List of national parks of the United States

1938 poster for Yellowstone National Park
Symbolic representation of visitors at each National Park

The United States has 59 protected areas known as National Parks that are operated by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior. National Parks must be established by an act of the United States Congress. 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."[1] Many current National Parks had been previously protected as National Monuments by the President under the Antiquities Act before being upgraded by Congress. Seven 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.

Criteria for the selection of National Parks include natural beauty, unique geological features, unusual ecosystems, and recreational opportunities (though these criteria are not always considered together). National Monuments, on the other hand, are frequently chosen for their historical or archaeological significance. Fourteen National Parks are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS),[2] while twenty one are designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BR).[3]

Twenty-seven states have National Parks, as do the territories of American Samoa and the United States Virgin Islands. California has the most (nine), followed by Alaska (eight), Utah (five), and Colorado (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 Hot Springs, Arkansas, at less than 6 thousand acres (24 km2). The total area protected by National Parks is approximately 52.2 million acres (211,000 km2), for an average of 885 thousand acres (3,580 km2) but a median of only 236 thousand acres (960 km2) at Mount Rainier, the 30th largest park.[4] The most-visited National Park is Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, with over 11.3 million visitors in 2016, followed by Arizona's Grand Canyon, with nearly 6 million. In contrast, only 10,047 people visited the remote Gates of the Arctic in Alaska in the same year.[5]

A few former National Parks are no longer designated as such, or have been disbanded. Other units of the National Park Service (417 altogether) are broadly referred to as national parks; they are listed here.[6]

National Parks

  Indicates that the national park is a World Heritage Site (a * symbol also appears after the park's name).
Name Photo Location Date established as park[7][8] Area (2016)[9] Recreation visitors (2016)[5] Description
Acadia Maine
44°21′N 68°13′W / 44.35°N 68.21°W / 44.35; -68.21 (Acadia)		 February 26, 1919 49,057.36 acres (198.5 km2) 3,303,393 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.[10][11]
American Samoa American Samoa
14°15′S 170°41′W / 14.25°S 170.68°W / -14.25; -170.68 (National Park of American Samoa)		 October 31, 1988 8,256.67 acres (33.4 km2) 28,892 The southernmost National Park is on three Samoan islands and 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.[12]
Arches Utah
38°41′N 109°34′W / 38.68°N 109.57°W / 38.68; -109.57 (Arches)		 November 12, 1971 76,678.98 acres (310.3 km2) 1,585,718 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.[13] Millions of years of erosion have created these structures located 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.[14]
Badlands South Dakota
43°45′N 102°30′W / 43.75°N 102.50°W / 43.75; -102.50 (Badlands)		 November 10, 1978 242,755.94 acres (982.4 km2) 996,263 The Badlands are a collection of buttes, pinnacles, spires, and mixed-grass prairies. The White River Badlands contain the largest assemblage of known late Eocene and Oligocene mammal fossils.[15] The wildlife includes bison, bighorn sheep, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs.[16]
Big Bend Texas
29°15′N 103°15′W / 29.25°N 103.25°W / 29.25; -103.25 (Big Bend)		 June 12, 1944 801,163.21 acres (3,242.2 km2) 388,290 Named for the prominent bend in the Rio Grande along the US–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.[17] (BR)[18]
Biscayne Florida
25°39′N 80°05′W / 25.65°N 80.08°W / 25.65; -80.08 (Biscayne)		 June 28, 1980 172,971.11 acres (700.0 km2) 514,709 Located in Biscayne Bay, this 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 peregrine falcon.[19]
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Colorado
38°34′N 107°43′W / 38.57°N 107.72°W / 38.57; -107.72 (Black Canyon of the Gunnison)		 October 21, 1999 30,749.75 acres (124.4 km2) 238,018 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.[20]
Bryce Canyon Utah
37°34′N 112°11′W / 37.57°N 112.18°W / 37.57; -112.18 (Bryce Canyon)		 February 25, 1928 35,835.08 acres (145.0 km2) 2,365,110 Bryce Canyon is a geological amphitheater on the 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.[21]
Canyonlands Utah
38°12′N 109°56′W / 38.2°N 109.93°W / 38.2; -109.93 (Canyonlands)		 September 12, 1964 337,597.83 acres (1,366.2 km2) 776,218 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 also contains rock pinnacles and arches, as well as artifacts from Ancient Pueblo peoples.[22]
Capitol Reef Utah
38°12′N 111°10′W / 38.20°N 111.17°W / 38.20; -111.17 (Capitol Reef)		 December 18, 1971 241,904.26 acres (979.0 km2) 1,064,904 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, cliffs, and sandstone domes shaped like the United States Capitol.[23]
Carlsbad Caverns* New Mexico
32°10′N 104°26′W / 32.17°N 104.44°W / 32.17; -104.44 (Carlsbad Caverns)		 May 14, 1930 46,766.45 acres (189.3 km2) 466,773 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.[24] (WHS)[25]
Channel Islands California
34°01′N 119°25′W / 34.01°N 119.42°W / 34.01; -119.42 (Channel Islands)		 March 5, 1980 249,561.00 acres (1,009.9 km2) 364,807 Five of the eight Channel Islands are protected, and half of the park's area is 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, and 145 are unique to them, including the island fox. Ferry services offer transportation to the islands from the mainland.[26] (BR)[27]
Congaree South Carolina
33°47′N 80°47′W / 33.78°N 80.78°W / 33.78; -80.78 (Congaree)		 November 10, 2003 26,275.82 acres (106.3 km2) 143,843 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.[28] (BR)[29]
Crater Lake Oregon
42°56′N 122°06′W / 42.94°N 122.1°W / 42.94; -122.1 (Crater Lake)		 May 22, 1902 183,224.05 acres (741.5 km2) 756,344 Crater Lake lies in the caldera of an ancient volcano called Mount Mazama that collapsed 7,700 years ago. It is the deepest lake in the United States and is noted for its vivid blue color and water clarity. There are two more recent volcanic islands in the lake, and, with no inlets or outlets, all water comes through precipitation.[30]
Cuyahoga Valley Ohio
41°14′N 81°33′W / 41.24°N 81.55°W / 41.24; -81.55 (Cuyahoga Valley)		 October 11, 2000 32,572.35 acres (131.8 km2) 2,423,390 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,[31] and also offers a scenic train ride.[32]
Death Valley California, Nevada
36°14′N 116°49′W / 36.24°N 116.82°W / 36.24; -116.82 (Death Valley)		 October 31, 1994 3,373,063.14 acres (13,650.3 km2) 1,296,283 Death Valley is the hottest, lowest, and driest place in the United States. Daytime temperatures have topped 130 °F (54 °C) and it is home to Badwater Basin, the lowest elevation in North America. The park contains canyons, badlands, sand dunes, and mountain ranges, while more than 1000 species of plants grow in this geologic graben. Additional points of interest include salt flats, historic mines, and springs.[33] (BR)[34]
Denali Alaska
63°20′N 150°30′W / 63.33°N 150.50°W / 63.33; -150.50 (Denali)		 February 26, 1917 4,740,911.16 acres (19,185.8 km2) 587,412 Centered on Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, Denali is serviced by a single road leading to Wonder Lake. Denali and other peaks of the Alaska Range are covered with long glaciers and boreal forest. Wildlife includes grizzly bears, Dall sheep, caribou, and gray wolves.[35] (BR)[36]
Dry Tortugas Florida
24°38′N 82°52′W / 24.63°N 82.87°W / 24.63; -82.87 (Dry Tortugas)		 October 26, 1992 64,701.22 acres (261.8 km2) 73,661 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 Western Hemisphere. With most of the park being remote ocean, it is home to undisturbed coral reefs and shipwrecks and is only accessible by plane or boat.[37] (BR)[38]
Everglades* Florida
25°19′N 80°56′W / 25.32°N 80.93°W / 25.32; -80.93 (Everglades)		 May 30, 1934 1,508,968.1 acres (6,106.6 km2) 930,907 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.[39] (WHS)[40] (BR)[38]
Gates of the Arctic Alaska
67°47′N 153°18′W / 67.78°N 153.30°W / 67.78; -153.30 (Gates of the Arctic)		 December 2, 1980 7,523,897.45 acres (30,448.1 km2) 10,047 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.[41]
Glacier* Montana
48°48′N 114°00′W / 48.80°N 114.00°W / 48.80; -114.00 (Glacier)		 May 11, 1910 1,013,128.94 acres (4,100.0 km2) 2,946,681 The U.S. half of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, this park includes 26 glaciers and 130 named lakes surrounded by Rocky Mountain peaks. There are historic hotels and a landmark road called the Going-to-the-Sun Road in this region of rapidly receding glaciers.[42] The local mountains, formed by an overthrust, expose Paleozoic fossils including trilobites, mollusks, giant ferns and dinosaurs.[43] (WHS)[44] (BR)[45]
Glacier Bay* Alaska
58°30′N 137°00′W / 58.50°N 137.00°W / 58.50; -137.00 (Glacier Bay)		 December 2, 1980 3,223,383.43 acres (13,044.6 km2) 520,171 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).[46] (WHS)[47] (BR)[48]
Grand Canyon* Arizona
36°04′N 112°08′W / 36.06°N 112.14°W / 36.06; -112.14 (Grand Canyon)		 February 26, 1919 1,201,647.03 acres (4,862.9 km2) 5,969,811 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 exposed the multicolored layers of the Colorado Plateau in mesas and canyon walls, visible from both the north and south rims, or from a number of trails that descend into the canyon itself.[49] (WHS)[50]
Grand Teton Wyoming
43°44′N 110°48′W / 43.73°N 110.80°W / 43.73; -110.80 (Grand Teton)		 February 26, 1929 310,043.96 acres (1,254.7 km2) 3,270,076 Grand Teton is the tallest mountain in the 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.[51]
Great Basin Nevada
38°59′N 114°18′W / 38.98°N 114.30°W / 38.98; -114.30 (Great Basin)		 October 27, 1986 77,180.00 acres (312.3 km2) 144,846 Based around Nevada's second tallest mountain, Wheeler Peak, Great Basin National Park contains 5,000-year-old bristlecone pines, a rock glacier, and the limestone Lehman Caves. Due to its remote location, the park has some of the country's darkest night skies. Wildlife includes the Townsend's big-eared bat, pronghorn, and Bonneville cutthroat trout.[52]
Great Sand Dunes Colorado
37°44′N 105°31′W / 37.73°N 105.51°W / 37.73; -105.51 (Great Sand Dunes)		 September 13, 2004 107,341.87 acres (434.4 km2) 388,308 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 has alpine lakes, six 13,000-foot mountains, and old-growth forests.[53]
Great Smoky Mountains* Tennessee, North Carolina
35°41′N 83°32′W / 35.68°N 83.53°W / 35.68; -83.53 (Great Smoky Mountains)		 June 15, 1934 522,426.88 acres (2,114.2 km2) 11,312,786 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 5000 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.[54] (WHS)[55] (BR)[56]
Guadalupe Mountains Texas
31°55′N 104°52′W / 31.92°N 104.87°W / 31.92; -104.87 (Guadalupe Mountains)		 October 15, 1966 86,367.10 acres (349.5 km2) 181,839 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.[57]
Haleakalā Hawaii
20°43′N 156°10′W / 20.72°N 156.17°W / 20.72; -156.17 (Haleakalā)		 August 1, 1916 33,264.62 acres (134.6 km2) 1,263,558 The Haleakalā volcano on Maui features a very large crater with numerous cinder cones, Hosmer's Grove of alien trees, the Kipahulu section's scenic pools of freshwater fish, and the native Hawaiian goose. It is home to the greatest number of endangered species within a U.S. National Park.[58] (BR)[59]
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes* Hawaii
19°23′N 155°12′W / 19.38°N 155.20°W / 19.38; -155.20 (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes)		 August 1, 1916 323,431.38 acres (1,308.9 km2) 1,887,580 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).[60] (WHS)[61] (BR)[59]
Hot Springs Arkansas
34°31′N 93°03′W / 34.51°N 93.05°W / 34.51; -93.05 (Hot Springs)		 March 4, 1921 5,549.10 acres (22.5 km2) 1,544,300 Hot Springs was established by act of Congress as a federal reserve on April 20, 1832. As such it is the oldest park managed by the National Park Service. Congress changed the reserve's designation to National Park on March 4, 1921 after the National Park Service was established in 1916. Hot Springs is the smallest and only National Park in an urban area and is based around natural hot springs that flow out of the low lying Ouachita Mountains. The springs provide opportunities for relaxation in an historic setting; Bathhouse Row preserves numerous examples of 19th-century architecture.[62]
Isle Royale Michigan
48°06′N 88°33′W / 48.10°N 88.55°W / 48.10; -88.55 (Isle Royale)		 April 3, 1940 571,790.11 acres (2,314.0 km2) 24,966 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 entire island, though the relationship between its wolf and moose populations is especially unique.[63] (BR)[64]
Joshua Tree California
33°47′N 115°54′W / 33.79°N 115.90°W / 33.79; -115.90 (Joshua Tree)		 October 31, 1994 790,635.74 acres (3,199.6 km2) 2,505,286 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.[65] (BR)[34]
Katmai Alaska
58°30′N 155°00′W / 58.50°N 155.00°W / 58.50; -155.00 (Katmai)		 December 2, 1980 3,674,529.33 acres (14,870.3 km2) 37,818 This park on the Alaska Peninsula protects the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, an ash flow formed by the 1912 eruption of Novarupta, as well as Mount Katmai. Over 2,000 grizzly bears come here each year to catch spawning salmon. Other wildlife includes caribou, wolves, moose, and wolverines.[66]
Kenai Fjords Alaska
59°55′N 149°39′W / 59.92°N 149.65°W / 59.92; -149.65 (Kenai Fjords)		 December 2, 1980 669,983.65 acres (2,711.3 km2) 346,534 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 Exit Glacier; the rest must be viewed or reached from boat tours.[67]
Kings Canyon California
36°48′N 118°33′W / 36.80°N 118.55°W / 36.80; -118.55 (Kings Canyon)		 March 4, 1940 461,901.20 acres (1,869.2 km2) 607,479 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.[68] (BR)[69]
Kobuk Valley Alaska
67°33′N 159°17′W / 67.55°N 159.28°W / 67.55; -159.28 (Kobuk Valley)		 December 2, 1980 1,750,716.16 acres (7,084.9 km2) 15,500 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.[70]
Lake Clark Alaska
60°58′N 153°25′W / 60.97°N 153.42°W / 60.97; -153.42 (Lake Clark)		 December 2, 1980 2,619,816.49 acres (10,602.0 km2) 21,102 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.[71]
Lassen Volcanic California
40°29′N 121°31′W / 40.49°N 121.51°W / 40.49; -121.51 (Lassen Volcanic)		 August 9, 1916 106,589.02 acres (431.4 km2) 536,068 Lassen Peak, the largest plug dome volcano in the world, is joined by all three other types of volcanoes in this park: shield, cinder dome, 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.[72]
Mammoth Cave* Kentucky
37°11′N 86°06′W / 37.18°N 86.10°W / 37.18; -86.10 (Mammoth Cave)		 July 1, 1941 52,830.19 acres (213.8 km2) 586,514 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.[73] (WHS)[74] (BR)[75]
Mesa Verde* Colorado
37°11′N 108°29′W / 37.18°N 108.49°W / 37.18; -108.49 (Mesa Verde)		 June 29, 1906 52,485.17 acres (212.4 km2) 583,527 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.[76] (WHS)[77]
Mount Rainier Washington
46°51′N 121°45′W / 46.85°N 121.75°W / 46.85; -121.75 (Mount Rainier)		 March 2, 1899 236,381.64 acres (956.6 km2) 1,356,913 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 largest in the contiguous United States. 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 the snowiest place on Earth where snowfall is measured regularly.[78] The Longmire visitor center is the start of the Wonderland Trail, which encircles the mountain.[79]
North Cascades Washington
48°42′N 121°12′W / 48.70°N 121.20°W / 48.70; -121.20 (North Cascades)		 October 2, 1968 504,780.94 acres (2,042.8 km2) 28,646 This complex encompasses two units of the National Park itself as well as the Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. The highly glaciated mountains are spectacular examples of Cascade geology. Popular hiking and climbing areas include Cascade Pass, Mount Shuksan, Mount Triumph, and Eldorado Peak.[80]
Olympic* Washington
47°58′N 123°30′W / 47.97°N 123.50°W / 47.97; -123.50 (Olympic)		 June 29, 1938 922,650.10 acres (3,733.8 km2) 3,390,221 Situated on the Olympic Peninsula, this park includes a wide range of ecosystems from Pacific shoreline to temperate rainforests to the alpine slopes of Mount Olympus. The scenic Olympic Mountains overlook the Hoh Rainforest and Quinault Rainforest, the wettest area in the contiguous United States, with the Hoh receiving an average of almost 12 ft (3.7 m) of rain every year.[81][82] (WHS)[83] (BR)[84]
Petrified Forest Arizona
35°04′N 109°47′W / 35.07°N 109.78°W / 35.07; -109.78 (Petrified Forest)		 December 9, 1962 221,415.77 acres (896.0 km2) 643,274 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.[85]
Pinnacles California
36°29′N 121°10′W / 36.48°N 121.16°W / 36.48; -121.16 (Pinnacles)		 January 10, 2013 26,685.73 acres (108.0 km2) 215,555 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 home to the endangered California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) and one of the few locations in the world where these extremely rare birds can be seen in the wild. Pinnacles also supports a dense population of prairie falcons, and more than 13 species of bat which populate its talus caves.[86]
Redwood* California
41°18′N 124°00′W / 41.30°N 124.00°W / 41.30; -124.00 (Redwood)		 October 2, 1968 138,999.37 acres (562.5 km2) 536,297 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.[87] (WHS)[88]
Rocky Mountain Colorado
40°24′N 105°35′W / 40.40°N 105.58°W / 40.40; -105.58 (Rocky Mountain)		 January 26, 1915 265,795.20 acres (1,075.6 km2) 4,517,585 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 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).[89] (BR)[90]
Saguaro Arizona
32°15′N 110°30′W / 32.25°N 110.50°W / 32.25; -110.50 (Saguaro)		 October 14, 1994 91,715.72 acres (371.2 km2) 820,426 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.[91]
Sequoia California
36°26′N 118°41′W / 36.43°N 118.68°W / 36.43; -118.68 (Sequoia)		 September 25, 1890 404,062.63 acres (1,635.2 km2) 1,254,688 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.[92] (BR)[69]
Shenandoah Virginia
38°32′N 78°21′W / 38.53°N 78.35°W / 38.53; -78.35 (Shenandoah)		 December 26, 1935 199,195.27 acres (806.1 km2) 1,437,341 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.[93]
Theodore Roosevelt North Dakota
46°58′N 103°27′W / 46.97°N 103.45°W / 46.97; -103.45 (Theodore Roosevelt)		 November 10, 1978 70,446.89 acres (285.1 km2) 753,880 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.[94]
Virgin Islands United States Virgin Islands
18°20′N 64°44′W / 18.33°N 64.73°W / 18.33; -64.73 (Virgin Islands)		 August 2, 1956 14,948.46 acres (60.5 km2) 411,343 This island park on Saint John preserves Taíno archaeological sites and the ruins of sugar plantations from Columbus' time, as well as all the natural environs. Surrounding the pristine beaches are mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs.[95] (BR)[96]
Voyageurs Minnesota
48°30′N 92°53′W / 48.50°N 92.88°W / 48.50; -92.88 (Voyageurs)		 January 8, 1971 218,200.15 acres (883.0 km2) 241,912 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.[97]
Wind Cave South Dakota
43°34′N 103°29′W / 43.57°N 103.48°W / 43.57; -103.48 (Wind Cave)		 January 9, 1903 33,970.84 acres (137.5 km2) 617,377 Wind Cave is distinctive for its calcite fin formations called boxwork, a unique formation rarely found elsewhere, and needle-like growths called frostwork. The cave is one of the longest and most complex caves in the world. Above ground is a mixed-grass prairie with animals such as bison, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs, and ponderosa pine forests that are home to cougars and elk.[98] The cave is culturally significant to the Lakota people as the site "from which Wakan Tanka, the Great Mystery, sent the buffalo out into their hunting grounds."[99]
Wrangell–​St. Elias* Alaska
61°00′N 142°00′W / 61.00°N 142.00°W / 61.00; -142.00 (Wrangell – St. Elias)		 December 2, 1980 8,323,146.48 acres (33,682.6 km2) 79,047 An over 8 million acres (32,375 km2) plot of mountainous country—the largest National Park in the system—protects the convergence of the Alaska, Chugach, and Wrangell-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.[100] (WHS)[47]
Yellowstone* Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
44°36′N 110°30′W / 44.60°N 110.50°W / 44.60; -110.50 (Yellowstone)		 March 1, 1872 2,219,790.71 acres (8,983.2 km2) 4,257,177 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, while four mountain ranges traverse the park. More than 60 mammal species including gray wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, lynxes, bison, and elk, make this park one of the best wildlife viewing spots in the country.[101] (WHS)[102] (BR)[103]
Yosemite* California
37°50′N 119°30′W / 37.83°N 119.50°W / 37.83; -119.50 (Yosemite)		 October 1, 1890 761,747.50 acres (3,082.7 km2) 5,028,868 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.[104] (WHS)[105]
Zion Utah
37°18′N 113°03′W / 37.30°N 113.05°W / 37.30; -113.05 (Zion)		 November 19, 1919 147,237.02 acres (595.8 km2) 4,295,127 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.[106]

See also

References

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  6. ↑ "Lower, Rocío (17 October 2016). "How many national parks are there?". nationalparks.org. National Park Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017. The National Park System encompasses 417 national parks in the United States.... Within the system, there are 59 sites that include 'National Park' as part of their proper name
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  9. ↑ "National Reports". National Park Service. Retrieved 5 May 2017. Click on Park Acreage Reports (1997 – Last Calendar/Fiscal Year), then select By Park, Calendar Year, <choose year>, and then click the View PDF Report button - the areas used here are the Gross Area Acres which are in the final column of the report
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  31. ↑ "Cuyahoga Valley National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
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  33. ↑ "Death Valley National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
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  35. ↑ "Denali National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
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  37. ↑ "Dry Tortugas National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  38. 1 2 "Everglades & Dry Tortugas Biosphere Reserve". unesco.org. UNESCO. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
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  41. ↑ "Gates of the Arctic National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  42. ↑ "Glacier National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  43. ↑ "Glacier National Park - Fossils". National Park Service. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
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  59. 1 2 "Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve". unesco.org. UNESCO. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
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  78. ↑ "Mount Rainier National Park-Frequently Asked Questions". National Park Service. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
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  86. ↑ "Pinnacles National Monument". National Park Service. January 9, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  87. ↑ "Redwood National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
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  91. ↑ "Saguaro National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  92. ↑ "Sequoia National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  93. ↑ "Shenandoah National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  94. ↑ "Theodore Roosevelt National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  95. ↑ "Virgin Islands National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  96. ↑ "Virgin Islands Biosphere Reserve and National Park". unesco.org. UNESCO. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  97. ↑ "Voyageurs National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  98. ↑ "Wind Cave National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  99. ↑ "Wind Cave's Early Days". National Park Service. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  100. ↑ "Wrangell – St. Elias National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  101. ↑ "Yellowstone National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  102. ↑ "World Heritage List - Yellowstone National Park". unesco.org. UNESCO. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  103. ↑ "Biosphere Reserve and National Park". unesco.org. UNESCO. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  104. ↑ "Yosemite National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  105. ↑ "World Heritage List - Yosemite National Park". unesco.org. UNESCO. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  106. ↑ "Zion National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 23 March 2010.

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