1. Fly Geyser, Nevada
In the middle of the Nevada desert, this vibrant, technicolor geyser seems to belong on a distant, rainbow-hued planet. Formed accidentally during geothermal drilling, the geyser spews hot water from its cone-shaped mounds, which are covered in vivid algae.
Why it’s strange: The colors are so intense and unexpected that you’ll wonder if you’ve accidentally stepped into a fantasy realm. It’s a mix of nature and human error gone spectacularly strange.
2. Badlands, South Dakota
The jagged, layered rock formations of the Badlands look more like Mars than the American Midwest. These striking, multicolored peaks and deep canyons have been sculpted over millions of years by erosion, giving the landscape a post-apocalyptic vibe.
Why it’s strange: It’s like a desolate alien planet, complete with a harsh, rugged beauty that leaves you in awe — and a little on edge.
3. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, this vast desert of towering sand dunes appears totally out of place. These dunes, some reaching 750 feet high, are the tallest in North America, and they rise up out of nowhere in the otherwise forested Colorado landscape.
Why it’s strange: Imagine climbing these massive sand mountains with snow-capped peaks in the background. It’s a paradox of sand meets snow that feels almost impossible.
4. Mono Lake, California
This eerie, ancient lake is known for its bizarre tufa towers—spiky limestone formations that rise out of the water like jagged teeth. The lake’s salty, alkaline waters make it inhospitable for most life, creating a stark, lifeless atmosphere.
Why it’s strange: The ghostly towers and salty, almost syrupy water make it feel like a sci-fi alien ocean. You half expect to see an alien ship rise from its depths.
5. Antelope Canyon, Arizona
This slot canyon on Navajo land is an otherworldly masterpiece sculpted by nature. Walking through its narrow, twisting corridors feels like stepping inside an abstract painting. The sunlight streaming through the cracks creates waves of reds, oranges, and purples that look almost unreal.
Why it’s strange: The way the light dances on the smooth sandstone walls is nothing short of magical. It feels like walking inside a living kaleidoscope.
6. The Wave, Arizona
Located in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, The Wave is a sandstone formation that looks like rolling, rippling ocean waves frozen in stone. This undulating red rock landscape feels almost like stepping onto a distant planet.
Why it’s strange: The surreal, flowing lines and vibrant colors make it seem like nature was trying to imitate Van Gogh’s brushstrokes.
7. Joshua Tree National Park, California
With its twisted, spiky Joshua trees and vast, rocky desert landscape, this park feels like the set of a sci-fi movie. The unique shapes of the trees, combined with the boulder-strewn terrain, make it seem like you’ve landed on a distant moon.
Why it’s strange: The combination of alien-like trees and bizarre rock formations makes it feel like you’re exploring a different world — or maybe just a vivid dream.
8. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
Deep beneath the earth’s surface, Carlsbad Caverns is like stepping into a massive, underground cathedral. The caverns are filled with massive stalactites, stalagmites, and chambers that look like they belong to some fantastical underworld.
Why it’s strange: The sheer size and surreal formations are breathtaking. It’s hard to believe such a place exists beneath our feet.
9. Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
Filled with thousands of peculiar mushroom-shaped rock formations, Goblin Valley looks like a playground for mischievous stone creatures. The “goblins” are actually formed by centuries of erosion, giving the valley an oddly whimsical vibe.
Why it’s strange: The landscape is so whimsical and odd that you half-expect tiny goblins to pop out from behind the rocks.
10. Craters of the Moon, Idaho
This vast expanse of blackened lava fields and cinder cones genuinely resembles the lunar surface. Formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago, the landscape is stark and unforgiving.
Why it’s strange: Walking through this barren, cracked terrain feels like a moonwalk — without leaving Earth’s atmosphere.
11. The Sinks, Wyoming
Here, the Popo Agie River disappears into a cavernous sinkhole, only to reappear in a pool called “The Rise” about half a mile away. Scientists still haven’t figured out the exact route the water takes underground.
Why it’s strange: It’s a real-life magic trick. The river just vanishes into the ground, leaving you scratching your head.
12. Devil’s Tower, Wyoming
This giant monolith rises nearly 900 feet out of nowhere, dominating the surrounding plains. It’s easy to see why it’s been the subject of Native American legends and even a sci-fi movie (remember Close Encounters of the Third Kind?).
Why it’s strange: Its perfectly straight columns make it look more like an alien landing pad than a natural formation.
13. Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
The world’s longest known cave system stretches on for hundreds of miles underground, filled with twisting tunnels, eerie chambers, and strange rock formations. Walking through it feels like entering the labyrinthine underbelly of the Earth.
Why it’s strange: It’s like a subterranean world of its own, where time feels frozen and the air is thick with mystery.
