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List of national parks of the United States

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of national parks of the United States

The United States has 63 national parks, which are congressionally designated protected areas operated by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior. National parks are designated for their natural beauty, unique geological features, diverse ecosystems, and recreational opportunities, typically "because of some outstanding scenic feature or natural phenomena." While legislatively all units of the National Park System are considered equal with the same mission, national parks are generally larger and more of a destination, and hunting and extractive activities are prohibited. National monuments, on the other hand, are also frequently protected for their historical or archaeological significance. Eight national parks (including six in Alaska) are paired with a national preserve, areas with different levels of protection that are administered together but considered separate units and whose areas are not included in the figures below. The 433 units of the National Park System can be broadly referred to as national parks, but most have other formal designations. A bill creating the first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, followed by Mackinac National Park in 1875 (decommissioned in 1895), and then Rock Creek Park (later merged into National Capital Parks), Sequoia and Yosemite in 1890. The Organic Act of 1916 created the National Park Service "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Many current national parks had been previously protected as national monuments by the president under the Antiquities Act or as other designations created by Congress before being redesignated by Congress; the newest national park is New River Gorge, previously a National River, and the most recent entirely new park is National Park of American Samoa. A few former national parks are no longer designated as such, or have been disbanded. Fourteen national parks are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS), and 21 national parks are named UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BR), with eight national parks in both programs. Thirty states have national parks, as do the territories of American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The state with the most national parks is California with nine, followed by Alaska with eight, Utah with five, and Colorado with four. The largest national park is Wrangell–St. Elias in Alaska: at over 8 million acres (32,375 km2), it is larger than each of the nine smallest states. The next three largest parks are also in Alaska. The smallest park is Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri, at 192.83 acres (0.7804 km2). The total area protected by national parks is approximately 52.4 million acres (212,000 km2), for an average of 833 thousand acres (3,370 km2) but a median of only 220 thousand acres (890 km2). The national parks set a visitation record in 2024, with more than 94 million visitors. Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee has been the most-visited park since 1944, and had over 12 million visitors in 2024. In contrast, about 11,900 people visited the remote Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska in 2024.

Tables

List of national parks of the United States · National parks
Acadia
Acadia
Name
Acadia
Location
Maine .mw- .mw- 44°21′N 68°13′W / 44.35°N 68.21°W / 44.35; -68.21 (Acadia)
Date established as park
February 26, 1919
Area (2023)
49,071.40 acres (198.6 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
3,961,661
Description
Covering most of Mount Desert Island and other coastal islands, Acadia features the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast of the United States, granite peaks, ocean shoreline, woodlands, and lakes. There are freshwater, estuary, forest, and intertidal habitats.
American Samoa
American Samoa
Name
American Samoa
Location
American Samoa14°15′S 170°41′W / 14.25°S 170.68°W / -14.25; -170.68 (National Park of American Samoa)
Date established as park
October 31, 1988
Area (2023)
8,256.67 acres (33.4 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
22,567
Description
The southernmost national park is on three Samoan islands in the South Pacific. It protects coral reefs, rainforests, volcanic mountains, and white beaches. The area is also home to flying foxes, brown boobies, sea turtles, and 900 species of fish.
Arches
Arches
Name
Arches
Location
Utah38°41′N 109°34′W / 38.68°N 109.57°W / 38.68; -109.57 (Arches)
Date established as park
November 12, 1971
Area (2023)
76,678.98 acres (310.3 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
1,466,528
Description
This site features more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, with some of the most popular arches in the park being Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch and Double Arch. Millions of years of erosion have created these structures in a desert climate where the arid ground has life-sustaining biological soil crusts and potholes that serve as natural water-collecting basins. Other geologic formations include stone pinnacles, fins, and balancing rocks.
Badlands
Badlands
Name
Badlands
Location
South Dakota43°45′N 102°30′W / 43.75°N 102.50°W / 43.75; -102.50 (Badlands)
Date established as park
November 10, 1978
Area (2023)
242,755.94 acres (982.4 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
1,094,245
Description
The Badlands are a collection of buttes, pinnacles, spires, and mixed-grass prairies within the drainage basin of the White River, in southwestern South Dakota. They contain the largest known assemblage of late Eocene and Oligocene mammal fossils. Wildlife includes bison, bighorn sheep, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs.
Big Bend †
Big Bend †
Name
Big Bend †
Location
Texas29°15′N 103°15′W / 29.25°N 103.25°W / 29.25; -103.25 (Big Bend)
Date established as park
June 12, 1944
Area (2023)
801,163.21 acres (3,242.2 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
561,458
Description
Named for the prominent bend in the Rio Grande along the U.S.–Mexico border, this park encompasses a large and remote part of the Chihuahuan Desert. Its main attraction is backcountry recreation in the arid Chisos Mountains and in canyons along the river. A wide variety of Cretaceous and Tertiary fossils as well as cultural artifacts of Native Americans also exist within its borders. (BR)
Biscayne
Biscayne
Name
Biscayne
Location
Florida25°39′N 80°05′W / 25.65°N 80.08°W / 25.65; -80.08 (Biscayne)
Date established as park
June 28, 1980
Area (2023)
172,971.11 acres (700.0 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
512,213
Description
The central part of Biscayne Bay, this mostly underwater park at the north end of the Florida Keys has four interrelated marine ecosystems: mangrove forest, the Bay, the Keys, and coral reefs. Threatened animals include the West Indian manatee, American crocodile, various sea turtles, and the peregrine falcon.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Name
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Location
Colorado38°34′N 107°43′W / 38.57°N 107.72°W / 38.57; -107.72 (Black Canyon of the Gunnison)
Date established as park
October 21, 1999
Area (2023)
30,779.83 acres (124.6 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
335,862
Description
The park protects a quarter of the Gunnison River, which slices sheer canyon walls from dark Precambrian-era rock. The canyon features some of the steepest cliffs and oldest rock in North America, and is a popular site for river rafting and rock climbing. The deep, narrow canyon is composed of gneiss and schist, which appears black when in shadow.
Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon
Name
Bryce Canyon
Location
Utah37°34′N 112°11′W / 37.57°N 112.18°W / 37.57; -112.18 (Bryce Canyon)
Date established as park
February 25, 1928
Area (2023)
35,835.08 acres (145.0 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
2,498,075
Description
Bryce Canyon is a geological amphitheater on southern Utah's Paunsaugunt Plateau with hundreds of tall, multicolored sandstone hoodoos formed by erosion. The region was originally settled by Native Americans and later by Mormon pioneers.
Canyonlands
Canyonlands
Name
Canyonlands
Location
Utah38°12′N 109°56′W / 38.2°N 109.93°W / 38.2; -109.93 (Canyonlands)
Date established as park
September 12, 1964
Area (2023)
337,597.83 acres (1,366.2 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
818,492
Description
This landscape was eroded into a maze of canyons, buttes, and mesas by the combined efforts of the Colorado River, Green River, and their tributaries, which divide the park into three districts. The park contains thousands of rock pinnacles and arches, as well as artifacts from Ancient Pueblo peoples.
Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef
Name
Capitol Reef
Location
Utah38°12′N 111°10′W / 38.20°N 111.17°W / 38.20; -111.17 (Capitol Reef)
Date established as park
December 18, 1971
Area (2023)
241,904.50 acres (979.0 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
1,422,490
Description
The park's Waterpocket Fold is a 100-mile (160 km) monocline that exhibits the earth's diverse geologic layers. Other natural features include monoliths, eroded buttes, and sandstone domes, including one shaped like the United States Capitol.
Carlsbad Caverns *
Carlsbad Caverns *
Name
Carlsbad Caverns *
Location
New Mexico32°10′N 104°26′W / 32.17°N 104.44°W / 32.17; -104.44 (Carlsbad Caverns)
Date established as park
May 14, 1930
Area (2023)
46,766.45 acres (189.3 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
460,474
Description
Carlsbad Caverns has 117 caves, the longest of which is over 120 miles (190 km) long. The Big Room is almost 4,000 feet (1,200 m) long, and the caves are home to over 400,000 Mexican free-tailed bats and sixteen other species. Above ground are the Chihuahuan Desert and Rattlesnake Springs. (WHS)
Channel Islands †
Channel Islands †
Name
Channel Islands †
Location
California34°01′N 119°25′W / 34.01°N 119.42°W / 34.01; -119.42 (Channel Islands)
Date established as park
March 5, 1980
Area (2023)
249,561.00 acres (1,009.9 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
262,581
Description
Five of the eight Channel Islands are protected, with half of the park's area underwater. The islands have a unique Mediterranean ecosystem originally settled by the Chumash people. They are home to over 2,000 species of land plants and animals, 145 endemic to them, including the island fox. Ferry services offer transportation to the islands from the mainland. (BR)
Congaree †
Congaree †
Name
Congaree †
Location
South Carolina33°47′N 80°47′W / 33.78°N 80.78°W / 33.78; -80.78 (Congaree)
Date established as park
November 10, 2003
Area (2023)
26,692.60 acres (108.0 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
242,049
Description
On the Congaree River, this park is the largest portion of old-growth floodplain forest left in North America. Some of the trees are the tallest in the eastern United States. An elevated walkway called the Boardwalk Loop guides visitors through the swamp. (BR)
Crater Lake
Crater Lake
Name
Crater Lake
Location
Oregon42°56′N 122°06′W / 42.94°N 122.1°W / 42.94; -122.1 (Crater Lake)
Date established as park
May 22, 1902
Area (2023)
183,224.05 acres (741.5 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
504,942
Description
Crater Lake lies in the caldera of an ancient volcano called Mount Mazama that collapsed 7,700 years ago. The lake is the deepest in the United States and is noted for its vivid blue color and water clarity. Wizard Island and the Phantom Ship are more recent volcanic formations within the caldera. As the lake has no inlets or outlets, it is replenished only by precipitation.
Cuyahoga Valley
Cuyahoga Valley
Name
Cuyahoga Valley
Location
Ohio41°14′N 81°33′W / 41.24°N 81.55°W / 41.24; -81.55 (Cuyahoga Valley)
Date established as park
October 11, 2000
Area (2023)
32,571.89 acres (131.8 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
2,912,454
Description
This park along the Cuyahoga River has waterfalls, hills, trails, and exhibits on early rural living. The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail follows the Ohio and Erie Canal, where mules towed canal boats. The park has numerous historic homes, bridges, and structures, and also offers a scenic train ride.
Death Valley †
Death Valley †
Name
Death Valley †
Location
California, Nevada36°14′N 116°49′W / 36.24°N 116.82°W / 36.24; -116.82 (Death Valley)
Date established as park
October 31, 1994
Area (2023)
3,408,395.63 acres (13,793.3 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
1,440,484
Description
Death Valley is the hottest, lowest, and driest place in the United States, with daytime temperatures that have exceeded 130 °F (54 °C). The park protects Badwater Basin and its vast salt flats at the lowest elevation in North America, −282 ft (−86 m), This geologic graben also protects numerous canyons, badlands, sand dunes, mountain ranges, historic mines, springs, and more than 1,000 species of plants that grow. (BR)
Denali †
Denali †
Name
Denali †
Location
Alaska63°20′N 150°30′W / 63.33°N 150.50°W / 63.33; -150.50 (Denali)
Date established as park
February 26, 1917
Area (2023)
4,740,911.16 acres (19,185.8 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
466,227
Description
Centered on Denali, the tallest and most prominent mountain in North America, the park is serviced by a single road leading to Wonder Lake, most of which can only be accessed via scheduled tour buses. Denali and other peaks of the Alaska Range are covered with long glaciers and boreal forest. Wildlife includes grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and wolves. (BR)
Dry Tortugas †
Dry Tortugas †
Name
Dry Tortugas †
Location
Florida24°38′N 82°52′W / 24.63°N 82.87°W / 24.63; -82.87 (Dry Tortugas)
Date established as park
October 26, 1992
Area (2023)
64,701.22 acres (261.8 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
84,873
Description
The islands of the Dry Tortugas, at the westernmost end of the Florida Keys, are the site of Fort Jefferson, a Civil War-era fort that is the largest masonry structure in the Americas. The park is home to undisturbed coral reefs and shipwrecks, and is only accessible by plane or boat. (BR)
Everglades ‡
Everglades ‡
Name
Everglades ‡
Location
Florida25°19′N 80°56′W / 25.32°N 80.93°W / 25.32; -80.93 (Everglades)
Date established as park
May 30, 1934
Area (2023)
1,508,938.57 acres (6,106.5 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
741,983
Description
The Everglades are the largest tropical wilderness in the United States. This mangrove and tropical rainforest ecosystem and marine estuary is home to 36 protected species, including the Florida panther, American crocodile, and West Indian manatee. Some areas have been drained and developed; restoration projects aim to restore the ecology. (WHS) (BR)
Gates of the Arctic
Gates of the Arctic
Name
Gates of the Arctic
Location
Alaska67°47′N 153°18′W / 67.78°N 153.30°W / 67.78; -153.30 (Gates of the Arctic)
Date established as park
December 2, 1980
Area (2023)
7,523,897.45 acres (30,448.1 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
11,907
Description
The country's northernmost park protects an expanse of pure wilderness in Alaska's Brooks Range and has no park facilities. The land is home to Alaska Natives who have relied on the land and caribou for 11,000 years.
Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch
Name
Gateway Arch
Location
Missouri38°38′N 90°11′W / 38.63°N 90.19°W / 38.63; -90.19 (Gateway Arch)
Date established as park
February 22, 2018
Area (2023)
192.83 acres (0.8 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
2,563,052
Description
The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192 m) (both high and wide) catenary arch built in the 1960s to commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition, initiated by Thomas Jefferson, and the subsequent westward expansion of the country. The nearby Old Courthouse, across a greenway to the west of the arch, was the original site of the landmark Dred Scott case about slavery. An underground museum describes the arch's construction and the country's westward expansion.
Glacier ‡
Glacier ‡
Name
Glacier ‡
Location
Montana48°48′N 114°00′W / 48.80°N 114.00°W / 48.80; -114.00 (Glacier)
Date established as park
May 11, 1910
Area (2023)
1,013,126.39 acres (4,100.0 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
3,208,755
Description
The U.S. half of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, this park includes 26 rapidly receding glaciers and 130 named lakes surrounded by Rocky Mountain peaks. Historic hotels and the landmark Going-to-the-Sun Road accommodate visitors. The local mountains, formed by an overthrust, expose Paleozoic fossils including trilobites, mollusks, giant ferns and dinosaurs. The park is also home to Triple Divide Peak, which forms the boundary between the watersheds of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. (WHS) (BR)
Glacier Bay ‡
Glacier Bay ‡
Name
Glacier Bay ‡
Location
Alaska58°30′N 137°00′W / 58.50°N 137.00°W / 58.50; -137.00 (Glacier Bay)
Date established as park
December 2, 1980
Area (2023)
3,223,383.43 acres (13,044.6 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
736,282
Description
Glacier Bay contains tidewater glaciers, mountains, fjords, and a temperate rainforest, and is home to large populations of grizzly bears, mountain goats, whales, seals, and eagles. When discovered in 1794 by George Vancouver, the entire bay was covered by ice, but the glaciers have since receded more than 65 miles (105 km). (WHS) (BR)
Grand Canyon *
Grand Canyon *
Name
Grand Canyon *
Location
Arizona36°04′N 112°08′W / 36.06°N 112.14°W / 36.06; -112.14 (Grand Canyon)
Date established as park
February 26, 1919
Area (2023)
1,201,647.03 acres (4,862.9 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
4,919,163
Description
The Grand Canyon, carved by the mighty Colorado River, is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 1 mile (1.6 km) deep, and up to 15 miles (24 km) wide. Millions of years of erosion have resulted in a massive three-tiered canyon, exposing the multicolored layers of the Colorado Plateau in mesas and canyon walls, visible from trails that descend into the canyon from the north and south rims. (WHS)
Grand Teton †
Grand Teton †
Name
Grand Teton †
Location
Wyoming43°44′N 110°48′W / 43.73°N 110.80°W / 43.73; -110.80 (Grand Teton)
Date established as park
February 26, 1929
Area (2023)
310,044.36 acres (1,254.7 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
3,628,222
Description
Grand Teton is the tallest mountain in the scenic Teton Range. The park's historic Jackson Hole and reflective piedmont lakes teem with endemic wildlife, with a backdrop of craggy mountains that rise abruptly from the sage-covered valley below. (BR)
Great Basin
Great Basin
Name
Great Basin
Location
Nevada38°59′N 114°18′W / 38.98°N 114.30°W / 38.98; -114.30 (Great Basin)
Date established as park
October 27, 1986
Area (2023)
77,180.00 acres (312.3 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
152,068
Description
Based around Nevada's second tallest mountain, Wheeler Peak, Great Basin National Park protects 5,000-year-old bristlecone pines, a rock glacier, and the limestone Lehman Caves. Due to its remote location, the park is home to some of the country's darkest night skies. Wildlife includes the Townsend's big-eared bat, pronghorn, and Bonneville cutthroat trout.
Great Sand Dunes
Great Sand Dunes
Name
Great Sand Dunes
Location
Colorado37°44′N 105°31′W / 37.73°N 105.51°W / 37.73; -105.51 (Great Sand Dunes)
Date established as park
September 24, 2004
Area (2023)
107,345.73 acres (434.4 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
437,661
Description
The tallest sand dunes in North America, up to 750 feet (230 m) tall, were formed by deposits of the ancient Rio Grande in the San Luis Valley. Abutting a variety of grasslands, shrublands, and wetlands, the park also features alpine lakes, six 13,000-foot mountains, and old-growth forests.
Great Smoky Mountains ‡
Great Smoky Mountains ‡
Name
Great Smoky Mountains ‡
Location
North Carolina, Tennessee35°41′N 83°32′W / 35.68°N 83.53°W / 35.68; -83.53 (Great Smoky Mountains)
Date established as park
June 15, 1934
Area (2023)
522,426.88 acres (2,114.2 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
12,191,834
Description
The Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains, span a wide range of elevations, making them home to over 400 vertebrate species, 100 tree species, and 5,000 plant species. Hiking is the park's main attraction, with over 800 miles (1,300 km) of trails, including 70 miles (110 km) of the Appalachian Trail. Other activities include fishing, horseback riding, and touring nearly 80 historic structures. (WHS) (BR)
Guadalupe Mountains
Guadalupe Mountains
Name
Guadalupe Mountains
Location
Texas31°55′N 104°52′W / 31.92°N 104.87°W / 31.92; -104.87 (Guadalupe Mountains)
Date established as park
September 30, 1972
Area (2023)
86,367.10 acres (349.5 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
226,134
Description
This park contains Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, as well as the scenic McKittrick Canyon filled with bigtooth maples, a corner of the arid Chihuahuan Desert, and a fossilized coral reef from the Permian era.
Haleakalā †
Haleakalā †
Name
Haleakalā †
Location
Hawaii20°43′N 156°10′W / 20.72°N 156.17°W / 20.72; -156.17 (Haleakalā)
Date established as park
July 1, 1961
Area (2023)
33,488.98 acres (135.5 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
732,477
Description
The Haleakalā volcano on Maui features a very large crater with numerous cinder cones, a grove of non-native trees, the Kipahulu section's scenic pools of freshwater fish, and the endemic Hawaiian goose. The park protects the greatest number of endangered species within a U.S. national park. (BR)
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes ‡
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes ‡
Name
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes ‡
Location
Hawaii19°23′N 155°12′W / 19.38°N 155.20°W / 19.38; -155.20 (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes)
Date established as park
August 1, 1916
Area (2023)
344,812.18 acres (1,395.4 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
1,433,593
Description
This park on the Big Island protects the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, two of the world's most active geological features. Diverse ecosystems range from tropical forests at sea level to barren lava beds at more than 13,000 feet (4,000 m). (WHS) (BR)
Hot Springs
Hot Springs
Name
Hot Springs
Location
Arkansas34°31′N 93°03′W / 34.51°N 93.05°W / 34.51; -93.05 (Hot Springs)
Date established as park
March 4, 1921
Area (2023)
5,554.15 acres (22.5 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
2,461,812
Description
Hot Springs was originally established by Congress as a federal reserve on April 20, 1832, making it the oldest area managed by the National Park Service. Natural thermal springs flow out of the Ouachita Mountains, providing opportunities for relaxation in a historic setting. Bathhouse Row preserves examples of 19th-century architecture. Hot Springs is the first national park within a city and was the smallest national park until 2018.
Indiana Dunes
Indiana Dunes
Name
Indiana Dunes
Location
Indiana41°39′12″N 87°03′09″W / 41.6533°N 87.0524°W / 41.6533; -87.0524 (Indiana Dunes)
Date established as park
February 15, 2019
Area (2023)
15,349.08 acres (62.1 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
2,705,209
Description
Previously designated a national lakeshore, parts of this 20-mile (32 km) stretch of the southern shore of Lake Michigan have sandy beaches and tall dunes. The park includes grassy prairies, peat bogs, and marsh wetlands home to over 2,000 species.
Isle Royale †
Isle Royale †
Name
Isle Royale †
Location
Michigan48°06′N 88°33′W / 48.10°N 88.55°W / 48.10; -88.55 (Isle Royale)
Date established as park
April 3, 1940
Area (2023)
571,790.30 acres (2,314.0 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
28,806
Description
The largest island in Lake Superior is a place of isolation and wilderness. Along with its many shipwrecks, waterways, and hiking trails, the park also includes over 400 smaller islands within 4.5 miles (7.2 km) of its shores. There are only 20 mammal species on the island, though the relationship between its wolf and moose populations is especially unique. (BR)
Joshua Tree †
Joshua Tree †
Name
Joshua Tree †
Location
California33°47′N 115°54′W / 33.79°N 115.90°W / 33.79; -115.90 (Joshua Tree)
Date established as park
October 31, 1994
Area (2023)
795,155.85 acres (3,217.9 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
2,991,874
Description
Covering large areas of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts and the Little San Bernardino Mountains, this desert landscape is populated by vast stands of Joshua trees. Large changes in elevation reveal various contrasting environments including bleached sand dunes, dry lakes, rugged mountains, and maze-like clusters of monzogranite monoliths. (BR)
Katmai
Katmai
Name
Katmai
Location
Alaska58°30′N 155°00′W / 58.50°N 155.00°W / 58.50; -155.00 (Katmai)
Date established as park
December 2, 1980
Area (2023)
3,674,529.33 acres (14,870.3 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
36,230
Description
This park on the Alaska Peninsula protects the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, an ash flow formed by the 1912 eruption of Novarupta, and the stratovolcano Mount Katmai. Over 2,000 grizzly bears come here each year to catch spawning salmon. Other wildlife includes caribou, wolves, moose, and wolverines.
Kenai Fjords
Kenai Fjords
Name
Kenai Fjords
Location
Alaska59°55′N 149°39′W / 59.92°N 149.65°W / 59.92; -149.65 (Kenai Fjords)
Date established as park
December 2, 1980
Area (2023)
669,650.05 acres (2,710.0 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
419,468
Description
Near Seward on the Kenai Peninsula, this park protects the Harding Icefield and at least 38 glaciers and fjords stemming from it. The only area accessible to the public by road is the rapidly shrinking Exit Glacier. Boat and kayak tours offer views of tidewater glaciers, whales, sea lions, and marine birds.
Kings Canyon †
Kings Canyon †
Name
Kings Canyon †
Location
California36°48′N 118°33′W / 36.80°N 118.55°W / 36.80; -118.55 (Kings Canyon)
Date established as park
March 4, 1940
Area (2023)
461,901.20 acres (1,869.2 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
699,389
Description
Home to several giant sequoia groves and the General Grant Tree, the world's second largest measured tree, this park also features part of the Kings River, sculptor of the dramatic granite canyon that is its namesake, and the San Joaquin River, as well as Boyden Cave. Although Kings Canyon National Park was designated as such in 1940, it subsumed General Grant National Park, which had been established on October 1, 1890, as the United States' fourth national park. (BR)
Kobuk Valley
Kobuk Valley
Name
Kobuk Valley
Location
Alaska67°33′N 159°17′W / 67.55°N 159.28°W / 67.55; -159.28 (Kobuk Valley)
Date established as park
December 2, 1980
Area (2023)
1,750,716.16 acres (7,084.9 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
17,233
Description
Kobuk Valley protects 61 miles (98 km) of the Kobuk River and three regions of sand dunes. Created by glaciers, the Great Kobuk, Little Kobuk, and Hunt River Sand Dunes can reach 100 feet (30 m) high and 100 °F (38 °C), and they are the largest dunes in the Arctic. Twice a year, half a million caribou migrate through the dunes and across river bluffs that expose well-preserved ice age fossils.
Lake Clark
Lake Clark
Name
Lake Clark
Location
Alaska60°58′N 153°25′W / 60.97°N 153.42°W / 60.97; -153.42 (Lake Clark)
Date established as park
December 2, 1980
Area (2023)
2,619,816.49 acres (10,602.0 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
18,505
Description
The region around Lake Clark features four active volcanoes, including Mount Redoubt, as well as an abundance of rivers, glaciers, and waterfalls. Temperate rainforests, a tundra plateau, and three mountain ranges complete the landscape.
Lassen Volcanic
Lassen Volcanic
Name
Lassen Volcanic
Location
California40°29′N 121°31′W / 40.49°N 121.51°W / 40.49; -121.51 (Lassen Volcanic)
Date established as park
August 9, 1916
Area (2023)
106,589.02 acres (431.4 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
357,651
Description
Lassen Peak, the largest lava dome volcano in the world, is joined by all three other types of volcanoes in this park: shield, cinder cone, and composite. Though Lassen itself last erupted in 1915, most of the rest of the park is continuously active. Numerous hydrothermal features, including fumaroles, boiling pools, and bubbling mud pots, are heated by molten rock from beneath the peak.
Mammoth Cave ‡
Mammoth Cave ‡
Name
Mammoth Cave ‡
Location
Kentucky37°11′N 86°06′W / 37.18°N 86.10°W / 37.18; -86.10 (Mammoth Cave)
Date established as park
July 1, 1941
Area (2023)
72,472.87 acres (293.3 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
747,042
Description
With more than 400 miles (640 km) of passageways explored, Mammoth Cave is the world's longest known cave system. Subterranean wildlife includes eight bat species, Kentucky cave shrimp, Northern cavefish, and cave salamanders. Above ground, the park provides recreation on the Green River, 70 miles of hiking trails, and plenty of sinkholes and springs. (WHS) (BR)
Mesa Verde *
Mesa Verde *
Name
Mesa Verde *
Location
Colorado37°11′N 108°29′W / 37.18°N 108.49°W / 37.18; -108.49 (Mesa Verde)
Date established as park
June 29, 1906
Area (2023)
52,485.17 acres (212.4 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
480,065
Description
This area constitutes over 4,000 archaeological sites of the Ancestral Puebloan people, who lived here and elsewhere in the Four Corners region for at least 700 years. Cliff dwellings built in the 12th and 13th centuries include Cliff Palace, which has 150 rooms and 23 kivas, and the Balcony House, with its many passages and tunnels. (WHS)
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Name
Mount Rainier
Location
Washington46°51′N 121°45′W / 46.85°N 121.75°W / 46.85; -121.75 (Mount Rainier)
Date established as park
March 2, 1899
Area (2023)
236,381.64 acres (956.6 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
1,620,006
Description
Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano, is the most prominent peak in the Cascades and is covered by 26 named glaciers including Carbon Glacier and Emmons Glacier, the longest and largest in the contiguous United States respectively. The mountain is popular for climbing, and more than half of the park is covered by subalpine and alpine forests and meadows seasonally in bloom with wildflowers. Paradise on the south slope is among the snowiest places on Earth. The Longmire visitor center is the start of the Wonderland Trail, which encircles the mountain.
New River Gorge
New River Gorge
Name
New River Gorge
Location
West Virginia38°04′N 81°05′W / 38.07°N 81.08°W / 38.07; -81.08 (New River Gorge)
Date established as park
December 27, 2020
Area (2023)
7,021 acres (28.4 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
1,811,937
Description
The New River Gorge is the deepest river gorge east of the Mississippi River. The park primarily covers the lower gorge area around the New River Gorge Bridge, which features some of the country's best whitewater rafting. Smaller noncontiguous sections showcase the ghost town of Thurmond, the scenic Grandview vista, and Sandstone Falls. The other 65,165 acres (263.71 km2) of the redesignated national river is now a national preserve, spanning 53 miles (85 km) of the New River.
North Cascades
North Cascades
Name
North Cascades
Location
Washington48°42′N 121°12′W / 48.70°N 121.20°W / 48.70; -121.20 (North Cascades)
Date established as park
October 2, 1968
Area (2023)
504,780.94 acres (2,042.8 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
16,485
Description
The highly glaciated mountains of the North Cascades Range exhibit a spectacular and complex geologic history. Between the river valleys and high peaks there are eight diverse life zones with 75 mammal and 1,600 vascular plant species. Popular hiking and climbing areas of the Stephen Mather Wilderness include Cascade Pass, Mount Shuksan, Mount Triumph, and Eldorado Peak. Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas adjoin the two segments of the park and are all administered together.
Olympic ‡
Olympic ‡
Name
Olympic ‡
Location
Washington47°58′N 123°30′W / 47.97°N 123.50°W / 47.97; -123.50 (Olympic)
Date established as park
June 29, 1938
Area (2023)
922,649.41 acres (3,733.8 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
3,717,267
Description
This park on the Olympic Peninsula includes a wide range of ecosystems from Pacific shoreline to temperate rainforests to the glaciated alpine peaks of the Olympic Mountains, the tallest of which is Mount Olympus. The Hoh and Quinault Rainforests are the wettest areas in the contiguous United States, with the Hoh receiving an average of almost 12 ft (3.7 m) of rain every year. (WHS) (BR)
Petrified Forest
Petrified Forest
Name
Petrified Forest
Location
Arizona35°04′N 109°47′W / 35.07°N 109.78°W / 35.07; -109.78 (Petrified Forest)
Date established as park
December 9, 1962
Area (2023)
221,390.21 acres (895.9 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
559,254
Description
This portion of the Chinle Formation has a large concentration of 225-million-year-old petrified wood. The surrounding Painted Desert features eroded cliffs of red-hued volcanic rock called bentonite. Dinosaur fossils and over 350 Native American sites are also protected in this park.
Pinnacles
Pinnacles
Name
Pinnacles
Location
California36°29′N 121°10′W / 36.48°N 121.16°W / 36.48; -121.16 (Pinnacles)
Date established as park
January 10, 2013
Area (2023)
26,685.73 acres (108.0 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
354,076
Description
Named for the eroded leftovers of a portion of an extinct volcano, the park's massive black and gold monoliths of andesite and rhyolite are a popular destination for rock climbers. Hikers have access to trails crossing the Coast Range wilderness. The park is one of the few locations where the endangered California condor can be seen in the wild. Pinnacles also supports a dense population of prairie falcons and more than 13 species of bat that populate its talus caves.
Redwood *
Redwood *
Name
Redwood *
Location
California41°18′N 124°00′W / 41.30°N 124.00°W / 41.30; -124.00 (Redwood)
Date established as park
October 2, 1968
Area (2023)
138,999.37 acres (562.5 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
622,883
Description
This park and the co-managed state parks protect almost half of all remaining coastal redwoods, the tallest trees on earth. There are three large river systems in this very seismically active area, and 37 miles (60 km) of protected coastline reveal tide pools and seastacks. The prairie, estuary, coast, river, and forest ecosystems contain a wide variety of animal and plant species. (WHS)
Rocky Mountain †
Rocky Mountain †
Name
Rocky Mountain †
Location
Colorado40°24′N 105°35′W / 40.40°N 105.58°W / 40.40; -105.58 (Rocky Mountain)
Date established as park
January 26, 1915
Area (2023)
265,847.74 acres (1,075.8 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
4,154,349
Description
Bisected north to south by the Continental Divide, this portion of the Rockies has ecosystems varying from over 150 riparian lakes to montane and subalpine forests to treeless alpine tundra. Wildlife including elk, moose, mule deer, bighorn sheep, black bears, and cougars inhabit its igneous mountains and glacial valleys. Longs Peak, a classic Colorado fourteener, and the scenic Bear Lake are popular destinations, as well as the historic Trail Ridge Road, which reaches an elevation of more than 12,000 feet (3,700 m). (BR)
Saguaro
Saguaro
Name
Saguaro
Location
Arizona32°15′N 110°30′W / 32.25°N 110.50°W / 32.25; -110.50 (Saguaro)
Date established as park
October 14, 1994
Area (2023)
92,876.75 acres (375.9 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
946,369
Description
Split into the separate Rincon Mountain and Tucson Mountain districts, this park is evidence that the dry Sonoran Desert is still home to a great variety of life spanning six biotic communities. Beyond the namesake giant saguaro cacti, there are barrel cacti, chollas, and prickly pears, as well as lesser long-nosed bats, spotted owls, and javelinas.
Sequoia †
Sequoia †
Name
Sequoia †
Location
California36°26′N 118°41′W / 36.43°N 118.68°W / 36.43; -118.68 (Sequoia)
Date established as park
September 25, 1890
Area (2023)
404,062.63 acres (1,635.2 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
1,309,573
Description
This park protects the Giant Forest, which boasts some of the world's largest trees, the General Sherman being the largest measured tree in the park. Other features include over 240 caves, a long segment of the Sierra Nevada including the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, and Moro Rock, a large granite dome. (BR)
Shenandoah
Shenandoah
Name
Shenandoah
Location
Virginia38°32′N 78°21′W / 38.53°N 78.35°W / 38.53; -78.35 (Shenandoah)
Date established as park
December 26, 1935
Area (2023)
200,445.92 acres (811.2 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
1,720,211
Description
Shenandoah's Blue Ridge Mountains are covered by hardwood forests that teem with a wide variety of wildlife. The Skyline Drive and Appalachian Trail run the entire length of this narrow park, along with more than 500 miles (800 km) of hiking trails passing scenic overlooks and cataracts of the Shenandoah River.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Name
Theodore Roosevelt
Location
North Dakota46°58′N 103°27′W / 46.97°N 103.45°W / 46.97; -103.45 (Theodore Roosevelt)
Date established as park
November 10, 1978
Area (2023)
70,446.89 acres (285.1 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
732,951
Description
This region that enticed and influenced President Theodore Roosevelt consists of a park of three units in the northern badlands. Besides Roosevelt's historic cabin, there are numerous scenic drives and backcountry hiking opportunities. Wildlife includes American bison, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and wild horses.
Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
Name
Virgin Islands
Location
U.S. Virgin Islands18°20′N 64°44′W / 18.33°N 64.73°W / 18.33; -64.73 (Virgin Islands)
Date established as park
August 2, 1956
Area (2023)
15,052.33 acres (60.9 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
423,029
Description
This island park on Saint John preserves pristine beaches surrounded by mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. It also has Taíno archaeological sites and the ruins of sugar plantations from Columbus's time.
Voyageurs
Voyageurs
Name
Voyageurs
Location
Minnesota48°30′N 92°53′W / 48.50°N 92.88°W / 48.50; -92.88 (Voyageurs)
Date established as park
April 8, 1975
Area (2023)
218,222.35 acres (883.1 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
199,030
Description
This park protecting four lakes near the Canada–US border is a site for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The park also preserves a history populated by Ojibwe Native Americans, French fur traders called voyageurs, and gold miners. Formed by glaciers, the region features tall bluffs, rock gardens, islands, bays, and several historic buildings.
White Sands
White Sands
Name
White Sands
Location
New Mexico32°47′N 106°10′W / 32.78°N 106.17°W / 32.78; -106.17 (White Sands)
Date established as park
December 20, 2019
Area (2023)
146,344.31 acres (592.2 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
702,236
Description
Located in the mountain-ringed Tularosa Basin, White Sands consists of the southern part of a 275-square-mile (710 km2) field of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals—the world's largest gypsum dunefield. The park is completely within the White Sands Missile Range and is subject to closure when tests are conducted.
Wind Cave
Wind Cave
Name
Wind Cave
Location
South Dakota43°34′N 103°29′W / 43.57°N 103.48°W / 43.57; -103.48 (Wind Cave)
Date established as park
January 9, 1903
Area (2023)
33,970.84 acres (137.5 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
489,399
Description
Wind Cave is distinctive for its calcite fin formations called boxwork, a unique formation rarely found elsewhere, and needle-like growths called frostwork. It is one of the longest caves in the world and creates a wind as air pressure changes. Above ground is a mixed-grass prairie with animals such as bison, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs and ponderosa pine forests home to cougars and elk. The cave is culturally significant to the Lakota people as a creation site.
Wrangell–St. Elias *
Wrangell–St. Elias *
Name
Wrangell–St. Elias *
Location
Alaska61°00′N 142°00′W / 61.00°N 142.00°W / 61.00; -142.00 (Wrangell – St. Elias)
Date established as park
December 2, 1980
Area (2023)
8,323,146.48 acres (33,682.6 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
81,670
Description
The largest national park in the system protects the convergence of the Alaska, Chugach, Wrangell, and Saint Elias Ranges, which include many of the continent's tallest mountains and volcanoes, including the 18,008-foot Mount Saint Elias. More than a quarter of the park is covered with glaciers, including the tidewater Hubbard Glacier, piedmont Malaspina Glacier, and valley Nabesna Glacier. (WHS)
Yellowstone ‡
Yellowstone ‡
Name
Yellowstone ‡
Location
Wyoming, Montana, Idaho44°36′N 110°30′W / 44.60°N 110.50°W / 44.60; -110.50 (Yellowstone)
Date established as park
March 1, 1872
Area (2023)
2,219,790.71 acres (8,983.2 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
4,744,353
Description
Situated on the Yellowstone Caldera, the park has an expansive network of geothermal areas including boiling mud pots, vividly colored hot springs such as Grand Prismatic Spring, and regularly erupting geysers, the best-known being Old Faithful. The yellow-hued Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River contains several high waterfalls, and four mountain ranges traverse the park. More than 60 mammal species including timber wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, lynxes, bison, and elk make this park one of the best wildlife viewing spots in the country. (WHS) (BR)
Yosemite *
Yosemite *
Name
Yosemite *
Location
California37°50′N 119°30′W / 37.83°N 119.50°W / 37.83; -119.50 (Yosemite)
Date established as park
October 1, 1890
Area (2023)
761,747.50 acres (3,082.7 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
4,121,807
Description
Yosemite features sheer granite cliffs, exceptionally tall waterfalls, and old-growth forests at a unique intersection of geology and hydrology. Half Dome and El Capitan rise from the park's centerpiece, the glacier-carved Yosemite Valley, and from its vertical walls drop Yosemite Falls, one of North America's tallest waterfalls at 2,425 feet (739 m) high. Three giant sequoia groves, along with a pristine wilderness in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, are home to a wide variety of rare plant and animal species. (WHS)
Zion
Zion
Name
Zion
Location
Utah37°18′N 113°03′W / 37.30°N 113.05°W / 37.30; -113.05 (Zion)
Date established as park
November 19, 1919
Area (2023)
147,242.66 acres (595.9 km2)
Recreation visitors (2024)
4,946,592
Description
Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert, this park contains sandstone features such as mesas, rock towers, and canyons, including the Virgin River Narrows. The various sandstone formations and the forks of the Virgin River create a wilderness divided into four ecosystems: desert, riparian, woodland, and coniferous forest.
Name
Image
Location
Date established as park
Area (2023)
Recreation visitors (2024)
Description
Acadia
Maine .mw- 44°21′N 68°13′W / 44.35°N 68.21°W / 44.35; -68.21 (Acadia)
February 26, 1919
acres (198.6 km2)
3,961,661
Covering most of Mount Desert Island and other coastal islands, Acadia features the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast of the United States, granite peaks, ocean shoreline, woodlands, and lakes. There are freshwater, estuary, forest, and intertidal habitats.
American Samoa
American Samoa14°15′S 170°41′W / 14.25°S 170.68°W / -14.25; -170.68 (National Park of American Samoa)
October 31, 1988
acres (33.4 km2)
22,567
The southernmost national park is on three Samoan islands in the South Pacific. It protects coral reefs, rainforests, volcanic mountains, and white beaches. The area is also home to flying foxes, brown boobies, sea turtles, and 900 species of fish.
Arches
Utah38°41′N 109°34′W / 38.68°N 109.57°W / 38.68; -109.57 (Arches)
November 12, 1971
acres (310.3 km2)
1,466,528
This site features more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, with some of the most popular arches in the park being Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch and Double Arch. Millions of years of erosion have created these structures in a desert climate where the arid ground has life-sustaining biological soil crusts and potholes that serve as natural water-collecting basins. Other geologic formations include stone pinnacles, fins, and balancing rocks.
Badlands
South Dakota43°45′N 102°30′W / 43.75°N 102.50°W / 43.75; -102.50 (Badlands)
November 10, 1978
acres (982.4 km2)
1,094,245
The Badlands are a collection of buttes, pinnacles, spires, and mixed-grass prairies within the drainage basin of the White River, in southwestern South Dakota. They contain the largest known assemblage of late Eocene and Oligocene mammal fossils. Wildlife includes bison, bighorn sheep, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs.
Big Bend †
Texas29°15′N 103°15′W / 29.25°N 103.25°W / 29.25; -103.25 (Big Bend)
June 12, 1944
acres (3,242.2 km2)
561,458
Named for the prominent bend in the Rio Grande along the U.S.–Mexico border, this park encompasses a large and remote part of the Chihuahuan Desert. Its main attraction is backcountry recreation in the arid Chisos Mountains and in canyons along the river. A wide variety of Cretaceous and Tertiary fossils as well as cultural artifacts of Native Americans also exist within its borders. (BR)
Biscayne
Florida25°39′N 80°05′W / 25.65°N 80.08°W / 25.65; -80.08 (Biscayne)
June 28, 1980
acres (700.0 km2)
512,213
The central part of Biscayne Bay, this mostly underwater park at the north end of the Florida Keys has four interrelated marine ecosystems: mangrove forest, the Bay, the Keys, and coral reefs. Threatened animals include the West Indian manatee, American crocodile, various sea turtles, and the peregrine falcon.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Colorado38°34′N 107°43′W / 38.57°N 107.72°W / 38.57; -107.72 (Black Canyon of the Gunnison)
October 21, 1999
acres (124.6 km2)
335,862
The park protects a quarter of the Gunnison River, which slices sheer canyon walls from dark Precambrian-era rock. The canyon features some of the steepest cliffs and oldest rock in North America, and is a popular site for river rafting and rock climbing. The deep, narrow canyon is composed of gneiss and schist, which appears black when in shadow.
Bryce Canyon
Utah37°34′N 112°11′W / 37.57°N 112.18°W / 37.57; -112.18 (Bryce Canyon)
February 25, 1928
acres (145.0 km2)
2,498,075
Bryce Canyon is a geological amphitheater on southern Utah's Paunsaugunt Plateau with hundreds of tall, multicolored sandstone hoodoos formed by erosion. The region was originally settled by Native Americans and later by Mormon pioneers.
Canyonlands
Utah38°12′N 109°56′W / 38.2°N 109.93°W / 38.2; -109.93 (Canyonlands)
September 12, 1964
acres (1,366.2 km2)
818,492
This landscape was eroded into a maze of canyons, buttes, and mesas by the combined efforts of the Colorado River, Green River, and their tributaries, which divide the park into three districts. The park contains thousands of rock pinnacles and arches, as well as artifacts from Ancient Pueblo peoples.
Capitol Reef
Utah38°12′N 111°10′W / 38.20°N 111.17°W / 38.20; -111.17 (Capitol Reef)
December 18, 1971
acres (979.0 km2)
1,422,490
The park's Waterpocket Fold is a 100-mile (160 km) monocline that exhibits the earth's diverse geologic layers. Other natural features include monoliths, eroded buttes, and sandstone domes, including one shaped like the United States Capitol.
Carlsbad Caverns *
New Mexico32°10′N 104°26′W / 32.17°N 104.44°W / 32.17; -104.44 (Carlsbad Caverns)
May 14, 1930
acres (189.3 km2)
460,474
Carlsbad Caverns has 117 caves, the longest of which is over 120 miles (190 km) long. The Big Room is almost 4,000 feet (1,200 m) long, and the caves are home to over 400,000 Mexican free-tailed bats and sixteen other species. Above ground are the Chihuahuan Desert and Rattlesnake Springs. (WHS)
Channel Islands †
California34°01′N 119°25′W / 34.01°N 119.42°W / 34.01; -119.42 (Channel Islands)
March 5, 1980
acres (1,009.9 km2)
262,581
Five of the eight Channel Islands are protected, with half of the park's area underwater. The islands have a unique Mediterranean ecosystem originally settled by the Chumash people. They are home to over 2,000 species of land plants and animals, 145 endemic to them, including the island fox. Ferry services offer transportation to the islands from the mainland. (BR)
Congaree †
South Carolina33°47′N 80°47′W / 33.78°N 80.78°W / 33.78; -80.78 (Congaree)
November 10, 2003
acres (108.0 km2)
242,049
On the Congaree River, this park is the largest portion of old-growth floodplain forest left in North America. Some of the trees are the tallest in the eastern United States. An elevated walkway called the Boardwalk Loop guides visitors through the swamp. (BR)
Crater Lake
Oregon42°56′N 122°06′W / 42.94°N 122.1°W / 42.94; -122.1 (Crater Lake)
May 22, 1902
acres (741.5 km2)
504,942
Crater Lake lies in the caldera of an ancient volcano called Mount Mazama that collapsed 7,700 years ago. The lake is the deepest in the United States and is noted for its vivid blue color and water clarity. Wizard Island and the Phantom Ship are more recent volcanic formations within the caldera. As the lake has no inlets or outlets, it is replenished only by precipitation.
Cuyahoga Valley
Ohio41°14′N 81°33′W / 41.24°N 81.55°W / 41.24; -81.55 (Cuyahoga Valley)
October 11, 2000
acres (131.8 km2)
2,912,454
This park along the Cuyahoga River has waterfalls, hills, trails, and exhibits on early rural living. The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail follows the Ohio and Erie Canal, where mules towed canal boats. The park has numerous historic homes, bridges, and structures, and also offers a scenic train ride.
Death Valley †
California, Nevada36°14′N 116°49′W / 36.24°N 116.82°W / 36.24; -116.82 (Death Valley)
October 31, 1994
acres (13,793.3 km2)
1,440,484
Death Valley is the hottest, lowest, and driest place in the United States, with daytime temperatures that have exceeded 130 °F (54 °C). The park protects Badwater Basin and its vast salt flats at the lowest elevation in North America, −282 ft (−86 m), This geologic graben also protects numerous canyons, badlands, sand dunes, mountain ranges, historic mines, springs, and more than 1,000 species of plants that grow. (BR)
Denali †
Alaska63°20′N 150°30′W / 63.33°N 150.50°W / 63.33; -150.50 (Denali)
February 26, 1917
acres (19,185.8 km2)
466,227
Centered on Denali, the tallest and most prominent mountain in North America, the park is serviced by a single road leading to Wonder Lake, most of which can only be accessed via scheduled tour buses. Denali and other peaks of the Alaska Range are covered with long glaciers and boreal forest. Wildlife includes grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and wolves. (BR)
Dry Tortugas †
Florida24°38′N 82°52′W / 24.63°N 82.87°W / 24.63; -82.87 (Dry Tortugas)
October 26, 1992
acres (261.8 km2)
84,873
The islands of the Dry Tortugas, at the westernmost end of the Florida Keys, are the site of Fort Jefferson, a Civil War-era fort that is the largest masonry structure in the Americas. The park is home to undisturbed coral reefs and shipwrecks, and is only accessible by plane or boat. (BR)
Everglades ‡
Florida25°19′N 80°56′W / 25.32°N 80.93°W / 25.32; -80.93 (Everglades)
May 30, 1934
acres (6,106.5 km2)
741,983
The Everglades are the largest tropical wilderness in the United States. This mangrove and tropical rainforest ecosystem and marine estuary is home to 36 protected species, including the Florida panther, American crocodile, and West Indian manatee. Some areas have been drained and developed; restoration projects aim to restore the ecology. (WHS) (BR)
Gates of the Arctic
Alaska67°47′N 153°18′W / 67.78°N 153.30°W / 67.78; -153.30 (Gates of the Arctic)
December 2, 1980
acres (30,448.1 km2)
11,907
The country's northernmost park protects an expanse of pure wilderness in Alaska's Brooks Range and has no park facilities. The land is home to Alaska Natives who have relied on the land and caribou for 11,000 years.
Gateway Arch
Missouri38°38′N 90°11′W / 38.63°N 90.19°W / 38.63; -90.19 (Gateway Arch)
February 22, 2018
acres (0.8 km2)
2,563,052
The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192 m) (both high and wide) catenary arch built in the 1960s to commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition, initiated by Thomas Jefferson, and the subsequent westward expansion of the country. The nearby Old Courthouse, across a greenway to the west of the arch, was the original site of the landmark Dred Scott case about slavery. An underground museum describes the arch's construction and the country's westward expansion.
Glacier ‡
Montana48°48′N 114°00′W / 48.80°N 114.00°W / 48.80; -114.00 (Glacier)
May 11, 1910
acres (4,100.0 km2)
3,208,755
The U.S. half of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, this park includes 26 rapidly receding glaciers and 130 named lakes surrounded by Rocky Mountain peaks. Historic hotels and the landmark Going-to-the-Sun Road accommodate visitors. The local mountains, formed by an overthrust, expose Paleozoic fossils including trilobites, mollusks, giant ferns and dinosaurs. The park is also home to Triple Divide Peak, which forms the boundary between the watersheds of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. (WHS) (BR)
Glacier Bay ‡
Alaska58°30′N 137°00′W / 58.50°N 137.00°W / 58.50; -137.00 (Glacier Bay)
December 2, 1980
acres (13,044.6 km2)
736,282
Glacier Bay contains tidewater glaciers, mountains, fjords, and a temperate rainforest, and is home to large populations of grizzly bears, mountain goats, whales, seals, and eagles. When discovered in 1794 by George Vancouver, the entire bay was covered by ice, but the glaciers have since receded more than 65 miles (105 km). (WHS) (BR)
Grand Canyon *
Arizona36°04′N 112°08′W / 36.06°N 112.14°W / 36.06; -112.14 (Grand Canyon)
February 26, 1919
acres (4,862.9 km2)
4,919,163
The Grand Canyon, carved by the mighty Colorado River, is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 1 mile (1.6 km) deep, and up to 15 miles (24 km) wide. Millions of years of erosion have resulted in a massive three-tiered canyon, exposing the multicolored layers of the Colorado Plateau in mesas and canyon walls, visible from trails that descend into the canyon from the north and south rims. (WHS)
Grand Teton †
Wyoming43°44′N 110°48′W / 43.73°N 110.80°W / 43.73; -110.80 (Grand Teton)
February 26, 1929
acres (1,254.7 km2)
3,628,222
Grand Teton is the tallest mountain in the scenic Teton Range. The park's historic Jackson Hole and reflective piedmont lakes teem with endemic wildlife, with a backdrop of craggy mountains that rise abruptly from the sage-covered valley below. (BR)
Great Basin
Nevada38°59′N 114°18′W / 38.98°N 114.30°W / 38.98; -114.30 (Great Basin)
October 27, 1986
acres (312.3 km2)
152,068
Based around Nevada's second tallest mountain, Wheeler Peak, Great Basin National Park protects 5,000-year-old bristlecone pines, a rock glacier, and the limestone Lehman Caves. Due to its remote location, the park is home to some of the country's darkest night skies. Wildlife includes the Townsend's big-eared bat, pronghorn, and Bonneville cutthroat trout.
Great Sand Dunes
Colorado37°44′N 105°31′W / 37.73°N 105.51°W / 37.73; -105.51 (Great Sand Dunes)
September 24, 2004
acres (434.4 km2)
437,661
The tallest sand dunes in North America, up to 750 feet (230 m) tall, were formed by deposits of the ancient Rio Grande in the San Luis Valley. Abutting a variety of grasslands, shrublands, and wetlands, the park also features alpine lakes, six 13,000-foot mountains, and old-growth forests.
Great Smoky Mountains ‡
North Carolina, Tennessee35°41′N 83°32′W / 35.68°N 83.53°W / 35.68; -83.53 (Great Smoky Mountains)
June 15, 1934
acres (2,114.2 km2)
12,191,834
The Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains, span a wide range of elevations, making them home to over 400 vertebrate species, 100 tree species, and 5,000 plant species. Hiking is the park's main attraction, with over 800 miles (1,300 km) of trails, including 70 miles (110 km) of the Appalachian Trail. Other activities include fishing, horseback riding, and touring nearly 80 historic structures. (WHS) (BR)
Guadalupe Mountains
Texas31°55′N 104°52′W / 31.92°N 104.87°W / 31.92; -104.87 (Guadalupe Mountains)
September 30, 1972
acres (349.5 km2)
226,134
This park contains Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, as well as the scenic McKittrick Canyon filled with bigtooth maples, a corner of the arid Chihuahuan Desert, and a fossilized coral reef from the Permian era.
Haleakalā †
Hawaii20°43′N 156°10′W / 20.72°N 156.17°W / 20.72; -156.17 (Haleakalā)
July 1, 1961
acres (135.5 km2)
732,477
The Haleakalā volcano on Maui features a very large crater with numerous cinder cones, a grove of non-native trees, the Kipahulu section's scenic pools of freshwater fish, and the endemic Hawaiian goose. The park protects the greatest number of endangered species within a U.S. national park. (BR)
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes ‡
Hawaii19°23′N 155°12′W / 19.38°N 155.20°W / 19.38; -155.20 (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes)
August 1, 1916
acres (1,395.4 km2)
1,433,593
This park on the Big Island protects the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, two of the world's most active geological features. Diverse ecosystems range from tropical forests at sea level to barren lava beds at more than 13,000 feet (4,000 m). (WHS) (BR)
Hot Springs
Arkansas34°31′N 93°03′W / 34.51°N 93.05°W / 34.51; -93.05 (Hot Springs)
March 4, 1921
acres (22.5 km2)
2,461,812
Hot Springs was originally established by Congress as a federal reserve on April 20, 1832, making it the oldest area managed by the National Park Service. Natural thermal springs flow out of the Ouachita Mountains, providing opportunities for relaxation in a historic setting. Bathhouse Row preserves examples of 19th-century architecture. Hot Springs is the first national park within a city and was the smallest national park until 2018.
Indiana Dunes
Indiana41°39′12″N 87°03′09″W / 41.6533°N 87.0524°W / 41.6533; -87.0524 (Indiana Dunes)
February 15, 2019
acres (62.1 km2)
2,705,209
Previously designated a national lakeshore, parts of this 20-mile (32 km) stretch of the southern shore of Lake Michigan have sandy beaches and tall dunes. The park includes grassy prairies, peat bogs, and marsh wetlands home to over 2,000 species.
Isle Royale †
Michigan48°06′N 88°33′W / 48.10°N 88.55°W / 48.10; -88.55 (Isle Royale)
April 3, 1940
acres (2,314.0 km2)
28,806
The largest island in Lake Superior is a place of isolation and wilderness. Along with its many shipwrecks, waterways, and hiking trails, the park also includes over 400 smaller islands within 4.5 miles (7.2 km) of its shores. There are only 20 mammal species on the island, though the relationship between its wolf and moose populations is especially unique. (BR)
Joshua Tree †
California33°47′N 115°54′W / 33.79°N 115.90°W / 33.79; -115.90 (Joshua Tree)
October 31, 1994
acres (3,217.9 km2)
2,991,874
Covering large areas of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts and the Little San Bernardino Mountains, this desert landscape is populated by vast stands of Joshua trees. Large changes in elevation reveal various contrasting environments including bleached sand dunes, dry lakes, rugged mountains, and maze-like clusters of monzogranite monoliths. (BR)
Katmai
Alaska58°30′N 155°00′W / 58.50°N 155.00°W / 58.50; -155.00 (Katmai)
December 2, 1980
acres (14,870.3 km2)
36,230
This park on the Alaska Peninsula protects the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, an ash flow formed by the 1912 eruption of Novarupta, and the stratovolcano Mount Katmai. Over 2,000 grizzly bears come here each year to catch spawning salmon. Other wildlife includes caribou, wolves, moose, and wolverines.
Kenai Fjords
Alaska59°55′N 149°39′W / 59.92°N 149.65°W / 59.92; -149.65 (Kenai Fjords)
December 2, 1980
acres (2,710.0 km2)
419,468
Near Seward on the Kenai Peninsula, this park protects the Harding Icefield and at least 38 glaciers and fjords stemming from it. The only area accessible to the public by road is the rapidly shrinking Exit Glacier. Boat and kayak tours offer views of tidewater glaciers, whales, sea lions, and marine birds.
Kings Canyon †
California36°48′N 118°33′W / 36.80°N 118.55°W / 36.80; -118.55 (Kings Canyon)
March 4, 1940
acres (1,869.2 km2)
699,389
Home to several giant sequoia groves and the General Grant Tree, the world's second largest measured tree, this park also features part of the Kings River, sculptor of the dramatic granite canyon that is its namesake, and the San Joaquin River, as well as Boyden Cave. Although Kings Canyon National Park was designated as such in 1940, it subsumed General Grant National Park, which had been established on October 1, 1890, as the United States' fourth national park. (BR)
Kobuk Valley
Alaska67°33′N 159°17′W / 67.55°N 159.28°W / 67.55; -159.28 (Kobuk Valley)
December 2, 1980
acres (7,084.9 km2)
17,233
Kobuk Valley protects 61 miles (98 km) of the Kobuk River and three regions of sand dunes. Created by glaciers, the Great Kobuk, Little Kobuk, and Hunt River Sand Dunes can reach 100 feet (30 m) high and 100 °F (38 °C), and they are the largest dunes in the Arctic. Twice a year, half a million caribou migrate through the dunes and across river bluffs that expose well-preserved ice age fossils.
Lake Clark
Alaska60°58′N 153°25′W / 60.97°N 153.42°W / 60.97; -153.42 (Lake Clark)
December 2, 1980
acres (10,602.0 km2)
18,505
The region around Lake Clark features four active volcanoes, including Mount Redoubt, as well as an abundance of rivers, glaciers, and waterfalls. Temperate rainforests, a tundra plateau, and three mountain ranges complete the landscape.
Lassen Volcanic
California40°29′N 121°31′W / 40.49°N 121.51°W / 40.49; -121.51 (Lassen Volcanic)
August 9, 1916
acres (431.4 km2)
357,651
Lassen Peak, the largest lava dome volcano in the world, is joined by all three other types of volcanoes in this park: shield, cinder cone, and composite. Though Lassen itself last erupted in 1915, most of the rest of the park is continuously active. Numerous hydrothermal features, including fumaroles, boiling pools, and bubbling mud pots, are heated by molten rock from beneath the peak.
Mammoth Cave ‡
Kentucky37°11′N 86°06′W / 37.18°N 86.10°W / 37.18; -86.10 (Mammoth Cave)
July 1, 1941
acres (293.3 km2)
747,042
With more than 400 miles (640 km) of passageways explored, Mammoth Cave is the world's longest known cave system. Subterranean wildlife includes eight bat species, Kentucky cave shrimp, Northern cavefish, and cave salamanders. Above ground, the park provides recreation on the Green River, 70 miles of hiking trails, and plenty of sinkholes and springs. (WHS) (BR)
Mesa Verde *
Colorado37°11′N 108°29′W / 37.18°N 108.49°W / 37.18; -108.49 (Mesa Verde)
June 29, 1906
acres (212.4 km2)
480,065
This area constitutes over 4,000 archaeological sites of the Ancestral Puebloan people, who lived here and elsewhere in the Four Corners region for at least 700 years. Cliff dwellings built in the 12th and 13th centuries include Cliff Palace, which has 150 rooms and 23 kivas, and the Balcony House, with its many passages and tunnels. (WHS)
Mount Rainier
Washington46°51′N 121°45′W / 46.85°N 121.75°W / 46.85; -121.75 (Mount Rainier)
March 2, 1899
acres (956.6 km2)
1,620,006
Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano, is the most prominent peak in the Cascades and is covered by 26 named glaciers including Carbon Glacier and Emmons Glacier, the longest and largest in the contiguous United States respectively. The mountain is popular for climbing, and more than half of the park is covered by subalpine and alpine forests and meadows seasonally in bloom with wildflowers. Paradise on the south slope is among the snowiest places on Earth. The Longmire visitor center is the start of the Wonderland Trail, which encircles the mountain.
New River Gorge
West Virginia38°04′N 81°05′W / 38.07°N 81.08°W / 38.07; -81.08 (New River Gorge)
December 27, 2020
7,021 acres (28.4 km2)
1,811,937
The New River Gorge is the deepest river gorge east of the Mississippi River. The park primarily covers the lower gorge area around the New River Gorge Bridge, which features some of the country's best whitewater rafting. Smaller noncontiguous sections showcase the ghost town of Thurmond, the scenic Grandview vista, and Sandstone Falls. The other 65,165 acres (263.71 km2) of the redesignated national river is now a national preserve, spanning 53 miles (85 km) of the New River.
North Cascades
Washington48°42′N 121°12′W / 48.70°N 121.20°W / 48.70; -121.20 (North Cascades)
October 2, 1968
acres (2,042.8 km2)
16,485
The highly glaciated mountains of the North Cascades Range exhibit a spectacular and complex geologic history. Between the river valleys and high peaks there are eight diverse life zones with 75 mammal and 1,600 vascular plant species. Popular hiking and climbing areas of the Stephen Mather Wilderness include Cascade Pass, Mount Shuksan, Mount Triumph, and Eldorado Peak. Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas adjoin the two segments of the park and are all administered together.
Olympic ‡
Washington47°58′N 123°30′W / 47.97°N 123.50°W / 47.97; -123.50 (Olympic)
June 29, 1938
acres (3,733.8 km2)
3,717,267
This park on the Olympic Peninsula includes a wide range of ecosystems from Pacific shoreline to temperate rainforests to the glaciated alpine peaks of the Olympic Mountains, the tallest of which is Mount Olympus. The Hoh and Quinault Rainforests are the wettest areas in the contiguous United States, with the Hoh receiving an average of almost 12 ft (3.7 m) of rain every year. (WHS) (BR)
Petrified Forest
Arizona35°04′N 109°47′W / 35.07°N 109.78°W / 35.07; -109.78 (Petrified Forest)
December 9, 1962
acres (895.9 km2)
559,254
This portion of the Chinle Formation has a large concentration of 225-million-year-old petrified wood. The surrounding Painted Desert features eroded cliffs of red-hued volcanic rock called bentonite. Dinosaur fossils and over 350 Native American sites are also protected in this park.
Pinnacles
California36°29′N 121°10′W / 36.48°N 121.16°W / 36.48; -121.16 (Pinnacles)
January 10, 2013
acres (108.0 km2)
354,076
Named for the eroded leftovers of a portion of an extinct volcano, the park's massive black and gold monoliths of andesite and rhyolite are a popular destination for rock climbers. Hikers have access to trails crossing the Coast Range wilderness. The park is one of the few locations where the endangered California condor can be seen in the wild. Pinnacles also supports a dense population of prairie falcons and more than 13 species of bat that populate its talus caves.
States and Territories Containing National Parks · National parks › Parks by state or territory
California
California
State
California
Total parks
9
Exclusive parks
8
Shared parks
1
Alaska
Alaska
State
Alaska
Total parks
8
Exclusive parks
8
Shared parks
Utah
Utah
State
Utah
Total parks
5
Exclusive parks
5
Shared parks
Colorado
Colorado
State
Colorado
Total parks
4
Exclusive parks
4
Shared parks
Arizona
Arizona
State
Arizona
Total parks
3
Exclusive parks
3
Shared parks
Florida
Florida
State
Florida
Total parks
3
Exclusive parks
3
Shared parks
Washington
Washington
State
Washington
Total parks
3
Exclusive parks
3
Shared parks
Hawaii
Hawaii
State
Hawaii
Total parks
2
Exclusive parks
2
Shared parks
New Mexico
New Mexico
State
New Mexico
Total parks
2
Exclusive parks
2
Shared parks
South Dakota
South Dakota
State
South Dakota
Total parks
2
Exclusive parks
2
Shared parks
Texas
Texas
State
Texas
Total parks
2
Exclusive parks
2
Shared parks
Montana
Montana
State
Montana
Total parks
2
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
1
Nevada
Nevada
State
Nevada
Total parks
2
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
1
Wyoming
Wyoming
State
Wyoming
Total parks
2
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
1
American Samoa
American Samoa
State
American Samoa
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
Arkansas
Arkansas
State
Arkansas
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
Indiana
Indiana
State
Indiana
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
Kentucky
Kentucky
State
Kentucky
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
Maine
Maine
State
Maine
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
Michigan
Michigan
State
Michigan
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
Minnesota
Minnesota
State
Minnesota
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
Missouri
Missouri
State
Missouri
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
North Dakota
North Dakota
State
North Dakota
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
Ohio
Ohio
State
Ohio
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
Oregon
Oregon
State
Oregon
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
South Carolina
South Carolina
State
South Carolina
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
State
U.S. Virgin Islands
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
Virginia
Virginia
State
Virginia
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
West Virginia
West Virginia
State
West Virginia
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
1
Shared parks
Idaho
Idaho
State
Idaho
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
Shared parks
1
North Carolina
North Carolina
State
North Carolina
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
Shared parks
1
Tennessee
Tennessee
State
Tennessee
Total parks
1
Exclusive parks
Shared parks
1
State
Total parks
Exclusive parks
Shared parks
California
9
8
1
Alaska
8
8
Utah
5
5
Colorado
4
4
Arizona
3
3
Florida
3
3
Washington
3
3
Hawaii
2
2
New Mexico
2
2
South Dakota
2
2
Texas
2
2
Montana
2
1
1
Nevada
2
1
1
Wyoming
2
1
1
American Samoa
1
1
Arkansas
1
1
Indiana
1
1
Kentucky
1
1
Maine
1
1
Michigan
1
1
Minnesota
1
1
Missouri
1
1
North Dakota
1
1
Ohio
1
1
Oregon
1
1
South Carolina
1
1
Virgin Islands
1
1
Virginia
1
1
West Virginia
1
1
Idaho
1
1
North Carolina
1
1
Tennessee
1
1

References

  1. "National Park System (U.S. National Park Service)"
    https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/national-park-system.htm
  2. The National Parks Portfolio
    https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/portfolio/portfolio0b.htm
  3. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/within-the-national-park-service-all-parks-are-created-equal/2016/08/23/36fc13ca-694d-11e6-8225-fbb8a6fc65bc_story.html
  4. nationalparks.org
    https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/how-many-national-parks-are-there
  5. nature.nps.gov
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170206142738/https://www.nature.nps.gov/air/regs/npsorganic.cfm
  6. whc.unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/?search=&searchSites=&search_by_country=United+States&region=&search_yearinscribed=&themes=&criteria_restrication=&type=&media=&order=country&description=
  7. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america/united-states-of-america/
  8. nps.gov
    https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/acreagereports.htm
  9. NPS Stats
    https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/National%20Reports/Annual%20Park%20Ranking%20Report%20(1979%20-%20Last%20Calendar%20Year)
  10. www.nps.gov
    https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/02-25-21-national-parks-hosted-237-million-visitors-in-2020.htm
  11. "National Park System Areas Listed in Chronological Order of Date Authorized under DOI"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120311003821/http://home.nps.gov/applications/budget2/documents/chronop.pdf
  12. "Acadia National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm
  13. "Acadia National Park Places To Go"
    https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm
  14. "National Park of American Samoa"
    https://www.nps.gov/npsa/index.htm
  15. "Arches National Park - Arches Rock Stars"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20151226055736/http://www.nps.gov/arch/learn/nature/rockstars.htm
  16. "Arches National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm
  17. "Badlands National Park - Fossils"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150321105928/http://www.nps.gov/badl/learn/nature/fossils.htm
  18. "Badlands National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/badl/
  19. "Big Bend National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm
  20. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america/united-states-of-america/big-bend/
  21. "Biscayne National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm
  22. "Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/blca/
  23. "Bryce Canyon National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/brca/
  24. "Canyonlands National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm
  25. "Capitol Reef National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/care/index.htm
  26. "Carlsbad Caverns National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm
  27. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/721
  28. "Channel Islands National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/chis/index.htm
  29. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america/united-states-of-america/channel-islands/
  30. "Congaree National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/cong/index.htm
  31. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=USA+38&mode=all
  32. "Crater Lake National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm
  33. "Cuyahoga Valley National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm
  34. "Cuyahoga Valley National Park Scenic Railroad"
    https://www.nps.gov/cuva/planyourvisit/train.htm
  35. "Must See Highlights: Badwater Basin"
    https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/must-see-highlights.htm
  36. "Death Valley National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm
  37. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=USA+39&mode=all
  38. "Denali National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/dena/
  39. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america/united-states-of-america/denali/
  40. "Dry Tortugas National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm
  41. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america/united-states-of-america/everglades-dry-tortugas/
  42. "Everglades National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm
  43. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/76
  44. "Gates of the Arctic National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/gaar/
  45. whitehouse.gov
    https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-signs-s-1438-law/
  46. "Gateway Arch National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/jeff/index.htm/index.htm
  47. "Glacier National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm
  48. "Glacier National Park - Fossils"
    https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/nature/fossils.htm
  49. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/354
  50. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america/united-states-of-america/glacier/
  51. "Glacier Bay National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/glba/index.htm
  52. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/72
  53. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=USA+41&mode=all
  54. "Grand Canyon National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/grca/
  55. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/75
  56. "Grand Teton National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm
  57. "Great Basin National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/grba/index.htm
  58. "Great Sand Dunes National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm
  59. "Great Smoky Mountains National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
  60. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/259
  61. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=USA+44&mode=all
  62. "Guadalupe Mountains National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/gumo/index.htm
  63. "Haleakala National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/hale/index.htm
  64. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=USA+32&mode=all
  65. "Hawaii Volcanoes National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/havo/
  66. unesco.org
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170224235652/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/409
  67. "Hot Springs National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/hosp/index.htm
  68. whitehouse.gov
    https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-signs-s-1438-law/
  69. "Indiana Dunes National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm
  70. "Isle Royale National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/isro/index.htm
  71. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=USA+33&mode=all
  72. "Joshua Tree National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm
  73. "Katmai National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/katm/index.htm
  74. "Kenai Fjords National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/kefj/index.htm
  75. "Kings Canyon National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm
  76. "Kings Canyon National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/historyculture/index.htm
  77. "Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Final General Management Plan and Comprehensive River Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement"
    https://books.google.com/books?id=lDo3AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA35
  78. Challenge of the Big Trees
    https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/dilsaver-tweed/chap4c.htm
  79. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=USA+22&mode=all
  80. "Kobuk Valley National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/kova/index.htm
  81. "Lake Clark National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/lacl/index.htm
  82. "Lassen Volcanic National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm
  83. "Mammoth Cave National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/maca/
  84. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/150
  85. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=USA+46&mode=all
  86. "Mesa Verde National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm
  87. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/27
  88. "Mount Rainier National Park – Frequently Asked Questions"
    https://www.nps.gov/mora/faqs.htm
  89. "Mount Rainier National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm
  90. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2021/01/22/new-river-gorge-national-park/
  91. "New River Gorge National Park and Preserve"
    https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm
  92. Outside Online
    https://www.outsideonline.com/2420006/our-newest-national-park-new-river-gorge
  93. "North Cascades National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm
  94. "Olympic National Park-Weather and Climate"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080210073515/http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/upload/weather.pdf
  95. "Olympic National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm
  96. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/151
  97. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=USA+17&mode=all
  98. "Petrified Forest National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm
  99. "Pinnacles National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/pinn/index.htm
  100. "Redwood National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm
  101. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/134
  102. "Rocky Mountain National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm
  103. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=USA+19&mode=all
  104. "Saguaro National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm
  105. "Sequoia National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm
  106. "Shenandoah National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm
  107. "Theodore Roosevelt National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm
  108. "Virgin Islands National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/viis/index.htm
  109. "Voyageurs National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/voya/index.htm
  110. www.congress.gov
    https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2500
  111. "White Sands National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm
  112. "Wind Cave National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/wica/index.htm
  113. "Wind Cave's Early Days"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150428234452/http://www.nps.gov/wica/learn/historyculture/wind-caves-early-days.htm
  114. "Wrangell – St. Elias National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/wrst/index.htm
  115. "Yellowstone National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm
  116. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/28
  117. unesco.org
    http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=USA+26&mode=all
  118. "Yosemite National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
  119. unesco.org
    https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/308
  120. "Zion National Park"
    https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm
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