While natural habitats continue to dwindle around the globe, sanctuaries, refuges and parks throughout the United States preserve wilderness for beasts big and small. From purple mountain majesties to fruited plains, our nation is rich in wildlife. 10Best asked a team of wildlife experts to nominate their favorite places to observe wild animals in the United States.
For the past four weeks 10Best readers have been voting daily for their favorites, and in the end it was Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma that came out on top.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Place to See Wildlife are as follows:
- Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge - Oklahoma
- Yellowstone National Park - Montana, Wyoming
- Wind Cave National Park - South Dakota
- Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge - Colorado
- Denali National Park - Alaska
- Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado
- Blue Ridge Parkway - North Carolina, Virginia
- Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming
- Glacier National Park - Montana
- Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge - Alaska
A panel of experts picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts David Houghton (National Wildlife Refuge Association), Matt Johnson (National Audubon Society) and David Mizejewski (National Wildlife Federation) were chosen based on their extensive knowledge of American wildlife.
Other nominees for Best Place to See Wildlife included Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, Becharof National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, Big Bend National Park in Texas, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, Bracken Bat Cave in Texas, Cranberry Wilderness in West Virginia, Joshua Tree National Park in California, National Elk Refuge in Wyoming, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Texas and the Sky Islands in Arizona.
Congratulations to all our winning parks and refuges!
License the 10Best Readers' Choice Award Logo
The Experts
David Houghton
David Houghton is the President of the National... Read More
David Houghton is the President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. The Refuge Association advocates for the 573 million acre National Wildlife Refuge System and Pacific Marine National Monuments. David has worked to add millions of acres to the Refuge System. David lives in Naples Florida and has been to more than 350 National Wildlife Refuges.
David Houghton

David Houghton is the President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. The Refuge Association advocates for the 573 million acre National Wildlife Refuge System and Pacific Marine National Monuments. David has worked to add millions of acres to the Refuge System. David lives in Naples Florida and has been to more than 350 National Wildlife Refuges.
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson is the Education Director with... Read More
Matt Johnson is the Education Director with Audubon South Carolina, the state office of the National Audubon Society. Prior to joining Audubon, Matt worked as a producer for an Emmy award-winning nature documentary entitled “Expeditions with Patrick McMillan” at Clemson University. Through work and recreationally, he has birded in half the U.S. states, as well as in Central America. As an educator with Audubon, his focus is to raise awareness for bird conservation through environmental education and outreach.
Matt Johnson

Matt Johnson is the Education Director with Audubon South Carolina, the state office of the National Audubon Society. Prior to joining Audubon, Matt worked as a producer for an Emmy award-winning nature documentary entitled “Expeditions with Patrick McMillan” at Clemson University. Through work and recreationally, he has birded in half the U.S. states, as well as in Central America. As an educator with Audubon, his focus is to raise awareness for bird conservation through environmental education and outreach.
David Mizejewski
David Mizejewski has been fascinated by our... Read More
David Mizejewski has been fascinated by our natural world for as long as he can remember. A lifelong naturalist, he spent his youth exploring the woods, fields and wetlands, observing and learning about the surprising diversity of wildlife that inhabits them. David is a media personality, author, blogger and a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation. He holds a degree in Human and Natural Ecology from Emory University and is an expert on wildlife and our environment. He’s dedicated to using his knowledge and his enthusiasm to help others understand and protect wildlife. David is co-host of NatGeo WILD’s new prime time television series Pet Talk. He helps viewers understand wildlife through their pets and how pets and wildlife interact and affect each other. He appears regularly as a wildlife expert on other NatGeo WILD series such as Are You Smarter Than, How Human Are You, and Unlikely Animal Friends.
David Mizejewski

David Mizejewski has been fascinated by our natural world for as long as he can remember. A lifelong naturalist, he spent his youth exploring the woods, fields and wetlands, observing and learning about the surprising diversity of wildlife that inhabits them. David is a media personality, author, blogger and a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation. He holds a degree in Human and Natural Ecology from Emory University and is an expert on wildlife and our environment. He’s dedicated to using his knowledge and his enthusiasm to help others understand and protect wildlife. David is co-host of NatGeo WILD’s new prime time television series Pet Talk. He helps viewers understand wildlife through their pets and how pets and wildlife interact and affect each other. He appears regularly as a wildlife expert on other NatGeo WILD series such as Are You Smarter Than, How Human Are You, and Unlikely Animal Friends.