Savor the Sunrise at These 6 National Parks

Enjoy excellent views and crowd-free dawn adventures year-round

two people standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon

Sunrise’s quiet beauty is magical and breathtaking. Venture to these National Parks, including the Grand Canyon, for a full sensory experience.

Getty Images

Amy Brecount White,

AARP

Published May 28, 2025

On a recent trip to Tucson, Arizona, I entered Saguaro National Park East before the sun rose. As I drove the 8-mile Cactus Forest Scenic Loop, the colors of the sky gradually lightened and brightened the Sonoran Desert around me. The many-armed giant saguaro and the purplish mountain ridges were soon silhouetted against the rosy blush of the eastern horizon. At several pullouts, I stopped to walk the trails and admire the sometimes humorous shapes of saguaro arms. Looking westward, I could still spy stars above that horizon.

While sunset’s golden hour gets much attention and romantic hoopla, the quieter beauty of a sunrise can be equally magical and breathtaking. Getting out early also means enjoying activities in cooler weather and with fewer crowds. Plan to arrive at your viewing destination at least 30 minutes before sunrise to ensure the full sensory experience and boost both your body and mind.

A full 95 percent of travelers 50-plus who were surveyed agree that travel is good for their mental health, and 85 percent agree it is good for their physical health, according to AARP’s 2025 Travel Trends. Additionally, “Time in nature can improve our mental health and sharpen our cognition,” according to an American Psychological Association story. Check out these National Parks that are almost always open.

There are multiple places to admire the start of the day in Saguaro National Park.

Katie Dobies/Getty Images

Saguaro National Park, East and West, Arizona

East or west of Tucson, early risers will find multiple places to admire the fresh day. In Saguaro East, the Desert Ecology Trail is ¼ of a mile long, wheelchair-accessible, and offers educational signage. In Saguaro West, take the slightly uphill 0.8-mile trail to the Valley View Overlook for a panoramic view of the cactus forest or take the Bajada Loop Drive for other options. Entrance fee: $25 for a vehicle pass for both sides.

sand dunes in Death Valley National Park

A trip to Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park provides a chance to see the sun rise over the badlands and salt ridges.

Gary Yeowell/Getty Images

Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada

Nancy Baum, 61, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and her husband, David, usually schedule their vacations around National Park visits. “It’s our favorite thing to do,” says Baum, who’s been to more than 50 of the 63 U.S. parks. On a 2024 trip to Death Valley, the ease of getting to Zabriskie Point from their lodge inspired a sunrise experience of the park’s badlands and salt ridges. After parking, the walk is ¼ of a mile uphill on a paved path.

“It’s quite barren, but it’s very colorful, in the way that Death Valley can be colorful with purples and greens and grays,” Baum says. “When you wait for a sunrise and there’s a bunch of other people there, … there’s a fun feeling of expectation while … waiting for something beautiful,” she says. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is another favorite sunrise spot. Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle.

rocks and trees on a hill at Acadia National Park

See bays, islands and coastal features while watching the sunrise atop Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.

John Baggaley/Getty Images

Acadia National Park, Maine

Be one of the first to see the sun rise in the U.S. at Acadia National Park. At 1,530 feet, the Cadillac Mountain summit looks out over bays, islands, and coastal features and requires advanced reservations ($6 per vehicle) from mid-May to mid-October. A paved walkway connects several overlooks. At Otter Cliffs, you’ll also find rugged, sun-kissed views of the coastline. From Dec. 1 to April 14, the Park Loop Road accessing those sites is closed for winter. In those months, head to Bass Harbor Head Light Station at the southern tip of Mount Desert Island or the Seawall Beach Picnic Area. Entrance fee: $35 per vehicle.

trees and mountaintops at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Visit Oconaluftee Valley Overlook, which faces east, at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Getty Images

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee

For stunning sunrise views from April through November, head to 2024’s most visited National Park. At 6,643 feet – the tallest peak in the Smokies – Kuwohi (formerly known as Clingman’s Dome) offers high vistas over the gently rolling mountains at first light. The name change, meaning “mulberry place,” was requested by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for this sacred site. The 1-mile paved path from the lot to the observation tower is steep and strenuous, but rewards you with amazing 360-degree views. (Kuwohi’s access road is closed Nov. 30 – April 1.) Also try the Oconaluftee Valley Overlook which faces east, or beginning from the Sugarlands Visitors Center, the Little River Road offers multiple east-facing overlooks. Entrance fee: $5 for a daily parking tag.

The interplay of light, color and shadow is evident at sunrise at the Grand Canyon.

Santiago Urquijo/Getty Images

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

As teachers, Jan Stallones, 67, and her husband, Jared, of Fort Collins, Colorado, took off with their kids every summer to travel. Their goal: “hit as many national parks as we could.” One year, they rented a rimside cabin at Bright Angel Lodge in the Grand Canyon and practically rolled out of bed to see the sunrise, despite the cold of Thanksgiving. Sunrise is “the polar opposite of sunset,” she says. “It’s a quiet, hushed kind of experience, which is real different from kind of like the fireworks experience of sunset.” That day, she especially relished the calming and peaceful pastel hues.

While a sunrise will be magnificent from any rim overlooking this massive national treasure, head to Mather Point on the South Rim to watch the interplay of light, color, and shadow. It’s a 5-minute walk from the visitor center and offers 30 to 60 miles of visibility on a clear day. A mile west, Yavapai Point has sweeping views of the Yavapai Geology Museum. At 7,400 feet, Grandview Point reflects its name, and you can see the Colorado River and colorful layers of rock strata. Yaki Point is highly recommended, but it’s inaccessible by car, and shuttles may run too late to catch the sunrise. NPS recommends using a taxi service to get here. Entrance fee: $35 per vehicle.

mountaintops and clouds at Haleakalā National Park

Reservations are needed to view the sunrise at Haleakalā National Park.

Getty Images

Haleakalā National Park, Hawai‘i

Awaiting the sun’s rise from nearly above the clouds in this volcanic Maui landscape is popular, so make a reservation ($1 per vehicle, up to 60 days in advance) to enter from 3 to 7 a.m. According to the park site, there are four viewpoints to view the sunrise, from highest to lowest elevation: Pu‘u ‘Ula‘ula or Red Hill summit (10,023 feet); Haleakalā Visitor Center (9,740 feet); Kalahaku Overlook (9,324 feet); and Leleiwi Overlook (8,840 feet). Leleiwi Overlook is accessed via an easy 10-minute hike from its parking lot. The summit and other places are considered sacred spaces by Native Hawaiians, and the park hosts many rare indigenous plant and bird species. A reservation doesn’t guarantee a particular spot. Multiple vendors offer sunrise tours with pickup. Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle.

%{postComment}%

An award-winning writer and local park steward, Amy Brecount White loves rising with early morning creatures and savoring a sunrise-kissed landscape. She’s written for National Geographic, Smithsonian, The Washington Post, and Sierra magazine.

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member? Login

Savor the Sunrise at These 6 National Parks

Enjoy excellent views and crowd-free dawn adventures year-round

Saguaro National Park, East and West, Arizona

Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada

Acadia National Park, Maine

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Haleakalā National Park, Hawai‘i

Most Popular