The mist travels back up the canyon walls and collects on the foliage. It is a perpetual rainforest. A long, stringy lichen hangs from the tree branches, making it look like a scary Disney forest. A few of the more significant falls have paths you can walk behind.
2/
Tetons on a clear day are beautiful.
3/
The Appalachian Trail in upstate New York, the Ozark mountains in Missouri, or white sands in New Mexico. All beautiful for different reasons but equally excellent.
4/
Pacific Northwest would be high on the list. Alaska.
Maine Coast in the summertime.
Kauai in Hawaii.
Hudson River Valley
Vermont, especially in the fall.
5/
Mount Rainier.
6/
Glacier Bay, Alaska.
7/
The Shenandoah Valley. It’s a fantastic place if you’re an outdoorsman: hiking, fishing, hunting, bird watching, camping.
8/
San Juan mountains of southern Colorado.
8/
A tie for Acadia, Hoh rainforest, and Rainier in the fall.
9/
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
10/
Big Bend National Park. It gets no press, and it is beautiful.
11/
I think it depends on what you like. In my opinion, I like the New England states because I’ve seen pictures of the autumn that they have there. It’s the perfect place for Halloween. I love everything related to horror. And Maine is the state where lots of horror stories from Stephen King’s books take place.
12/
American cities are just built differently than the rest of the world. Everyone’s talking about nature and landscapes for apparent reasons, but all joking aside, large American cities are charming for distinctly American reasons. San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, DC, NYC, Chicago, Boston. And those are just the large ones – Portland, Annapolis, Savannah, Austin, and Nashville.
Oh yeah, not to mention American girls in American cities.
13/
Red Rock Canyon in Nevada. If you like deserts, it’s pretty as hell.
14/
I’ve been lucky to visit more than half of the U.S. states, and the natural beauty across the country is incredible. California stands out, especially its untouched wilderness. The Pacific Northwest is equally stunning, as many have mentioned. The red rock landscapes of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah are truly breathtaking—it’s almost hard to believe those vivid colors occur naturally. The Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee are also remarkable, particularly when the mist rolls in and creates that signature “smoky” effect. Hawaii’s beaches, especially on Kauai, feel almost unreal with their lush greenery and scenery.
I haven’t made it to the Dakotas yet, but it’s definitely on my bucket list—I’d love to see Mount Rushmore in person. A friend showed me photos, and it hardly looks real.
I also agree with others about Crater Lake—it’s unforgettable.
And of course, there are the cities. Whether or not they can be called “beautiful” is up for debate, but many are iconic and absolutely worth visiting.
15/
Point Reyes Lighthouse – the view of the shore from the cliff will change your life.
16/
The Pacific Northwest. Nothing compares.
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