11 Interesting Natural Features & Locations in the U.S.

Overview of some unique natural features and locations in the U.S. Most of the ones I examine here are not well known outside of the region, and I wanted to highlight some of these interesting spots of nature.
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Album displayed:
Pixies - "Head Carrier" (2016)
0:00 Intro
0:37 Mammoth Cave, KY
2:09 Hoh Rainforest, WA
3:34 Toadstool Geologic Park, NE
5:08 Coral Pink Sand Dunes, UT
6:18 Dolly Sods, WV
7:58 Carrizo Plain, CA
9:31 Great Dismal Swamp, VA/NC
11:04 Monument Rocks, KS
12:12 Capulin Volcano, NM
13:46 Whetstone Gulf, NY
14:43 Providence Canyon, GA
16:01 Outro

[@itsmikem]

Yes, this should definitely be a series. Valley of Fires, NM, the Desert of Maine, Cahokia Mounds, IL, Letchworh State Park, NY.

[@faizabbas9465]

Thought of Letchworth immediately haha

[@linkly9272]

For Illinois, Shawnee National Forest and Starved Rock would be nice inclusions. Very pretty places!

[@ecurewitz]

The desert of Maine is a result of poor farming practices on glacially sediments. There is a similar feature in Rhode Island

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

Sure.. but geology didn’t build Cahokia, people did.EDIT: well, he put Providence Canton in.

[@Lyndonz1]

Letch worth is awesome bro

[@nicolelala10]

Yes. Please make this a series.. please, please, PLEASE!

[@GeographyKing]

I've seen some overwhelming support for this topic in the comments, so it looks like I have no choice but to make it a series.

[@braydonthegreat5099]

I went to the Ho Rainforest a couple years ago, It's extremely beautiful and there are entire sections of path where the light appears green because the whole canopy is covered in foliage. One of the best trips I ever took!

[@jazzcatjohn]

Agreed. Hoh is a stunner!

[@NondescriptMammal]

Yes! A gorgeous piece of nature, I remember well the crystal clear rock-strewn Hoh river in the beautiful forest of moss covered trees, even though my visit was many years ago.

[@joebarrera334]

Make this into a series, please! 😊

[@DerekZing]

+1 to that. Really cool places, most of which I'd never heard of.

[@TheTrex9000]

Yes please, this would be a great series

[@maxhedman]

Great video as always! Would love to see a video sometime about cities built on odd geography (e.g. the differences between city sprawl in a valley, on a river, etc) and how that geography influences/limits the city layout! Just an idea.

[@toastydoggo2313]

Something like Madison Wi?

[@ethanhaas118]

Pittsburgh for sure

[@epretzel72]

LA, Madison, Pittsburgh all come to mind. A series on the geography of why big cities became a thing and why it may grow/shrink over time would be awesome

[@vickilindberg6336]

Isn't the cave in Viet Nam the "largest in the whole world?"

[@boddraywillett-gm2xv]

Love this idea

[@CoViN88]

I love Toadstool. I've camped there three times. Cows and Trains are the only sound you hear. Capulin Volcano looks awesome! I am re-routing my upcoming road trip now to see it.

[@ndcw918]

Capulin Volcano is a must see for sure. Probably among a few if not the only place you can drive up a volcano, hike to the center and around the rim. It’s such a unique experience and the views from the outer rim trail are fantastic. You won’t regret going. They have a visitor center and gift shop and the city of Clayton and also Raton, New Mexico are not too far away for more amenities.

[@davidseymour6447]

The Badlands is an interesting phenomenon. If you have ever visited the Badlands in South Dakota, and then go up to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, you will find that the appearance of the two are completely different from each other. And neither is anything like what you displayed in Nebraska. I would love to see more videos like this one. Great job.

[@GeographyKing]

That part of the country (western Dakotas & Nebraska) is one of my favorites. I love getting into the backcountry at some of those spots as you know that no one will be there.

[@MikeP2055]

I didn't want this video to end! It was so cool, and the photography was stunningly beautiful. I'm itching for a road trip. This definitely gets my vote for becoming a regular series! Olympic NP and the Hoh rainforest are almost . . . magical. The mosses, lichens, and enormous ferns made me feel like gnomes or some kind of Narnia fantasy-type creatures were about to pop out and make me solve a riddle or grant me three wishes or something. We had the park to ourselves---I don't think we saw a single car or person for hours, which totally added to the enchanted forest vibe. 😂

[@GeographyKing]

There will be more in this series for sure

[@WVUer21]

Wasn't expecting a Dolly Sods shout out. Thanks, Kyle. EDIT: and Great Dismal Swamp.

[@GeographyKing]

My in-laws are from WV and have a cabin near Thomas. I've gotten a chance to visit the area a few times and really enjoy the hiking

[@WVUer21]

Check out Coopers Rock State Forest if you get the chance.@@GeographyKing

[@cindycaroline1246]

@@GeographyKing Dolly Sods is my favorite place. Thomas and the surrounding area are my retirement goals.

[@nicolelala10]

Kyle, I used to compare you to Dr Sheldon Cooper’s Fun with Flags. I take that back. You’re the MAN. Love all videos. Your passion for Geography puts me to shame. You the man! Keep representing us nerds!

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you!

[@overthehill3625]

You’re right on about Carrizo Plain NM. Everybody comes for the super bloom, but the rest of the time it’s fairly deserted. A great place to get away from people and enjoy the peace and quiet.

[@BenGarrott]

The Hoh rainforest is certainly unique and interesting. If you drive another 5-6 hours to the east, you end up in desert and you're still in Washington.

[@jerrytwolanes4659]

I did not want this video to end! Please make this a series!

[@bloodorange-md8dj]

Another great video! I love these videos that are specifically about the natural features. The United States is such a beautiful and diverse country in its nature.

[@sethmccall639]

Fascinating video! Future suggestion: Sleeping Bear Dunes in NW Michigan. You can go from deep forest to feeling like you’re on Mars in the same hike. The whole west coast of MI is an anomaly you cannot encounter elsewhere in the Midwest!

[@elijahk357]

I've driven through the Monongahela Forest many times, but never new about Dolly Sods. I was always amazed watching the change in geography and plants with altitude. A high elevation marshland seems like an oxymoron but it's totally a thing! I will definitely need to visit next time I'm out there. The whole forest is criminally underrated in my opinion.

[@hertears14]

A series on hidden gem locations such as these would be lovely 👍

[@lilsuzq32]

*_LOVE_* Mammoth Cave!!! -- Yes, Yes, a thousand times YES to making this a series!!! -- Ghost towns, mines, odd museums -- endless sources of fun stuff in the USA

[@benjordan2606]

Been wanting to go the Hoh rainforest for forever. Def gonna be a spot in my next road trip.

[@seasaltlover]

It's very beautiful! It's constantly cloudy and raining but when I went out happened to be sunny. If you go to from Aberdeen, there's a tree on the beach somewhere called the tree of life. It's really cool and a great photo op too

[@BH6242KCh]

Same here, Hoh Rainforest has been high on my list for a long time.

[@grantbeaudry8634]

@@seasaltlover The tree of life is at Kalaloch beach

[@seasaltlover]

@@grantbeaudry8634 yes! I just couldn't remember at the moment thank you

[@Double0pi]

Just a note...don't bother with "water resistant" clothing. Get a cheap plastic poncho. I went out in my normal rain gear and it all soaked through in about 5 minutes. Got out my cheap "emergency" poncho from the trunk of my car (all plastic) and it kept me dry the rest of the time. It is so rainy!!

[@ImNtDead]

Videos like these are great because so many people have know idea about the fantastic nature sights often going unseen that practically in their backyard. I moved to Kansas 14 years ago and Im surprised by how many people who have lived here for decades have no idea that the Monument Rocks even exist. Of course being from Arizona originally I've seen much larger rock formations; but Kansas is almost always characterized as only being flat and boring so its nice to know that even a great plains farm state has some natural features that really stand out.

[@ValekHalfHeart]

I admittedly haven't done all that much traveling, but I have been to Hawaii, Alaska, and the Grand Canyon, and for what it's worth I think that the Hoh rainforest is the single most beautiful place I've ever been. Feels like stepping right into the pages of a magical storybook.

[@thedashcamkid6175]

This should definitely be a series. Amazing work Geography King!

[@corrugatedmetal6598]

I will never forget visiting the Hoh Rainforest and seeing ferns that were taller than me. Absolutely incredible place.

[@tylerahlstrom4553]

Also check out Goblin Valley, Utah, City of Rocks in Idaho and New Mexico, craters of the moon, ID, Bonneville Salt flats, Antelope Canyon, AZ

[@davidsradioroom9678]

I have been to Mammoth Cave and to Providence Canyon. The others, I had no idea of. Yes, please, We would love to see a series about these wonders.

[@jimgreen5788]

Kyle, believe it or not, I just came here from Part 2, having missed it a few months ago. Great info/scenery here, as always. Thanks.

[@St0ckwell]

Arizona's painted desert and those little 10 mile > stretches of noticeably harsh desert in central Colorado along I-70 are hands down the most awesome and breathtaking things I've ever seen

[@slapshack]

Another great vid! This would make a great series if you did a “10 interesting features in (state)”

[@johnalden5821]

I'm very familiar with Dolly Sods, having backpacked and hiked all around it, so I was pleased to see it show up on this list. It definitely is like a little patch of arboreal or alpine terrain in the Alleghenies, with fir and birch species (the latter almost look like aspens). But as you head south in Dolly Sods, you descend into more normal forest and whitewater creeks, with hundreds of beautiful campsites by the waters' edge. It's a wilderness area, though, so bring your trowel and your bear bag or canister. Also, the trails can be very fey, with a lot of unmarked detours that can get you turned around. Finally, be prepared for boggy trails -- some are just not worth embarking on due to the mud. Altogether, this is a stunning natural area, but maybe not for first-time hikers. It can be pretty challenging.

[@cake7986]

My high school boyfriend and I thought it would be fun to go on a spur-of-the-moment camping trip to Dolly Sods. We thought - Oh it's mid-April and it's a beautiful day - we'd be fine. Over the course of the night, it snowed the entire time and the howling winds shook our tent. It was so incredibly cold. When morning came, We had the most white-knuckle drive through the blizzard, down that narrow gravel road to get back to civilization. At ground level, it was sunny and beautiful. Gave me a newfound appreciation and respect for the Sods.

[@johnalden5821]

@@cake7986 Yeah, I have never experienced that kind of cold weather surprise there, but I have heard lots of stories like yours. It makes sense that it has a micro-climate because it is a micro-biome. Plus, just in general, gotta respect the WV mountains. You guys clearly know what you're doing to have come out OK on that.

[@cake7986]

@@johnalden5821 Yes, we were both familiar w/ the outdoors, just not WV mountains. I drove a hyundai sonata down that road. It's a miracle.

[@mikedrown2721]

I'd like to mention Letchworth State Park, the Grand Canyon of the East about 65 miles south of Rochester NY. Thanks Kyle

[@mikepeterson9572]

You are the man, one of my favorite youtubers. From Seattle here, as an architect by profession I love both physical and cultural geography! ❤️❤️

[@auntietara]

I vote “yes” on this being a series! Loved seeing the Hoh … I’m from Western Washington, and have been there many times. Also, thanks for the shoutout for Monument Rocks, KS! We’re living in Kansas now, and I believe people who think Kansas is boring need to get off I-70 and really SEE Kansas. The Tallgrass Prairie Natural Preserve just north of Strong City is fascinating for its history and geology. The Flint Hills in general are pretty cool!

[@WolfSeril107]

Wow, the Dolly Sods kinda blew my mind. Had no idea there was a place that looked like that in the continental US. Great video!

[@irefusetoaskmydoctorifyour6401]

Another vote for "YES" make this a series. Just a wealth of 'Road-Trip' ideas here. I'm gonna hafta bookmark this video to re-watch in the future as a planning resource for future road trips, for sure!

[@JRPetruk]

Do I want to see more videos like this? Heck, yeah! Great, great job Kyle. I had only known of 3 of these places. Your pictures are terrific.

[@ergoone1098]

This should definitely be a series. :) I'm from the west -- Far west Texas, Nevada, and the west coast. I have been to the Olympic rain forest, Carrizo Plains, and Coral Sands. You're three for three on those -- they're all stunning and absolutely worth visiting. May I suggest Valley of Fire state park easr-northeast of Las Vegas, just north of Lake Mead and the Virgin river?

[@gregp3824]

YES.....Series please. New Jersey alone has Passaic Falls, Great Swamp NWR, The Palisades over looking the Hudson river and NYC, and of course America's burial site, The Meadowlands. Pennsylvania has its own Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Curve. New York has the Black Dirt region near Pine Island, NY....some of the most fertile land on earth.

[@denmartell4287]

I did Toadstool last May, just to snag a Nebraska element to my Black Hills trip. Well worth it. And agreed, a fun series could be made on this topic

[@carnakthemagnificent336]

Definitely worth a series, Mr. Kyle. You do this very well. Like the geology information - type of rock, age, and how they formed. Never heard of most of these places - especially Dolly Sods. Thank you - saved to my future travel folder. I recommend Great Basin NP for the Bristlecone Pine, Lehman Caves, tallest point in Nevada, and exceptional night sky.

[@GeographyKing]

I should have a part 2 to this video coming soon.

[@meena_duck]

The flint hills in Kansas are so underrated and beautiful!

[@biglad1986]

Definitely going to check out the Coral Pink Sand Dunes 🙌

[@jeladsnikpoh1289]

Another great video! I live a half hour from Mammoth Cave National Park.

[@qc9865]

YES.. s/b a series. I've traceled the continental USA a bit and saw The Corn Palace in SD, Carhenge in NE, Four Corners... and a lot of the usual stuff ... but when I see this video.. I realize "I ain't been nowhere yet!"

[@daved2820]

Another interesting thing about the great dismal swamp is it’s probably the northern most extent of palms on the east coast. It’s hard to verify today because a lot of palms were planted around Virginia Beach for ornamental purposes but there are old groves of dwarf palmetto in the swamp that are growing wild.

[@darthdarthbinkss]

One interesting site that flies under the radar is the Ottine Swamp near Gonzales, TX. It’s a swamp that spans only a few hundred acres in the Texas Gulf Coastal Plains, hundreds of miles from the nearest swamps in East Texas. I believe it’s the only one of its kind in the south. You can see the area for yourself at Palmetto State Park. They even have their own version of Bigfoot called the Ottine Swamp Thing. Great video as always! You should definitely make this into a series.

[@morganm9040]

Well done, Kyle! I've been to Coral Pink Sand Dunes many times, and it's always worth a visit. Yes, this would make a great series.

[@brucecarroll4041]

YES, make this a Series. Yes, yes, yes!!

[@robthomas3664]

I love it out there around Capulin Volcano Park! A couple of times I've stopped for awhile near the park entrance, (they're usually closed at night) just to enjoy the silence. Ironically, the highway noise was still audible, but not obnoxious as it would be from the highway. Even the aorcraft were audible from how far away they were at cruising altitude. It was an amazing feeling.

[@serpephone]

It’s really cool you included Mt Capulin! I grew up in North TX but my mother is from Texline. We would go see family up there at least once a year and you can see Capulin all the way from Clayton! We’ve driven up Capulin many times. You’re right, it’s an easy volcano to get to, drive up, and hike! Just be weather aware. It gets windy there and I’ve definitely seen them close it due to weather.

[@kennethwehrs8924]

Toadstool Geological Park getting some love! I have hiked this many times. The 3 mile trail from there to Hudson-Meng Bison Kill Site is beautiful.

[@samanams]

Geology king videos are my sweet treat of the week

[@magellanicspaceclouds]

We definitely need more of these videos. Make it a regular thing!

[@sunnyskytravel4571]

Absolutely you should make this a series, one of your best and most interesting videos I've watched, more please!

[@GeographyKing]

Will do! Thanks

[@natet5959]

Great choices! We drove 8 hours to Providence Canyon one weekend and it was worth it. Amazing place.

[@crimsonking7805]

I could watch this exact type of video for hours. Please make it into a series!

[@vincentpace]

OK, this is basically a checklist of where to go next. Keep 'em coming.

[@jonathantitus2629]

Make it a series please. I have enjoyed visiting some of these, but have now added three to our travel list. Thanks for the education!

[@TheCleric42]

I’m glad to see you give Dolly Sods a minute of fame. It’s a fantastic place to go backpacking.

[@bradyaboussleman1863]

Definitely make this a series!

[@aubreyshumpert4113]

This is my favorite kind of content of yours, keep it up Kyle!

[@robertwazniak9495]

Definitely make this a series... perhaps focus on one location in each state that is an unknown wonder. Someplace that has the beauty but not the tourists and lines.

[@mattl165]

Great video! I love the hidden gems that are overshadowed by larger, more popular national parks.

[@margaretjohnson6259]

nerds rule! always enjoy listening to people with a real passion for something.

[@GeographyKing]

Thanks! I appreciate that

[@ELMS]

Terrific idea for a series. There are tons of lesser known places like this that deserve more attention. My wife and I were in Monument Valley, AZ and we found our way to the nearby Goosenecks State Park where the San Juan River has cut an enormous and very deep meander. It’s breathtaking. No railings, no admission, no attendants. It’s so wild and deep, just the way it was hundreds of years ago. It’s one of the places I remember most about the trip through the American South-West. Also the Bodie State Park ghost town. Love the channel!

[@DavidMorse-zd5bk]

Yes yes yes please do. I absolutely love geography. This is the first video I have seen of yours, and I loved it. IDK how I got here, but you're my new favorite. Now I have to go watch more

[@JaySmith-pv2mw]

I was familiar with Mammoth Caves but NONE of the rest. Thanks for the info. Please make this a series.

[@veecamp7088]

Another GREAT video. I could never get too much of this stuff! ❤

[@beaker1009]

Keep em' coming. I've seen a bunch of great suggestions in previous comments. Love your channel!!

[@deborahbrown2444]

Here's another vote to make this a series! Very interesting, and I never heard of most of these places. Makes me want to go see them all!

[@throwingbull]

Wow. Nice info. I've already been to five of these. I see more travel in my future.

[@twest344]

These are my favorite types of your videos, just lists of cool places. I never thought you would see tall rocks in Kansas.

[@majorbuzz]

Another enlightening video and a Pixie album. Thank you!

[@Josh-yr7gd]

6:04 Sandboarding sounds like fun, but you'll be finding sand days later in places you didn't know existed! 😆

[@the_spruce_moose]

commenting for engagement and to get your videos back into my algorithm a bit more frequently

[@gloriagarza6823]

Peace. Thank you for your comprehensive exposures of Earth's topographies and underpinnings in a most concise and illustrative conversation to be heard and seen. Bravo! Kudos! Peace.

[@nothat0therguy992]

I love learning about interesting and beautiful natural features, so I would love for this to become a series

[@livinginvancouverbc2247]

So relaxing after a stressful day. May I suggest a series on water falls and rapids? They don't need to be the biggest or whatever, just pretty waterfalls and rapids. There are usually lots of interesting stories about them.

[@VL-gs2wr]

Yes, please make a series of this!

[@Sdawggy]

Make it a series!! You the man Kyle!

[@favjr]

Yes, this would be a great series.

[@ohcrounches1989]

Hey i just wanna say i have enjoyed your videos throughout the years im wishing you and your family a good quality of life and success. I love when you talk about northwest illinois because thats where I live. ❤🎉

[@GeographyKing]

Thanks! I appreciate the kind words. I'll certainly have more about NW Illinois and the Driftless Area upcoming.

[@psmirage8584]

This was a wonderful watch. Incredible photos, incredible beauty. So much I never even knew about.

[@MADHIKER777]

Facinating places. I knew of a few, but most were unknown to me. This would make a great series!

[@KeithSchumacherPortfolio]

Great ep!

[@dj-kq4fz]

More, please! Thanks Kyle!

[@josephgrasser3746]

This was awesome!

[@frankzappa5038]

Loved it! Thanks for the great videos!👍

[@reedandjulie1013]

Yes, a series would be great! You covered some places I have not heard of and will circle on my maps.

[@kostasjezuz4846]

Loved it, would love to see more, thanks!

[@yvonneconte3040]

Love your videos, thanks for sharing. Wish I did more traveling in my younger years

[@johndillon3805]

Enjoyed. Please do more of these.

[@gerrythekay]

This was a GREAT video. Let’s see more!

[@prestons7777]

This is a good one. Thank you

[@swisschalet1658]

Yes! A series!

[@justhereforthefoliage]

Amazing video! Would love to see a series!

[@Turdfergusen382]

Coool video thanks for sharing.

[@ShiestyApe]

Great upload!

[@raekal8482]

Yes! to a series!

[@Questinia1]

Loved this.

[@jasonfeldman7497]

Thank you, Geography King, for this video. I live in the eastern US, and never heard of the Dolly Sods. It's so interesting, and now that my family and I are aware of it, we'll go explore it someday.