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If you needed another excuse to plan a national park road trip, here it is: a new international study has crowned five U.S. mountain landscapes among the most beautiful on the planet.
The rankings come from travel insurance company JustCover, which analyzed how quickly and how long people visually fixated on images of 56 mountain ranges across the globe. And nearly half of the global top 10 are American entries.
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While Canada’s Rocky Mountains claimed the number one spot overall with a near-perfect score of 99.3 out of 100, the U.S. dominated much of the rest of the list, proving that some of the world’s most mesmerizing scenery lives right in our own backyard.
Leading the American pack is El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, which ranked second worldwide. With its sheer 3,000-foot granite face rising from Yosemite Valley, El Capitan is one of the most recognizable rock formations on Earth and, according to the study, one of the hardest to look away from. Its 84.9 score reflects not just its scale, but the way light, shadow and texture play across its surface throughout the day, captivating climbers, photographers and casual visitors alike.
Further down the list, Colorado’s Maroon Bells landed in sixth place globally. Famous for their near-perfect symmetry and fiery fall colors, the twin peaks are already among the most photographed mountains in North America, and now have the data to back up the hype.
Wyoming also made a strong showing, with Mount Moran in Grand Teton National Park tying for 10th place. Rising above Jackson Lake, Moran’s dramatic silhouette and glacial features give it a cinematic presence that commands attention whether you’re seeing it from a kayak or a roadside pull-off.
Sharing that 10th-place tie is Mount Shuksan in Washington State, a jagged, glacier-laced peak in the North Cascades that feels wild even by Pacific Northwest standards. With its steep spires and reflective alpine lakes, Shuksan is a favorite among mountaineers.
Just outside the top 10 but still earning a spot in the top 15 is Denali, North America’s tallest peak, which ranked 12th. The rest of the global list includes Chile’s Torres del Paine, Italy’s Dolomites, Iceland’s Kirkjufell and several Irish landmarks, but the takeaway is clear: the U.S. is home to some of the most arresting mountain scenery on Earth, whether in person or in photos.