21 Vintage Photos of America’s National Parks

Written by Alina Wang on May 23, 2025 updated May 29, 2025

Three people stand near a classic station wagon with a rooftop carrier, admiring tall, snow-dusted mountain peaks under a clear blue sky.

Yearning for the great outdoors? Before crowds and smartphones changed the experience (and the landscape) of America’s national parks, visitors managed to capture the raw beauty of places like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Rocky Mountains. From families posing at scenic overlooks in retro hiking gear to lone travelers soaking in the peace and magic of the Grand Canyon, here are 21 vintage photos that celebrate the wild, rugged beauty of our national parks.

1. Made It to the Top!

Two hikers with backpacks stand on a rocky ledge overlooking the Grand Canyon, surrounded by cliffs and clouds in the sky. One hiker points ahead while the other stands close, both dressed in outdoor gear. — ThomasRay

2. ‘Glacier National Park Through the Lens of a 60-Year-Old Film’

Wildflowers in the foreground with blurred focus, set against a scenic backdrop of green mountains and snow-capped peaks under a cloudy sky. — jshank20

3. ‘My Mom at Zion National Park, 1964’

A large, striped sandstone mountain rises behind trees and a parked vintage car with two people near it; one stands by a brown sign reading “Checkerboard Mesa” under a clear blue sky. — ststeveg

4. Nothing But Wild Flowers Lining the Path

A narrow dirt path winds through a field of wildflowers, leading toward rugged mountain peaks under a sky with scattered clouds at sunset. — jshank20

5. ‘Yosemite National Park 1950s-1980s (Found Film)’

A scenic view of Yosemite Valley featuring El Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Fall on the right, and forested valley floor under a partly cloudy sky, with distant snow-capped mountains in the background. — kolombod

6. Truly Postcard-Worthy, Glacier National Park, 1960s

A majestic mountain rises behind a dense forest of evergreen trees, with wildflowers in the foreground and a tall, leafless tree standing prominently under a cloudy sky. — jshank20

7. ‘An English Tourist Explores a Slot Canyon on Coyote Creek in the Lake Powell National Recreation Area, Arizona, 1974’

A person in swim trunks wades into a narrow, rocky canyon with smooth, eroded walls and clear water under a bright sky. The scene is surrounded by large rock formations. — Buddy Mays/Getty Images

8. Working on the Day’s Catch at Yosemite, 1980s

A large pine tree stands by a rocky lakeshore with people canoeing on a blue lake. Mountainous terrain and clear sky form the background, creating a scenic outdoor landscape. — kolombod

9. Hikers Make Their Way Through Glacier National Park

A group of six people with backpacks walk through a grassy field with wildflowers toward a forest, with towering mountains and a partly cloudy sky in the background. — jshank20

10. A Beetle Drives Through a Giant Tree at Yosemite National Park

A red car drives through a large tunnel cut into the trunk of a massive sequoia tree, surrounded by forest. A sign nearby reads, “Wawona Tree.” — kolombod

11. ‘Grand Canyon, Early 1980s’

Two men pose in front of a scenic canyon viewpoint. One wears a crop top, shorts, flip-flops, and a cap, while the other wears a striped polo, plaid shorts, and sneakers, holding a camera. A metal fence runs behind them. — TravelFar_RideHorses

12. Hikers Entering the Granite Gorge, Grand Canyon, 1980

A group of hikers with large backpacks walk through a rocky canyon trail toward a dark tunnel, surrounded by steep cliff walls. — ThomasRay

13. This One’s Nat Geo-Worthy, Glacier National Park, 1960s

A scenic view of a mountain landscape with a tall peak, cascading waterfalls, patches of snow, green forests, and a clear blue lake below under a partly cloudy sky. — jshank20

14. ‘Unnoticed and Unidentified Man in Grand Canyon Photo’

A person stands on the edge of a snowy cliff overlooking a vast canyon. Another person partially hides behind a tree to the left, marked by a black arrow drawn on the photo. — throwawaythisyo

15. ‘My Brother Above Yosemite, 1964’

A person stands on a dirt clearing between two tall trees, with a scenic view of a forested valley and distant waterfall amid rocky cliffs in the background. — ststeveg

16. ‘A Hiker Stands Atop a Waterlogged Cypress Tree on Rialto Beach at Olympic National Park, Washington, 1989’

A person stands on a driftwood-strewn beach, gazing at the ocean waves under a clear sky. The scene is in black and white, with driftwood logs scattered along the shoreline and distant forested hills. — Buddy Mays/Getty Images

17. Two People Take a Ride in a Small Rowboat at Glacier National Park, Montana, 1974′

Two people sit in a small rowboat on a calm lake surrounded by tall mountains and dense forest, with reflections visible in the water under a partly cloudy sky. — Buddy Mays/Getty Images

18. ‘Rocky Mountain National Park Taken With My Grandpa’s 1950’s Film Camera’

A mountain landscape with tall pine trees, rocky terrain, and a small stream flowing through grassy, colorful undergrowth, with distant mountains rising under a bright sky. — UserDeleted

19. An Expedition of Swiss Mountain Climbers Attempting to Scale Mount Rainier at Rainier National Park in Washington, June, 1922

A group of people in winter clothing poses outdoors with snowy mountains and pine trees in the background. The photo is sepia-toned and appears to be historical. — Hulton Archive/Getty Images

20. A Collection of Vintage U.S. National Park Posters

A collection of colorful, vintage-style postcards featuring artwork and names of various U.S. national parks, arranged in a semi-circle on a gray tabletop. — BigSandwich6

21. ‘Delicate Arch, Arches National Monument, Utah, Mid-1950’s’

A side-by-side comparison of Delicate Arch, a natural rock arch in a rocky desert landscape under a partly cloudy sky; there are slight visual differences between the two images. — Logybayer

More Retro Adventures in the Wild

Craving more throwback travel vibes? Cruise down memory lane with 10 Nostalgic Photos of Road Trips Before the Digital Age, cozy up under the stars in 20 Vintage Camping Photos That Capture Smoky Campfires, Station Wagons, and Retro RV Life, and scope out budget tips in The 10 Most Expensive National Parks To Visit.