17 Canyons In The U.S. That Are Just As Stunning As The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon gets all the fame, but the U.S. is packed with jaw-dropping canyons that deserve just as much love.
Some are deep and dramatic, others are winding and mystical, but they all share one thing:they make you feel small in the best way possible.
Whether you’re hiking, rafting, or just staring in awe, these 17 canyons will leave you speechless.
1. Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Antelope Canyon is one of the most photographed places in the world.
Sunlight filters through narrow rock walls, creating glowing beams of light. The twisting sandstone formations make you feel like you’re inside a sculpture.
A guided tour takes you through the smooth, wave-like walls shaped by flash floods. The best time to visit is midday when the sun is directly above. Every corner looks like a painting, and no two visits are the same.
2. Bryce Canyon, Utah
Bryce Canyon is famous for its hoodoos, strange rock spires that rise from the ground. These red, orange, and white formations stretch as far as the eye can see.
The Navajo Loop Trail takes you down into the canyon, where the hoodoos tower over you. For a breathtaking sunrise, head to Bryce Point. The light makes the rocks glow, and it’s one of the best views in the country.
3. Zion Canyon, Utah
Zion Canyon is one of the most visited national parks in the U.S. Towering cliffs, lush valleys, and a winding river make it unforgettable.
For adventure, hike Angels Landing, a thrilling trail with steep drop-offs. Want something easier? Walk The Narrows, where you wade through a river between canyon walls. Zion is a mix of beauty and excitement that keeps people coming back.
4. Canyon de Chelly, Arizona
Canyon de Chelly is part history lesson, part natural wonder. The cliffs hold ancient cliff dwellings from the Ancestral Puebloans, and every bend in the canyon feels like stepping into a forgotten past.
Drive along the rim for panoramic views, or take a guided tour with a Navajo guide to see the canyon floor up close. It’s one thing to admire the views, but it’s another to stand where people lived centuries ago.
This isn’t just sightseeing—it’s time travel with a stunning backdrop.
5. Santa Elena Canyon, Texas
Santa Elena Canyon is what happens when a river decides to slice a mountain in half.
The Rio Grande winds between massive limestone walls that seem to stretch into the sky. For the best experience, grab a kayak and paddle through the canyon—it’s quiet, peaceful, and just the right amount of adventure.
If you’d rather stay on land, the Santa Elena Trail offers equally stunning views without the risk of tipping over. Either way, this place makes you feel small in the best way possible.
6. Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison isn’t here to be cute—it’s here to stun you into silence. The walls are so steep and deep that sunlight barely touches the bottom, giving it that dramatic, moody feel.
Looking down from the rim, you might get a little vertigo, but the views are worth it. Want to make it even more intense? Try hiking down into the canyon (spoiler: it’s steep). This place is for those who like their nature a little on the wild side.
7. Hells Canyon, Idaho/Oregon
With a name like Hells Canyon, you know it’s not messing around. It’s the deepest canyon in North America, even deeper than the Grand Canyon.
The best way to explore? Take a whitewater rafting trip down the Snake River, where the rapids will keep your heart racing and the scenery will make you forget your arms are sore.
If water isn’t your thing, hiking the rim offers jaw-dropping views without the risk of getting soaked.
8. Waimea Canyon, Hawaii
Hawaii does a lot of things well—beaches, volcanoes, shave ice, you name it.
Turns out, canyons are on that list too. Waimea Canyon, aka the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is a mix of red rock cliffs, greenery, and waterfalls straight out of a fantasy movie.
Drive up to the Pu’u Hinahina Lookout for an unreal panoramic view, or hit one of the trails for a closer look at the tropical-meets-rugged landscape. It’s one of those places that doesn’t even look real, but spoiler alert—it totally is.
9. Palo Duro Canyon, Texas
Palo Duro Canyon is Texas’ answer to the Grand Canyon—just with more cowboy vibes.
It’s the second-largest canyon in the U.S., and the mix of bright red rock, wildflowers, and hidden caves makes it feel like a secret the rest of the world hasn’t figured out yet.
The Lighthouse Trail is the go-to hike here, leading you to a rock formation that literally looks like a lighthouse. If you really want to embrace the Texas spirit, go horseback riding through the canyon—bonus points if you wear a cowboy hat.
10. Kings Canyon, California
Kings Canyon is like Yosemite’s quieter cousin. It has the same towering granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoia trees—just without the crowds.
Take the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway for the kind of views that make you forget your phone exists. If you’re up for a challenge, hike to Mist Falls and cool off by one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the park.
It’s the kind of place that makes you want to trade your city life for a tent and a campfire.
11. Glen Canyon, Arizona/Utah
Glen Canyon is where the desert meets the water.
The red rock cliffs of the canyon surround the bright blue waters of Lake Powell, creating some of the most surreal landscapes in the Southwest.
Rent a kayak or boat and paddle through the hidden slot canyons—the silence, the reflections, the unreal colors… it’s next-level peaceful. Or just sit by the shore and take it all in. Either way, you win.
12. Lodore Canyon, Colorado
Nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Linville Gorge is wild, rugged, and packed with waterfalls and hiking trails that make you feel like you’re deep in the backcountry.
The best part? Linville Falls, which crashes down into the canyon like something out of a movie. Hike up to Wiseman’s View for a panoramic shot of the gorge that’ll make you reconsider every vacation you’ve ever taken.
It’s raw, untamed, and a total hidden gem.
13. Letchworth State Park, New York
Lodore Canyon is where red rock meets white water.
The Green River slices through towering cliffs, creating one of the most exciting places to go rafting in the U.S.
If you’re not into the whole “hold on tight while getting splashed” thing, there are plenty of hiking trails with views that don’t require a life jacket. Either way, this canyon is pure adventure waiting to happen.
14. Nine Mile Canyon, Utah
Nine Mile Canyon is basically an outdoor museum.
The canyon walls are covered in thousands of petroglyphs—drawings made by Native American civilizations over 1,000 years ago.
Drive through and spot ancient carvings of animals, people, and stories that have lasted through the ages. It’s history, art, and nature all rolled into one. If walls could talk, these ones would have a lot to say.
15. Linville Gorge, North Carolina
Nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the East,” this untamed landscape is all about rugged trails, towering cliffs, and waterfalls hidden in the thick forest.
The mist creeping through the valley makes everything feel a little more epic—like you’ve stepped into a lost world. Hike up to Wiseman’s View for a jaw-dropping panorama, or take on the rougher trails if you’re up for a challenge.
Linville Gorge isn’t just a hike—it’s an adventure that pulls you deep into the heart of nature.
16. Painted Canyon, North Dakota
A canyon that looks like nature’s art project!
Painted Canyon sits quietly inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park, but its vibrant layers of red, gold, and deep brown make it anything but forgettable. Every step on the trails reveals a new color in the rock, like flipping through pages of Earth’s history.
Keep an eye out for bison—they roam these lands like they own the place. Sunset is the real showstopper here, setting the entire landscape ablaze in warm hues. Whether you’re hiking or just soaking it all in, this place is pure magic.
17. Fiery Furnace, Utah
More puzzle than canyon, Fiery Furnace is a playground for explorers.
This maze of twisting sandstone walls and tight passageways makes you feel like you’ve stepped into another world.
No marked trails here—you’re finding your own way through, squeezing between rock formations and ducking under arches. A guided tour is a smart move unless you enjoy getting lost (because it will happen).
As the sun shifts, the red rocks glow like embers, turning every turn into a new masterpiece. If you love adventure, this one’s for you.