Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

14. Crater Lake View

"The beauty of the lake, the trip around the lake to view the lake at all the different viewpoints -- it's a very beautiful setting," said Park Ranger Pete Reinhardt. Crater Lake is Oregon's only national park, founded in 1902. The National Park Service strives to keep it in its pristine state, allowing no recreation or boats except for the tour boats.

That keeps the park attractive to its native residents -- elk, black bears, foxes, porcupines and pine martens. Squawking jays and ravens, darting ground squirrels and chipmunks and quiet deer also inhabit the estimated 183,000 acres.