Sequoia National Forest, California

If national forests had beauty pageants, Sequoia National Forest might be favorite to take home the tiara. It has the highest concentration of giant sequoia groves on Planet Earth, including the behemoth General Sherman, which is recognized as the largest tree in the world by volume.

But if that isn’t reason enough to make the trek, check out the impressive granite monoliths, glacier-carved canyons, limestone caves and scenic bodies of water that are just waiting for you to discover them. Elevations range from 1,000 feet in the lower canyons to an astounding 12,000 feet at peaks on the Sierra crest, giving adventurers some of the most boss panoramic you can imagine. You’ll quickly understand why the U.S. Forest Service does everything it can to preserve these lands for future generations.