Alaska and Hawaii sit at opposite ends of the American map and, honestly, opposite ends of the thermometer too — but together they hold some of the wildest, most jaw-dropping national parks in the country. In Alaska, you’re talking glaciers the size of small states, grizzlies fishing for salmon, and peaks so massive they make their own weather. Hop over to Hawaii and the story flips completely: steaming volcanoes, black sand beaches, and rainforests dripping with waterfalls, all rising out of the middle of the Pacific. Eight national parks split between these two far-flung states, and not one of them looks like anything you’ll find in the Lower 48. Below you’ll find the lowdown on every park in both states, plus a pile of fun facts to get you dreaming about your next big trip — whether that means dog-sledding near Denali or watching lava glow at Hawaii Volcanoes.