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Anational recreation area (NRA) is aprotected area in the United States established by anAct of Congress to preserve enhanced recreational opportunities in places with significant natural and scenic resources. There are 41 NRAs, which emphasize a variety of activities for visitors, including hiking, camping, boating, fishing, swimming, biking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing, in areas that include multiple-use management for both conservation and limited utilization of natural resources. They have diverse features and contexts, being established around reservoirs, in urban areas, and within forests. Due to their size, diversity of activities, and proximity to population centers, NRAs are among the most visited units of the National Park System, with six among the thirty most visited sites.[1]
The first NRA wasLake Mead National Recreation Area, which was created by a 1936 agreement between theUnited States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), which had builtHoover Dam, and theNational Park Service (NPS), which had experience in managing visitors in the outdoors. Because the reservoir had disturbed the natural state of the environment, a new designation was devised that allowed for more intensive land use while maintaining the NPS's role in conservation and historic preservation. The system of NRAs grew as the USBR constructed more dams near urban areas where there was a need for outdoor recreation.
NRAs are managed by the NPS, theUnited States Forest Service (USFS), and theBureau of Land Management (BLM). Of the NPS's 18 sites, 12 are based around large reservoirs featuring water recreation, 5 are near urban areas and include both historic preservation and outdoor recreation, and the last is at a river where a reservoir was planned but not built. Of the USFS's 22 sites, 5 are at or near reservoirs, and the rest are other exemplary recreation sites within national forests.
The 41 NRAs are located in 26 states; California and Washington have the most, each with four. NRAs of the USFS have a total area of 3,261,818 acres (13,200 km2),[2] and those of the NPS total 3,714,735 acres (15,033 km2).[3] The BLM's one NRA is approximately 1,000,000 acres (4,000 km2).[4]
TheU.S. Bureau of Reclamation was planning the construction of Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam) on theColorado River in the late 1920s and saw the potential for recreation at the scenic area inNevada andArizona around the futureLake Mead, to then be the world's largest reservoir. The car was expanding access to travel in the growing Southwest and the USBR wanted to bring about the outdoor activities that would be enabled by its enormous project, but it lacked the experience and desire to provide facilities and services for recreation. Following the controversy of theHetch Hetchy Reservoir that flooded a scenic valley inYosemite National Park, theNational Park Service sought to balance its conservation and recreation efforts with dams, and it could provide the expertise for such visitor infrastructure at the Boulder Canyon Project.[5]
A proposed 8,000 sq mi (21,000 km2) Virgin National Park in that region promoted by Secretary of the InteriorRay Lyman Wilbur was praised for its scenic and historic resources but rejected in 1930 by NPS DirectorHorace M. Albright due to a reservoir's inherent lack of a natural landscape expected for anational park.[6] The political leaders at the Department of the Interior nevertheless wanted to manage the significant lands for tourism and recreation. Farming interests in theArizona Strip area also wanted to keep theirgrazing access to the public lands. A 1932 study byYellowstone National Park superintendentRoger Toll evaluated the region and recognized some sites of interest but again dismissed it as inconsistent with national parks' and monuments' standards and purpose of preservation.[6] Separately that year the secretary's advisorLouis C. Cramton led further studies of the area between the dam site andGrand Canyon National Park and recommended the creation of Grand Canyon National Monument (II)[7] for the pristine upstream eastern section; it would later be incorporated into the park. Cramton proposed that the western section, which had less spectacular scenery, the dam and reservoir, livestock grazing, and mining, but nationally important recreational importance, be designated as the "Boulder Canyon National Reservation", consistent with terminology used in theNational Park Service Organic Act. A bill to establish it was introduced in Congress in 1933 with mixed support and failed to advance,[5] while Albright reluctantly agreed to support the USBR with visitor services.[6]
As part of theNew Deal, PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt strongly promoted tourism to a growing Park System, with increased emphasis on recreation at facilities constructed by the job-creatingCivilian Conservation Corps. The NPS, now under DirectorArno B. Cammerer, took advantage of federal funds to claim the reservoir area and highlight natural features and development needs.[6] Despite the lack of legislation establishing the reservation, the USBR's inability to manage the influx of tourists at the newly finished Lake Mead led Interior SecretaryHarold L. Ickes to direct for negotiation of amemorandum of agreement that gave the NPS responsibility for the reserved lands and surface of the lake, but not Boulder Dam itself, maintaining mining and grazing so long as they did not disrupt recreation. Ickes signed it on October 13, 1936, establishing the Boulder Dam Recreation Area, and the NPS quickly built significant infrastructure for sightseeing visitors and contracted with concessionaires. This was a major compromise and precedent that expanded the Park Service's mission beyond the strict conservation of national parks andmonuments to include broader outdoor recreation that coexists with other land uses.[5]
The Park, Parkway, and Recreation Area Study Act of 1936[8] had the NPS analyze the needs for outdoor recreation and collaborate with state and local governments,[5] officially expanding its mission beyond national parks. With skepticism remaining among agency veterans, planning still emphasized scenery and preservation. The Act's mandates and provision for interagency cooperation, however, resulted in more versatile land acquisition as the NPS defined its mission.[6] In the 1940s, under the leadership of associate directorConrad L. Wirth, the NPS prepared a National Recreation Plan and conducted a number of studies with the USBR and theUnited States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) assessing the natural impact, recreational opportunities, and significance of proposed reservoirs.[9]
In 1947 the Boulder Dam Recreation Area was renamedLake Mead National Recreation Area and expanded to includeLake Mohave above the USBR's newDavis Dam.[6] This interagency partnership was successful in creating many recreation areas at reservoirs: nine more were created by agreement with USBR and two more with other dam agencies in the next two decades under the leadership of Wirth as director. However, it contributed to the controversial proposals ofEcho Park Dam andBridge Canyon Dam in existing NPS areas that were canceled after considerable opposition from environmentalists.[5]
These new sites were mainly designated as just "recreation areas" since they did not necessarily have national significance. Several would be transferred to theUnited States Forest Service and other agencies, being more efficient for management. USFS took over Shasta Lake Recreation Area inShasta National Forest in 1948 as its first.[10] The Forest Service had traditionally focused onforestry for timber and custodial management, and the 1950s saw debate among the agencies, extraction interests, and conservationists as demand for recreation increased the need for multiple-use planning. TheMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 for the first time established recreation and wildlife as equal priorities for the Forest Service with range, timber, and watershed oversight.[11][12]
The Park Service took a utilitarian approach to its recreation areas, acknowledging their less-than-national significance and focused on providing useful facilities and allowing a wider range of activities. Through the 1950s, many traditionalists at the NPS saw recreation areas championed by Wirth as distractions with open questions of how to manage and square them with the broader aims of the agency. As increased visitation forced answers to these, Lake Mead served as a model for administration at other recreational units, experiencing changing demands of the public and more day-use visitors. Wirth advocated for changing the Lake Mead's designation to "national recreation park," which would emphasize its importance with autonomy from the USBR.[6] HisMission 66 vision provided capital investment for construction of visitor services and infrastructure across the park system.[6]
In 1963, the Recreation Advisory Council, created by executive order of PresidentJohn F. Kennedy and composed of five major government officials,[13] issued a policy that recognized the need for and established criteria for establishing NRAs.[14] The council recommended that NRAs should focus on growing "recreation demand" more than preservation, conservation, or development; have significant natural and recreational quality greater than that of state lands, even if not as unique as other parts of the National Park System; and provide opportunity for recreation consistent with other federal public lands programs. It outlined seven mandatory criteria and six secondary criteria for establishing NRAs, including a minimum size, ability to attract a significant number of visitors from nearby and beyond its state, and filling a regional need with recreation as the dominant purpose. The policy also called for national recreation areas to be established by acts ofCongress and for them to be able to be managed by multiple agencies as necessary, including as partnerships with states.[14] TheBureau of Outdoor Recreation (rather than the NPS) was charged with studying proposals and referring them to the council for recommendation. This process gave flexibility to the NPS and USFS to develop their own guidelines for unmet future recreational needs.[9]
In response Congress made Lake Mead National Recreation Area the first such area to be established by statute in October 1964, finally resolving the complicated co-management of USBR land as sole NPS jurisdiction.[15] It eventually codified most of the existing recreation areas under the new national designation (Lake Roosevelt andCurecanti NRAs are the only NPS areas that have not been permanently established by Congress or the president[16]). Lake Mead is still the largest NRA and is the most visited among those at reservoirs. The first new NRA under USFS administration wasSpruce Knob–Seneca Rocks NRA, established in 1965. Congress initially authorizedDelaware Water Gap NRA in 1965 with the expectation that theTocks Island Reservoir would serve the New York and Philadelphia areas as the first NRA east of the Mississippi River, but local and environmental opposition led to the dam's cancellation. The NRA remains as the forested area intended to be flooded by theDelaware River.[17]Mount Rogers NRA was also delayed and downsized, losing a planned reservoir and ski area.[9]
A 1968 NPS publication outlined policies for administration of recreational areas, which were distinct from its natural and historical areas.[18] This included not only NRAs but alsonational lakeshores and seashores,national parkways, and some national scenic riverways; at that time there were 22 such areas,[8] and recreation would be the dominant resource objective, but with multiple intensive uses allowed.[9] But because most units contained a combination of natural, historic, and recreational lands, theGeneral Authorities Act of 1970 made all areas equal within theNational Park System;[19] separate policy manuals for each were replaced in 1975 with one that would tailor policies in each park respective to the purpose of zones within.[17]
In 1972 Congress established two NRAs in urban areas as the first urban national parks:Golden Gate NRA in the San Francisco area andGateway NRA in New York City, both with beaches, historic military sites, and natural conservation areas. Spearheaded by DirectorGeorge Hartzog,[9] this controversially expanded the Park Service's responsibilities into local urban recreation (in addition to theNational Capital Parks), and after he left, the NPS opposed the creation ofCuyahoga Valley NRA south of Cleveland andSanta Monica Mountains NRA west of Los Angeles.[17] The former was redesignated a national park in 2000.[20]Chattahoochee River NRA north of Atlanta was created in 1978 andBoston Harbor Islands NRA in 1996. The Santa Monica Mountains and Boston Harbor Islands are partnerships with state parks and local agencies.[17]
Ashley Karst National Recreation and Geologic Area is the newest NRA, designated in 2019. TheLand and Water Conservation Fund provided funding for the purchase of land at several NRAs.[21]
Three federal agencies manage the 41 NRAs. The National Park Service, in theDepartment of the Interior, manages 18, theU.S. Forest Service, in theDepartment of Agriculture, manages 23, and theBureau of Land Management, in the Department of the Interior, manages one. One NRA,Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity, comprises three units, two of which are Forest Service and one is National Park Service. The NPS sites are stand-aloneunits of the National Park System, while the USFS sites are all part ofnational forests exceptLand Between the Lakes. Several of the larger USFS NRAs are managed equivalent to aranger district, but most are designated areas within one. TheGreen Mountain National Forest is the only one with two NRAs. The Forest Service manages its NRAs as "showcases" of its management standards so that their programs, services, and facilities should be models for its other recreation sites.[22] The USBR operates dams in the West, with eleven NRAs built around them,[23] while the USACE primarily operates dams in the East, with reservoirs or areas near four part of NRAs; three more are based around reservoirs operated by other agencies.
As the primary focus of land management is recreation (rather than conservation), limited land use such as grazing, logging, and mineral leasing is permitted only if it does not interfere with the recreational use of the land.[8] The establishing legislation of each NRA usually specifies multiple purposes of the designation.[22] Hunting is by default banned in areas of the National Park Service unless explicitly permitted by law;[24] 15 of 18 NRAs of the NPS[25] allow hunting – and it is generally permitted in National Forest lands – in accordance with local rules.[26]
TheMississippi National River and Recreation Area andBig South Fork National River and Recreation Area share many features with the NRAs but are classified by the NPS with thenational rivers and are not listed here. The USFS has four additional designated "recreation areas" that have similar management practices but are not listed here.[27] The USFS and BLM do not collect visitor data for most sites, marked with an asterisk.
| Name | Image | Location | Agency | Date est.[28][29] | Area[2][3] | Visitors (2019)[1] | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny |  | Pennsylvania 41°40′N79°02′W / 41.66°N 79.03°W /41.66; -79.03 (Allegheny) | USFS | October 30, 1984 | 24,149 acres (97.7 km2) | * | This conserves forests on both sides of a portion of theAllegheny Reservoir and a smaller separate area adjacent to theAllegheny River, featuring several hiking trails and campsites. Part ofAllegheny National Forest.[30] |
| Amistad |  | Texas 29°27′N101°03′W / 29.45°N 101.05°W /29.45; -101.05 (Amistad) | NPS | November 28, 1990 | 62,945 acres (254.7 km2) | 1,267,900 | The 1969Amistad Dam forms theAmistad Reservoir on theRio Grande at the border with Mexico.Monarch butterflies migrate through the area every fall, and wildlife along the reservoir's shores includesjavelina,mouflon andaoudad sheep, andblackbuck antelope. Clear water provides for easy scuba diving, with complex caves for experts.[31] |
| Arapaho |  | Colorado 40°08′N105°49′W / 40.14°N 105.81°W /40.14; -105.81 (Arapaho) | USFS | October 11, 1978 | 34,621 acres (140.1 km2) | * | This NRA adjacent toRocky Mountain National Park has five reservoirs of theColorado-Big Thompson Project, the largest of which isLake Granby. The lakes are a popular place to boat and fish, camp and hike, and horseback ride.Ospreys andbald eagles are prevalent, among otherwildlife of the Rocky Mountains. Part ofArapaho-Roosevelt National Forest.[32] |
| Ashley Karst |  | Utah | USFS | March 12, 2019 | 173,475 acres (702.03 km2) | * | Congress established this area as a "national recreation and geologic area" to conservekarst watershed and geologic features on the south slope of theUinta Mountains.[33][34] Part ofAshley National Forest. |
| Bighorn Canyon |  | Montana,Wyoming 45°02′N108°16′W / 45.03°N 108.26°W /45.03; -108.26 (Bighorn Canyon) | NPS | October 15, 1966 | 120,296 acres (486.8 km2) | 249,659 | TheYellowtail Dam, completed in 1967, formedBighorn Lake on theBighorn River, which provide opportunities for wildlife viewing, hiking, boating, and trout fishing. Visitors can tour four historic ranches or cycle near the prehistoric Bad Pass Trail. Wildmustangs roam in the overlappingPryor Mountains Wild Horse Range.[35] |
| Boston Harbor Islands |  | Massachusetts 42°19′N70°56′W / 42.31°N 70.94°W /42.31; -70.94 (Boston Harbor Islands) | NPS | November 12, 1996 | 1,482 acres (6.0 km2) | * | Thirty-four islands and peninsulas inBoston Harbor make an urban oasis with open space for hiking ortide pooling. Seasonal ferries and private boats provide access to America's second oldest lighthouse,Boston Light, and the Civil War-eraFort Warren. It is managed by a partnership that includes a Massachusetts state park of the same name.[36] |
| Chattahoochee River |  | Georgia 33°59′N84°19′W / 33.98°N 84.32°W /33.98; -84.32 (Chattahoochee River) | NPS | August 15, 1978 | 12,509 acres (50.6 km2) | 3,393,133 | Fifteen sections of park land tightly follow theChattahoochee River for 48 miles (77 km) below theBuford Dam. Each unit has hiking trails, but visitors can also float down the river in a canoe, kayak, or boat.[37] |
| Chickasaw |  | Oklahoma 34°30′N96°58′W / 34.50°N 96.97°W /34.50; -96.97 (Chickasaw) | NPS | March 17, 1976 | 9,898 acres (40.1 km2) | 1,422,612 | The original Platt National Park was a small but popular area of mineral springs donated by theChickasaw people. The high-output springs form Travertine Creek, with several small waterfalls alongside trails. TheLake of the Arbuckles was dammed in 1966 and protected as Arbuckle NRA. It has a significant bass population and nearby campgrounds. The two were merged in 1976.[38] |
| Curecanti | .jpg) | Colorado 38°28′N107°10′W / 38.46°N 107.17°W /38.46; -107.17 (Curecanti) | NPS | February 11, 1965 | 43,590 acres (176.4 km2) | 836,034 | This lies around theBlue Mesa,Morrow Point andCrystal Reservoirs on theGunnison River upriver of itsBlack Canyon. All three reservoirs offer boating, camping, and hiking.[39] |
| Delaware Water Gap |  | New Jersey,Pennsylvania 41°09′N74°55′W / 41.15°N 74.91°W /41.15; -74.91 (Delaware Water Gap) | NPS | September 1, 1965 | 68,708 acres (278.1 km2) | 3,374,865 | Originally intended to surround a reservoir formed by theTocks Island Dam, it became a larger natural area around 40 miles (64 km) of the free-flowingDelaware River when the project was canceled. Historic hamlets that would have been inundated are open for tours. A biking and hiking trail runs the length of it parallel to the river, as does a segment of theAppalachian Trail. Rock climbers can scale cliffs of theDelaware Water Gap.[40] |
| Ed Jenkins |  | Georgia 34°38′N84°12′W / 34.63°N 84.2°W /34.63; -84.2 (Ed Jenkins) | USFS | December 11, 1991 | 23,545 acres (95.3 km2) | * | Springer Mountain, the southern end of theAppalachian Trail, is the centerpiece of this portion of theBlue Ridge Mountains. Its forests protect streams of the Chattahoochee River watershed. Part ofChattahoochee–Oconee National Forest.[41] |
| Flaming Gorge | _23-9-2014_12-49-13.JPG) | Wyoming,Utah 40°55′N109°25′W / 40.91°N 109.42°W /40.91; -109.42 (Flaming Gorge) | USFS | October 1, 1968 | 189,817 acres (768.2 km2) | * | TheFlaming Gorge Reservoir (Flaming Gorge Dam) was named for the bright red sandstone cliffs of this canyon of theGreen River. It has several marinas and boat-in campsites. Part ofAshley National Forest.[42] |
| Gateway |  | New York,New Jersey 40°27′N73°59′W / 40.45°N 73.99°W /40.45; -73.99 (Gateway) | NPS | October 27, 1972 | 26,606 acres (107.7 km2) | 9,405,622 | This urban NRA has three segments around theHudson–Raritan Estuary. At New Jersey'sSandy Hook, visitors can relax on seven beaches and tourFort Hancock andthe country's oldest lighthouse.Jamaica Bay inBrooklyn andQueens provides habitat for birds, turtles, and horseshoe crabs in its salt marshes, islands, and dunes. Several peninsulas around the bay offer beaches and park space, includingFloyd Bennett Field, a repurposed airfield with the only campground in New York City and several sporting facilities. OnStaten Island the historicFort Wadsworth guardedThe Narrows for two centuries andGreat Kills Park offers a beach, nature trails, and a marina.[43] |
| Gauley River |  | West Virginia 38°12′N80°53′W / 38.20°N 80.89°W /38.20; -80.89 (Gauley River) | NPS | October 26, 1988 | 11,565 acres (46.8 km2) | 119,282 | The 25 miles (40 km) of theGauley River downstream of theSummersville Dam and 5 miles (8 km) of theMeadow River offer "premierwhitewater"[44]rafting withClass V rapids six weekends in the fall when water is released from the dam. There are a few river access points for fishing.[45] |
| Glen Canyon |  | Utah,Arizona 36°59′N111°29′W / 36.99°N 111.48°W /36.99; -111.48 (Glen Canyon) | NPS | October 27, 1972 | 1,254,116 acres (5,075.2 km2) | 4,330,563 | The area aroundLake Powell, formed by theGlen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, is rich with sandstone formations where rivers eroded down sweeping canyons leaving scores of towering buttes, natural arches, and striated cliffs. Scenic vistas includeHorseshoe Bend,Hole in the Rock, andRainbow Bridge National Monument.[46] |
| Golden Gate |  | California 37°48′N122°28′W / 37.80°N 122.46°W /37.80; -122.46 (Golden Gate) | NPS | October 27, 1972 | 82,116 acres (332.3 km2) | 15,002,227 | Combining historic sites and beaches inSan Francisco with the hills of theMarin Headlands and ridges of theSan Francisco Peninsula, this NRA is one of the two most visited units of the National Park System. The urban waterfront area includes the penitentiary ofAlcatraz Island, thePresidio of San Francisco, theSutro Baths ruins, andFort Point. Across theGolden Gate hikers can hike through wooded valleys and amongcoast redwoods ofMuir Woods National Monument.[47] |
| Grand Island |  | Michigan 46°30′N86°40′W / 46.50°N 86.66°W /46.50; -86.66 (Grand Island) | USFS | May 17, 1990 | 13,571 acres (54.9 km2) | * | Grand Island is inLake Superior and accessible by a short ferry from the Upper Peninsula nearPictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Sandy beaches are reached by hiking or mountain biking on trails along coastal cliffs. Part ofHiawatha National Forest.[48] |
| Hells Canyon | .jpg) | Oregon,Idaho 45°36′N116°30′W / 45.6°N 116.5°W /45.6; -116.5 (Hells Canyon) | USFS | December 31, 1975 | 661,097 acres (2,675.4 km2) | * | Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America, with the east rim reaching up to 8,043 ft (2,452 m) above theSnake River. Whitewater rafters paddle downstream of theHells Canyon Dam, and there are scenic vistas on rim trails. Historic sites includeNez Percepetroglyphs on canyon walls, gold mining piles, and homestead ranches. Part ofWallowa–Whitman,Nez Perce, andPayette National Forests.[49] |
| Jemez | .jpg) | New Mexico 35°46′N106°41′W / 35.77°N 106.68°W /35.77; -106.68 (Jemez) | USFS | October 12, 1993 | 57,732 acres (233.6 km2) | * | Part of the homeland of theJemez Pueblo people, this NRA sits among red rock canyons, cliffs, andmesas in theJemez Mountains. Colorfulcottonwood andaspen trees stand over river fishing sites and hiking trails. Waterfalls, hot springs, and campsites are mainly along theJemez River near theValles Caldera. Part ofSanta Fe National Forest.[50] |
| Lake Chelan |  | Washington 48°19′N120°40′W / 48.32°N 120.67°W /48.32; -120.67 (Lake Chelan) | NPS | October 2, 1968 | 61,946 acres (250.7 km2) | 38,785 | Part of theNorth Cascades National Park Complex along with Ross Lake NRA, this is nestled around the Stehekin Valley at the north end ofLake Chelan. It is accessible only by ferry up the lake toStehekin, where there are campgrounds and cabins, or backpacking on thePacific Crest Trail.[51] |
| Lake Mead |  | Nevada,Arizona 36°04′N114°48′W / 36.07°N 114.80°W /36.07; -114.80 (Lake Mead) | NPS | October 8, 1964 | 1,495,815 acres (6,053.3 km2) | 7,499,049 | Lake Mead (Hoover Dam) andLake Mohave (Davis Dam) are surrounded by three major desert ecosystems with slot canyons, summits, and bluffs among sandstone rocks. The lakes and Colorado River allow for canoeing, boating, fishing, and scuba diving, with access at nine harbors. Hikers can reach ruined mines and the formerly submerged town ofSt. Thomas. Nine wilderness areas are around the lake. A portion is also part ofGrand Canyon–Parashant National Monument.[52] |
| Lake Meredith |  | Texas 35°43′N101°33′W / 35.71°N 101.55°W /35.71; -101.55 (Lake Meredith) | NPS | November 28, 1990 | 44,977 acres (182.0 km2) | 1,328,340 | Lake Meredith on theCanadian River in theTexas Panhandle offers five hiking trails, 5 miles (8.0 km) of mountain biking trails,ATV areas, and horseback riding. Theshortgrass prairie ecosystem is home to theTexas horned lizard,collared lizard,greater roadrunner, andpainted bunting. The adjacentAlibates Flint Quarries National Monument shows the area's unique geology ofagatizeddolomite.[53] |
| Lake Roosevelt | .jpg) | Washington 48°05′N118°19′W / 48.09°N 118.31°W /48.09; -118.31 (Lake Roosevelt) | NPS | January 1, 1997 | 100,390 acres (406.3 km2) | 1,358,818 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake extends 150 miles (240 km) up theColumbia andSpokane Rivers from theGrand Coulee Dam, the largest power plant in the country. There are several campgrounds along the shores opposite theColville andSpokane Indian Reservations, providing access for boating and fishing. The 1847St. Paul's Mission near the formerKettle Falls andFort Spokane provide interpretation of the history of the tribes, the Army, and missionaries.[54][55] |
| Land Between The Lakes |  | Kentucky,Tennessee 36°51′N88°04′W / 36.85°N 88.07°W /36.85; -88.07 (Land Between The Lakes) | USFS | October 21, 1998 | 171,290 acres (693.2 km2) | 958,000 (2017)[56] | Situated between 35 miles (56 km) of the parallel reservoirsLake Barkley (Barkley Dam) andKentucky Lake (Kentucky Dam), this large inland peninsula has more than 300 mi (480 km) of shoreline and 500 mi (800 km) of hiking, horse, and biking trails. This mostly flat forested area features an area withelk andbison, a historic working farm, a planetarium, and nature center.[57] |
| Moosalamoo |  | Vermont 43°55′N73°01′W / 43.91°N 73.01°W /43.91; -73.01 (Moosalamoo) | USFS | December 1, 2006 | 15,914 acres (64.4 km2) | * | This area around Mount Moosalamoo features a network of hiking trails and a lakeside campground in theGreen Mountains. Part ofGreen Mountain National Forest.[58] |
| Mount Baker |  | Washington 48°43′N121°50′W / 48.71°N 121.83°W /48.71; -121.83 (Mount Baker) | USFS | July 3, 1984 | 8,789 acres (35.6 km2) | * | Hikers can traverse the south slope ofMount Baker to alpine campsites and a fire lookout. Snowmobiles can be ridden in theSchriebers Meadow area, unlike in the adjacentMount Baker Wilderness. Part ofMount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest.[59] |
| Mount Hood | .jpg) | Oregon 45°16′N121°40′W / 45.26°N 121.66°W /45.26; -121.66 (Mount Hood) | USFS | March 30, 2009 | 34,598 acres (140.0 km2) | * | This NRA has three sections to the south and east ofMount Hood. ThePacific Crest Trail andBarlow Road pass through the largest section, which has parts of twowilderness areas. One includes a segment ofFifteenmile Creek, and it and the third feature mountain biking trails. Part ofMount Hood National Forest.[60][61] |
| Mount Rogers |  | Virginia 36°38′N81°35′W / 36.64°N 81.58°W /36.64; -81.58 (Mount Rogers) | USFS | May 31, 1966 | 154,919 acres (626.9 km2) | * | This area based around Virginia's highest point,Mount Rogers, has more than 500 mi (800 km) of hiking trails, including part of theAppalachian Trail. It features four wilderness areas among the spruce-fir forests and theMount Rogers Crest Zone. Part ofGeorge Washington and Jefferson National Forests.[62][63] |
| Oregon Dunes |  | Oregon 43°43′N124°10′W / 43.72°N 124.17°W /43.72; -124.17 (Oregon Dunes) | USFS | March 23, 1972 | 34,364 acres (139.1 km2) | * | The Oregon Dunes are the largest coastal sand dunes in North America, covering around 7,000 acres (28 km2) of a 40 miles (64 km) stretch of theOregon Coast. Formed by thousands of years of wind and waves, the dunes offeroff-road vehicle use, hiking, camping, and birdwatching. It is a protected nesting site for thewestern snowy plover. Part ofSiuslaw National Forest.[64] |
| Pine Ridge |  | Nebraska 42°37′N103°07′W / 42.62°N 103.12°W /42.62; -103.12 (Pine Ridge) | USFS | October 21, 1986 | 6,636 acres (26.9 km2) | * | This small backcountry area with no roads or facilities offers non-motorized activities through a hillyponderosa pine forest. Part ofNebraska National Forest.[65] |
| Rattlesnake |  | Montana 46°57′N113°55′W / 46.95°N 113.92°W /46.95; -113.92 (Rattlesnake) | USFS | October 19, 1980 | 60,104 acres (243.2 km2) | * | A network of trails traverse the peaks of theRattlesnake Mountains, with forested ridges, alpine lakes, and open slopes. The pine-spruce-fir ecosystem is home toelk,white-tailed deer,mountain goat, andgrizzly bear, as well as several species oforchid. About half is protected by theRattlesnake Wilderness. Part ofLolo National Forest.[66] |
| Robert T. Stafford White Rocks |  | Vermont 43°23′N72°55′W / 43.38°N 72.91°W /43.38; -72.91 (Robert T. Stafford White Rocks) | USFS | June 19, 1984 | 36,563 acres (148.0 km2) | * | Named for SenatorRobert Stafford, this roadless part of theGreen Mountains has theBig Branch andPeru Peak Wilderness areas. The white rocks are slopes of deposited Cheshirequartzite revealed by glaciers during theIce Age. It has 30 miles (48 km) of theAppalachian Trail and Vermont'sLong Trail, several forested peaks with ponds, and snowmobile routes. Part ofGreen Mountain National Forest.[67] |
| Ross Lake |  | Washington 48°40′N121°14′W / 48.67°N 121.24°W /48.67; -121.24 (Ross Lake) | NPS | October 2, 1968 | 117,574 acres (475.8 km2) | 1,088,528 | Part of theNorth Cascades National Park Complex along with Lake Chelan NRA, this surrounds the three reservoirs ofSeattle City Light'sSkagit River Hydroelectric Project: Gorge Lake,Diablo Lake, andRoss Lake, which extends into Canada. There are many boat-in backcountry campsites, and the surrounding mountains of the Cascades offer rugged hikes and mountaineering.[51] |
| Santa Monica Mountains |  | California 34°06′N118°36′W / 34.10°N 118.60°W /34.10; -118.60 (Santa Monica Mountains) | NPS | November 10, 1978 | 157,698 acres (638.2 km2) | 707,566 | This collaboration between fiveCalifornia state parks, local public park lands, and NPS properties spans theSanta Monica Mountains characterized bychaparral and woodlands. Trails lead hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders from beaches throughscrub valleys to peak views of the ocean. The 70 mi (110 km)Backbone Trail and the scenicMulholland Drive traverse ridges along the width of the park.[68] |
| Sawtooth |  | Idaho 44°00′N114°42′W / 44.00°N 114.7°W /44.00; -114.7 (Sawtooth) | USFS | August 22, 1972 | 753,819 acres (3,050.6 km2) | 303,000 (2015)[69] | The jaggedSawtooth Range andWhite Cloud,Boulder, andSmoky Mountains have hundreds ofalpine lakes among their peaks. More than 700 mi (1,100 km) of trails connect hikers from three dozen developed campgrounds to grasslands and forests home to at least 70 mammal species and 200 bird species. Part ofSawtooth,Salmon–Challis, andBoise National Forests.[70] |
| Smith River |  | California 41°55′N123°52′W / 41.91°N 123.86°W /41.91; -123.86 (Smith River) | USFS | November 16, 1990 | 329,827 acres (1,334.8 km2) | * | TheSmith River and its tributaries, one of the longestNational Wild and Scenic Rivers, run through this portion of theKlamath Mountains, offering fishing, rafting, and swimming. Trails lead toDarlingtonia pitcher plant groves inserpentine bogs and other unique botanical areas. Part ofSix Rivers National Forest.[71] |
| Spring Mountains |  | Nevada 36°16′N115°41′W / 36.27°N 115.69°W /36.27; -115.69 (Spring Mountains) | USFS | August 4, 1993 | 321,708 acres (1,301.9 km2) | 563,000 (2016)[72] | Southern Nevada's highest point,Mount Charleston, andits wilderness area have several snow-capped peaks rising above the desert. Summer visitors can hike loop trails to the summit, and in winter they can ski and snowboard at theLee Canyon Resort. Part ofHumboldt–Toiyabe National Forest.[73] |
| Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks |  | West Virginia 38°50′N79°22′W / 38.83°N 79.36°W /38.83; -79.36 (Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks) | USFS | September 28, 1965 | 99,824 acres (404.0 km2) | * | Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia, with wide views of theAlleghenies from an observation tower. TheSeneca Rocks is a steep cliff on theRiver Knobs ridge with premier technical rock climbing. The 20 mi (32 km)-longSmoke Hole Canyon was formed by theSouth Branch Potomac River parallel to the ridge ofNorth Fork Mountain. Part ofMonongahela National Forest.[74] |
| Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity |  | California 40°37′N122°33′W / 40.62°N 122.55°W /40.62; -122.55 (Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity) | NPS, USFS | October 21, 1972 | 244,814 acres (990.7 km2) (42,503 acres (172.0 km2) NPS, 202,311 acres (818.7 km2) USFS) | 687,159 (NPS) 551,000 (USFS)[75] | In theTrinity Mountains, theWhiskeytown Lake unit (NPS) has four major waterfalls and a historic mining district from theCalifornia Gold Rush, when prospectors displaced theWintu people. TheShasta Lake (Shasta Dam) andTrinity Lake (Trinity Dam) units (USFS) are known for trout fishing, watersports, and scenic views. Significant species includebald eagles,northern spotted owls,Pacific giant salamander, andHowell's alkali grass. Part ofShasta–Trinity National Forest.[76][77] |
| White Mountains | .jpg) | Alaska 65°24′N147°49′W / 65.4°N 147.81°W /65.4; -147.81 (White Mountains) | BLM | December 2, 1980 | 1,000,000 acres (4,050 km2) | * | This vast area north ofFairbanks provides access to isolated hiking and camping among theWhite Mountains and fishing and floating onBeaver Creek. Groomed winter trails are used for skiing,dog sledding, and snowmobiling to remote cabins. Treasure-seekers can evenpan for gold along Nome Creek.[4] |
| Winding Stair Mountain | .jpg) | Oklahoma 34°44′N94°47′W / 34.74°N 94.78°W /34.74; -94.78 (Winding Stair Mountain) | USFS | October 18, 1988 | 26,617 acres (107.7 km2) | * | The ridge of theWinding Stair Mountains runs the length of this NRA. It is traversed by theTalimena Scenic Drive andOuachita National Recreation Trail, with scenic viewpoints along the way. Part ofOuachita National Forest.[78] |
