TheUnited States has 63national parks, which arecongressionally designatedprotected areas operated by theNational Park Service, an agency of theDepartment of the Interior.[1] 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."[2] While legislatively allunits 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.[3]National monuments, on the other hand, are also frequently protected for their historical or archaeological significance. Eight national parks (including six inAlaska) are paired with anational preserve, areas with different levels of protection that are administered together but considered separateunits and whose areas are not included in the figures below. The 433 units of theNational Park System can be broadly referred to as national parks, but most have other formal designations.[4]
A bill creating the first national park,Yellowstone, was signed into law by PresidentUlysses S. Grant in 1872, followed byMackinac National Park in 1875 (decommissioned in 1895), and thenRock Creek Park (later merged intoNational Capital Parks),Sequoia andYosemite in 1890. TheOrganic 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."[5] Many current national parks had been previously protected asnational monuments by the president under theAntiquities Act or as other designations created by Congress before being redesignated by Congress; the newest national park isNew River Gorge, previously a National River, and the most recent entirely new park isNational Park of American Samoa. A few former national parks areno longer designated as such, or have been disbanded. Fourteen national parks are designatedUNESCOWorld Heritage Sites (WHS),[6] and 21 national parks are named UNESCOBiosphere Reserves (BR),[7] with eight national parks in both programs.
Thirty states have national parks, as do theterritories ofAmerican Samoa and theU.S. Virgin Islands. The state with the most national parks isCalifornia with nine, followed byAlaska with eight,Utah with five, andColorado with four. The largest national park isWrangell–St. Elias in Alaska: at over 8 million acres (32,375 km2), it is larger than each of thenine smallest states. The next three largest parks are also in Alaska. The smallest park isGateway 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 amedian of only 220 thousand acres (890 km2).[8]
The national parks set a visitation record in 2024, with more than 94 million visitors.[9]Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee has been the most-visited park since 1944,[10] and had over 12 million visitors in 2024.[9] In contrast, about 11,900 people visited the remoteGates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska in 2024.[9]
| Name | Image | Location | Date established as park[11] | Area (2023)[8] | Recreation visitors (2024)[9] | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia |  | Maine 44°21′N68°13′W / 44.35°N 68.21°W /44.35; -68.21 (Acadia) | February 26, 1919 | 49,071.40 acres (198.6 km2) | 3,961,661 | Covering most ofMount Desert Island and other coastal islands, Acadia features thetallest mountain on the Atlantic coast of the United States, granite peaks, ocean shoreline, woodlands, and lakes. There are freshwater, estuary, forest, and intertidal habitats.[12][13] |
| American Samoa |  | American Samoa 14°15′S170°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) | 22,567 | The southernmost national park is on three Samoan islands in the South Pacific. It protectscoral reefs, rainforests, volcanic mountains, and white beaches. The area is also home toflying foxes,brown boobies, sea turtles, and 900 species of fish.[14] |
| Arches |  | Utah 38°41′N109°34′W / 38.68°N 109.57°W /38.68; -109.57 (Arches) | November 12, 1971 | 76,678.98 acres (310.3 km2) | 1,466,528 | This site features more than 2,000natural sandstone arches, with some of the most popular arches in the park beingDelicate Arch,Landscape Arch andDouble Arch.[15] Millions of years of erosion have created these structures in a desert climate where the arid ground has life-sustainingbiological soil crusts and potholes that serve as natural water-collecting basins. Other geologic formations include stonepinnacles,fins, andbalancing rocks.[16] |
| Badlands |  | South Dakota 43°45′N102°30′W / 43.75°N 102.50°W /43.75; -102.50 (Badlands) | November 10, 1978 | 242,755.94 acres (982.4 km2) | 1,094,245 | The Badlands are a collection ofbuttes, pinnacles, spires, andmixed-grass prairies within the drainage basin of theWhite River, in southwestern South Dakota. They contain the largest known assemblage of lateEocene andOligocene mammal fossils.[17] Wildlife includesbison,bighorn sheep,black-footed ferrets, andprairie dogs.[18] |
| Big Bend † | .jpg) | Texas 29°15′N103°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) | 561,458 | Named for theprominent bend in theRio Grande along the U.S.–Mexico border, this park encompasses a large and remote part of theChihuahuan Desert. Its main attraction is backcountry recreation in the aridChisos Mountains and in canyons along the river. A wide variety ofCretaceous andTertiary fossils as well as cultural artifacts of Native Americans also exist within its borders.[19] (BR)[20] |
| Biscayne |  | Florida 25°39′N80°05′W / 25.65°N 80.08°W /25.65; -80.08 (Biscayne) | June 28, 1980 | 172,971.11 acres (700.0 km2) | 512,213 | The central part ofBiscayne Bay, this mostly underwater park at the north end of theFlorida Keys has four interrelated marine ecosystems:mangrove forest, the Bay, the Keys, and coral reefs. Threatened animals include theWest Indian manatee,American crocodile, various sea turtles, and theperegrine falcon.[21] |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison |  | Colorado 38°34′N107°43′W / 38.57°N 107.72°W /38.57; -107.72 (Black Canyon of the Gunnison) | October 21, 1999 | 30,779.83 acres (124.6 km2) | 335,862 | The park protects a quarter of theGunnison River, which slices sheer canyon walls from darkPrecambrian-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 ofgneiss andschist, which appears black when in shadow.[22] |
| Bryce Canyon |  | Utah 37°34′N112°11′W / 37.57°N 112.18°W /37.57; -112.18 (Bryce Canyon) | February 25, 1928 | 35,835.08 acres (145.0 km2) | 2,498,075 | Bryce Canyon is a geologicalamphitheater on southern Utah'sPaunsaugunt Plateau with hundreds of tall, multicoloredsandstone hoodoos formed by erosion. The region was originally settled by Native Americans and later byMormon pioneers.[23] |
| Canyonlands |  | Utah 38°12′N109°56′W / 38.2°N 109.93°W /38.2; -109.93 (Canyonlands) | September 12, 1964 | 337,597.83 acres (1,366.2 km2) | 818,492 | This landscape was eroded into a maze of canyons, buttes, and mesas by the combined efforts of theColorado River,Green River, and theirtributaries, which divide the park into three districts. The park contains thousands of rock pinnacles and arches, as well as artifacts fromAncient Pueblo peoples.[24] |
| Capitol Reef |  | Utah 38°12′N111°10′W / 38.20°N 111.17°W /38.20; -111.17 (Capitol Reef) | December 18, 1971 | 241,904.50 acres (979.0 km2) | 1,422,490 | The park'sWaterpocket 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 theUnited States Capitol.[25] |
| Carlsbad Caverns * |  | New Mexico 32°10′N104°26′W / 32.17°N 104.44°W /32.17; -104.44 (Carlsbad Caverns) | May 14, 1930 | 46,766.45 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 400,000Mexican free-tailed bats and sixteen other species. Above ground are theChihuahuan Desert and Rattlesnake Springs.[26] (WHS)[27] |
| Channel Islands † |  | California 34°01′N119°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) | 262,581 | Five of the eightChannel Islands are protected, with half of the park's area underwater. The islands have a unique Mediterranean ecosystem originally settled by theChumash people. They are home to over 2,000 species of land plants and animals, 145 endemic to them, including theisland fox. Ferry services offer transportation to the islands from the mainland.[28] (BR)[29] |
| Congaree † | _on_Congaree_National_Park_Low_Boardwalk_trail.jpg) | South Carolina 33°47′N80°47′W / 33.78°N 80.78°W /33.78; -80.78 (Congaree) | November 10, 2003 | 26,692.60 acres (108.0 km2) | 242,049 | On theCongaree River, this park is the largest portion ofold-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.[30] (BR)[31] |
| Crater Lake | .jpg) | Oregon 42°56′N122°06′W / 42.94°N 122.1°W /42.94; -122.1 (Crater Lake) | May 22, 1902 | 183,224.05 acres (741.5 km2) | 504,942 | Crater Lake lies in the caldera of an ancient volcano calledMount Mazama that collapsed 7,700 years ago. The lake is the deepest in the United States and is noted for its vivid blue color andwater clarity.Wizard Island and thePhantom Ship are more recent volcanic formations within the caldera. As the lake has no inlets or outlets, it is replenished only by precipitation.[32] |
| Cuyahoga Valley |  | Ohio 41°14′N81°33′W / 41.24°N 81.55°W /41.24; -81.55 (Cuyahoga Valley) | October 11, 2000 | 32,571.89 acres (131.8 km2) | 2,912,454 | This park along theCuyahoga River has waterfalls, hills, trails, and exhibits on early rural living. The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail follows theOhio and Erie Canal, where mules towed canal boats. The park has numerous historic homes, bridges, and structures,[33] and also offers a scenic train ride.[34] |
| Death Valley † |  | California,Nevada 36°14′N116°49′W / 36.24°N 116.82°W /36.24; -116.82 (Death Valley) | October 31, 1994 | 3,408,395.63 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 protectsBadwater Basin and its vast salt flats at the lowest elevation in North America, −282 ft (−86 m),[35] This geologicgrabenalso protects numerous canyons, badlands, sand dunes, mountain ranges, historic mines, springs, and more than 1,000 species of plants that grow.[36] (BR)[37] |
| Denali † |  | Alaska 63°20′N150°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) | 466,227 | Centered onDenali, 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 theAlaska Range are covered with long glaciers and boreal forest. Wildlife includesgrizzly bears,Dall sheep,moose,caribou, andwolves.[38] (BR)[39] |
| Dry Tortugas † |  | Florida 24°38′N82°52′W / 24.63°N 82.87°W /24.63; -82.87 (Dry Tortugas) | October 26, 1992 | 64,701.22 acres (261.8 km2) | 84,873 | The islands of theDry Tortugas, at the westernmost end of the Florida Keys, are the site ofFort Jefferson, aCivil War-era fort that is the largestmasonry structure in the Americas. The park is home to undisturbed coral reefs and shipwrecks, and is only accessible by plane or boat.[40] (BR)[41] |
| Everglades ‡ | .jpg) | Florida 25°19′N80°56′W / 25.32°N 80.93°W /25.32; -80.93 (Everglades) | May 30, 1934 | 1,508,938.57 acres (6,106.5 km2) | 741,983 | TheEverglades are the largest tropical wilderness in the United States. Thismangrove and tropical rainforest ecosystem and marine estuary is home to 36 protected species, including theFlorida panther,American crocodile, andWest Indian manatee. Some areas have been drained and developed; restoration projects aim to restore the ecology.[42] (WHS)[43] (BR)[41] |
| Gates of the Arctic | .jpg) | Alaska 67°47′N153°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) | 11,907 | The country's northernmost park protects an expanse of pure wilderness in Alaska'sBrooks Range and has no park facilities. The land is home toAlaska Natives who have relied on the land andcaribou for 11,000 years.[44] |
| Gateway Arch |  | Missouri 38°38′N90°11′W / 38.63°N 90.19°W /38.63; -90.19 (Gateway Arch) | February 22, 2018[45] | 192.83 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 theLewis and Clark Expedition, initiated byThomas Jefferson, and the subsequentwestward expansion of the country. The nearbyOld Courthouse, across agreenway to the west of the arch, was the original site of the landmarkDred Scott case about slavery. An underground museum describes the arch's construction and the country's westward expansion.[46] |
| Glacier ‡ |  | Montana 48°48′N114°00′W / 48.80°N 114.00°W /48.80; -114.00 (Glacier) | May 11, 1910 | 1,013,126.39 acres (4,100.0 km2) | 3,208,755 | The U.S. half ofWaterton-Glacier International Peace Park, this park includes 26 rapidly receding glaciers and 130 named lakes surrounded by Rocky Mountain peaks. Historic hotels and the landmarkGoing-to-the-Sun Road accommodate visitors.[47] The local mountains, formed by anoverthrust, exposePaleozoic fossils including trilobites, mollusks, giant ferns and dinosaurs. The park is also home toTriple Divide Peak, which forms the boundary between the watersheds of theAtlantic,Pacific, andArctic Oceans.[48] (WHS)[49] (BR)[50] |
| Glacier Bay ‡ |  | Alaska 58°30′N137°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) | 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 byGeorge Vancouver, the entire bay was covered by ice, but the glaciers have since receded more than 65 miles (105 km).[51] (WHS)[52] (BR)[53] |
| Grand Canyon * | .jpg) | Arizona 36°04′N112°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) | 4,919,163 | TheGrand Canyon, carved by the mightyColorado 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 theColorado Plateau in mesas and canyon walls, visible from trails that descend into the canyon from the north and south rims.[54] (WHS)[55] |
| Grand Teton † |  | Wyoming 43°44′N110°48′W / 43.73°N 110.80°W /43.73; -110.80 (Grand Teton) | February 26, 1929 | 310,044.36 acres (1,254.7 km2) | 3,628,222 | Grand Teton is the tallest mountain in the scenicTeton Range. The park's historicJackson Hole and reflective piedmont lakes teem withendemic wildlife, with a backdrop of craggy mountains that rise abruptly from the sage-covered valley below.[56] (BR)[7] |
| Great Basin |  | Nevada 38°59′N114°18′W / 38.98°N 114.30°W /38.98; -114.30 (Great Basin) | October 27, 1986 | 77,180.00 acres (312.3 km2) | 152,068 | Based around Nevada's second tallest mountain,Wheeler Peak,Great Basin National Park protects 5,000-year-oldbristlecone pines, arock glacier, and the limestoneLehman Caves. Due to its remote location, the park is home to some of the country's darkest night skies. Wildlife includes theTownsend's big-eared bat,pronghorn, andBonneville cutthroat trout.[57] |
| Great Sand Dunes | .jpg) | Colorado 37°44′N105°31′W / 37.73°N 105.51°W /37.73; -105.51 (Great Sand Dunes) | September 24, 2004 | 107,345.73 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 ancientRio Grande in theSan 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.[58] |
| Great Smoky Mountains ‡ | .jpg) | North Carolina,Tennessee 35°41′N83°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) | 12,191,834 | TheGreat Smoky Mountains, part of theAppalachian 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 theAppalachian Trail. Other activities include fishing, horseback riding, and touring nearly 80 historic structures.[59] (WHS)[60] (BR)[61] |
| Guadalupe Mountains |  | Texas 31°55′N104°52′W / 31.92°N 104.87°W /31.92; -104.87 (Guadalupe Mountains) | September 30, 1972 | 86,367.10 acres (349.5 km2) | 226,134 | This park containsGuadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, as well as the scenicMcKittrick Canyon filled withbigtooth maples, a corner of the aridChihuahuan Desert, and a fossilized coral reef from thePermian era.[62] |
| Haleakalā † |  | Hawaii 20°43′N156°10′W / 20.72°N 156.17°W /20.72; -156.17 (Haleakalā) | July 1, 1961 | 33,488.98 acres (135.5 km2) | 732,477 | TheHaleakalā volcano onMaui features a very large crater with numerouscinder cones,a grove of non-native trees, theKipahulu section's scenic pools of freshwater fish, and the endemicHawaiian goose. The park protects the greatest number of endangered species within a U.S. national park.[63] (BR)[64] |
| Hawaiʻi Volcanoes ‡ |  | Hawaii 19°23′N155°12′W / 19.38°N 155.20°W /19.38; -155.20 (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes) | August 1, 1916 | 344,812.18 acres (1,395.4 km2) | 1,433,593 | This park on theBig Island protects theKīlauea andMauna 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).[65] (WHS)[66] (BR)[64] |
| Hot Springs |  | Arkansas 34°31′N93°03′W / 34.51°N 93.05°W /34.51; -93.05 (Hot Springs) | March 4, 1921 | 5,554.15 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 theOuachita Mountains, providing opportunities for relaxation in a historic setting.Bathhouse Row preserves examples of 19th-century architecture.[67] Hot Springs is the first national park within a city and was the smallest national park until 2018.[68] |
| Indiana Dunes |  | Indiana 41°39′12″N87°03′09″W / 41.6533°N 87.0524°W /41.6533; -87.0524 (Indiana Dunes) | February 15, 2019 | 15,349.08 acres (62.1 km2) | 2,705,209 | Previously designated a national lakeshore, parts of this 20-mile (32 km) stretch of the southern shore ofLake Michigan have sandy beaches and tall dunes. The park includes grassy prairies, peat bogs, and marsh wetlands home to over 2,000 species.[69] |
| Isle Royale † |  | Michigan 48°06′N88°33′W / 48.10°N 88.55°W /48.10; -88.55 (Isle Royale) | April 3, 1940 | 571,790.30 acres (2,314.0 km2) | 28,806 | The largest island inLake 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 itswolf and moose populations is especially unique.[70] (BR)[71] |
| Joshua Tree † |  | California 33°47′N115°54′W / 33.79°N 115.90°W /33.79; -115.90 (Joshua Tree) | October 31, 1994 | 795,155.85 acres (3,217.9 km2) | 2,991,874 | Covering large areas of theColorado andMojave Deserts and theLittle San Bernardino Mountains, this desert landscape is populated by vast stands ofJoshua trees. Large changes in elevation reveal various contrasting environments including bleached sand dunes, dry lakes, rugged mountains, and maze-like clusters ofmonzogranite monoliths.[72] (BR)[37] |
| Katmai |  | Alaska 58°30′N155°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) | 36,230 | This park on theAlaska Peninsula protects theValley of Ten Thousand Smokes, an ash flow formed by the 1912 eruption ofNovarupta, and the stratovolcanoMount Katmai. Over 2,000grizzly bears come here each year to catch spawningsalmon. Other wildlife includescaribou,wolves,moose, andwolverines.[73] |
| Kenai Fjords |  | Alaska 59°55′N149°39′W / 59.92°N 149.65°W /59.92; -149.65 (Kenai Fjords) | December 2, 1980 | 669,650.05 acres (2,710.0 km2) | 419,468 | NearSeward on theKenai Peninsula, this park protects theHarding Icefield and at least 38 glaciers andfjords stemming from it. The only area accessible to the public by road is the rapidly shrinkingExit Glacier. Boat and kayak tours offer views oftidewater glaciers, whales, sea lions, and marine birds.[74] |
| Kings Canyon † |  | California 36°48′N118°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) | 699,389 | Home to severalgiant sequoia groves and theGeneral Grant Tree, the world's second largest measured tree, this park also features part of theKings River, sculptor of the dramatic granite canyon that is its namesake, and theSan Joaquin River, as well as Boyden Cave.[75] 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.[76][77][78] (BR)[79] |
| Kobuk Valley | .jpg) | Alaska 67°33′N159°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) | 17,233 | Kobuk Valley protects 61 miles (98 km) of theKobuk 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.[80] |
| Lake Clark |  | Alaska 60°58′N153°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) | 18,505 | The region around Lake Clark features four active volcanoes, includingMount Redoubt, as well as an abundance of rivers, glaciers, and waterfalls. Temperate rainforests, a tundra plateau, and three mountain ranges complete the landscape.[81] |
| Lassen Volcanic |  | California 40°29′N121°31′W / 40.49°N 121.51°W /40.49; -121.51 (Lassen Volcanic) | August 9, 1916 | 106,589.02 acres (431.4 km2) | 357,651 | Lassen Peak, the largestlava dome volcano in the world, is joined by all three other types of volcanoes in this park:shield,cinder cone, andcomposite. Though Lassen itself last erupted in 1915, most of the rest of the park is continuously active. Numerous hydrothermal features, includingfumaroles, boiling pools, and bubbling mud pots, are heated by molten rock from beneath the peak.[82] |
| Mammoth Cave ‡ |  | Kentucky 37°11′N86°06′W / 37.18°N 86.10°W /37.18; -86.10 (Mammoth Cave) | July 1, 1941 | 72,472.87 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 theGreen River, 70 miles of hiking trails, and plenty of sinkholes and springs.[83] (WHS)[84] (BR)[85] |
| Mesa Verde * |  | Colorado 37°11′N108°29′W / 37.18°N 108.49°W /37.18; -108.49 (Mesa Verde) | June 29, 1906 | 52,485.17 acres (212.4 km2) | 480,065 | This area constitutes over 4,000 archaeological sites of theAncestral 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 includeCliff Palace, which has 150 rooms and 23kivas, and the Balcony House, with its many passages and tunnels.[86] (WHS)[87] |
| Mount Rainier |  | Washington 46°51′N121°45′W / 46.85°N 121.75°W /46.85; -121.75 (Mount Rainier) | March 2, 1899 | 236,381.64 acres (956.6 km2) | 1,620,006 | Mount Rainier, an activestratovolcano, is the mostprominent peak in theCascades and is covered by 26 named glaciers includingCarbon Glacier andEmmons 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 bysubalpine and alpine forests and meadows seasonally in bloom with wildflowers.Paradise on the south slope is among the snowiest places on Earth.[88] TheLongmire visitor center is the start of theWonderland Trail, which encircles the mountain.[89] |
| New River Gorge |  | West Virginia 38°04′N81°05′W / 38.07°N 81.08°W /38.07; -81.08 (New River Gorge) | December 27, 2020 | 7,021 acres (28.4 km2)[90] | 1,811,937 | TheNew River Gorge is the deepest river gorge east of the Mississippi River. The park primarily covers the lower gorge area around theNew River Gorge Bridge, which features some of the country's bestwhitewater rafting. Smaller noncontiguous sections showcase the ghost town ofThurmond, the scenic Grandview vista, andSandstone Falls. The other 65,165 acres (263.71 km2) of the redesignated national river is now anational preserve, spanning 53 miles (85 km) of the New River.[91][92] |
| North Cascades |  | Washington 48°42′N121°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) | 16,485 | The highly glaciated mountains of theNorth 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 theStephen Mather Wilderness includeCascade Pass,Mount Shuksan,Mount Triumph, andEldorado Peak.Ross Lake andLake Chelan National Recreation Areas adjoin the two segments of the park and are all administered together.[93] |
| Olympic ‡ |  | Washington 47°58′N123°30′W / 47.97°N 123.50°W /47.97; -123.50 (Olympic) | June 29, 1938 | 922,649.41 acres (3,733.8 km2) | 3,717,267 | This park on theOlympic Peninsula includes a wide range of ecosystems from Pacific shoreline to temperate rainforests to the glaciated alpine peaks of theOlympic Mountains, the tallest of which isMount Olympus. TheHoh andQuinault 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.[94][95] (WHS)[96] (BR)[97] |
| Petrified Forest |  | Arizona 35°04′N109°47′W / 35.07°N 109.78°W /35.07; -109.78 (Petrified Forest) | December 9, 1962 | 221,390.21 acres (895.9 km2) | 559,254 | This portion of theChinle Formation has a large concentration of 225-million-year-oldpetrified wood. The surroundingPainted Desert features eroded cliffs of red-hued volcanic rock calledbentonite. Dinosaur fossils and over 350 Native American sites are also protected in this park.[98] |
| Pinnacles |  | California 36°29′N121°10′W / 36.48°N 121.16°W /36.48; -121.16 (Pinnacles) | January 10, 2013 | 26,685.73 acres (108.0 km2) | 354,076 | Named for the eroded leftovers of a portion ofan extinct volcano, the park's massive black and gold monoliths ofandesite andrhyolite are a popular destination forrock climbers. Hikers have access to trails crossing theCoast Range wilderness. The park is one of the few locations where the endangeredCalifornia condor can be seen in the wild. Pinnacles also supports a dense population ofprairie falcons and more than 13 species of bat that populate its talus caves.[99] |
| Redwood * |  | California 41°18′N124°00′W / 41.30°N 124.00°W /41.30; -124.00 (Redwood) | October 2, 1968 | 138,999.37 acres (562.5 km2) | 622,883 | This park and the co-managed state parks protect almost half of all remainingcoastal redwoods, thetallest 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 andseastacks. The prairie, estuary, coast, river, and forest ecosystems contain a wide variety of animal and plant species.[100] (WHS)[101] |
| Rocky Mountain † |  | Colorado 40°24′N105°35′W / 40.40°N 105.58°W /40.40; -105.58 (Rocky Mountain) | January 26, 1915 | 265,847.74 acres (1,075.8 km2) | 4,154,349 | Bisected north to south by theContinental Divide, this portion of theRockies has ecosystems varying from over 150riparian 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 Coloradofourteener, and the scenicBear Lake are popular destinations, as well as the historicTrail Ridge Road, which reaches an elevation of more than 12,000 feet (3,700 m).[102] (BR)[103] |
| Saguaro |  | Arizona 32°15′N110°30′W / 32.25°N 110.50°W /32.25; -110.50 (Saguaro) | October 14, 1994 | 92,876.75 acres (375.9 km2) | 946,369 | Split into the separateRincon Mountain andTucson Mountain districts, this park is evidence that the drySonoran Desert is still home to a great variety of life spanning six biotic communities. Beyond the namesakegiant saguarocacti, there arebarrel cacti,chollas, andprickly pears, as well aslesser long-nosed bats,spotted owls, andjavelinas.[104] |
| Sequoia † |  | California 36°26′N118°41′W / 36.43°N 118.68°W /36.43; -118.68 (Sequoia) | September 25, 1890 | 404,062.63 acres (1,635.2 km2) | 1,309,573 | This park protects theGiant Forest, which boasts some of the world's largest trees, theGeneral Sherman being the largest measured tree in the park. Other features include over 240 caves, a long segment of theSierra Nevada including thetallest mountain in the contiguous United States, andMoro Rock, a large granite dome.[105] (BR)[79] |
| Shenandoah | .jpg) | Virginia 38°32′N78°21′W / 38.53°N 78.35°W /38.53; -78.35 (Shenandoah) | December 26, 1935 | 200,445.92 acres (811.2 km2) | 1,720,211 | Shenandoah'sBlue Ridge Mountains are covered by hardwood forests that teem with a wide variety of wildlife. TheSkyline Drive andAppalachian 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 theShenandoah River.[106] |
| Theodore Roosevelt |  | North Dakota 46°58′N103°27′W / 46.97°N 103.45°W /46.97; -103.45 (Theodore Roosevelt) | November 10, 1978 | 70,446.89 acres (285.1 km2) | 732,951 | This region that enticed and influenced PresidentTheodore Roosevelt consists of a park of three units in the northern badlands. Besides Roosevelt'shistoric cabin, there are numerous scenic drives and backcountry hiking opportunities. Wildlife includesAmerican bison,pronghorn,bighorn sheep, and wildhorses.[107] |
| Virgin Islands |  | U.S. Virgin Islands 18°20′N64°44′W / 18.33°N 64.73°W /18.33; -64.73 (Virgin Islands) | August 2, 1956 | 15,052.33 acres (60.9 km2) | 423,029 | This island park onSaint John preserves pristine beaches surrounded by mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. It also hasTaíno archaeological sites and the ruins of sugar plantations fromColumbus's time.[108] |
| Voyageurs |  | Minnesota 48°30′N92°53′W / 48.50°N 92.88°W /48.50; -92.88 (Voyageurs) | April 8, 1975 | 218,222.35 acres (883.1 km2) | 199,030 | 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 byOjibwe Native Americans, French fur traders calledvoyageurs, and gold miners. Formed by glaciers, the region features tall bluffs, rock gardens, islands, bays, and several historic buildings.[109] |
| White Sands |  | New Mexico 32°47′N106°10′W / 32.78°N 106.17°W /32.78; -106.17 (White Sands) | December 20, 2019[110] | 146,344.31 acres (592.2 km2) | 702,236 | Located in the mountain-ringedTularosa Basin, White Sands consists of the southern part of a 275-square-mile (710 km2) field of whitesanddunes composed ofgypsum crystals—the world's largest gypsum dunefield. The park is completely within theWhite Sands Missile Range and is subject to closure when tests are conducted.[111] |
| Wind Cave |  | South Dakota 43°34′N103°29′W / 43.57°N 103.48°W /43.57; -103.48 (Wind Cave) | January 9, 1903 | 33,970.84 acres (137.5 km2) | 489,399 | Wind Cave is distinctive for its calcite fin formations calledboxwork, a unique formation rarely found elsewhere, and needle-like growths calledfrostwork. 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 asbison,black-footed ferrets, andprairie dogs andponderosa pine forests home tocougars andelk.[112] The cave is culturally significant to theLakota people as acreation site.[113] |
| Wrangell–St. Elias * | .jpg) | Alaska 61°00′N142°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) | 81,670 | The largest national park in the system protects the convergence of theAlaska,Chugach,Wrangell, andSaint Elias Ranges, which include many of the continent's tallest mountains and volcanoes, including the 18,008-footMount Saint Elias. More than a quarter of the park is covered with glaciers, including the tidewaterHubbard Glacier, piedmontMalaspina Glacier, and valleyNabesna Glacier.[114] (WHS)[52] |
| Yellowstone ‡ |  | Wyoming,Montana,Idaho 44°36′N110°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) | 4,744,353 | Situated on theYellowstone Caldera, the park has an expansive network ofgeothermal areas including boiling mud pots, vividly colored hot springs such asGrand Prismatic Spring, and regularly erupting geysers, the best-known beingOld Faithful. The yellow-huedGrand Canyon of theYellowstone River contains several highwaterfalls, and four mountain ranges traverse the park. More than 60 mammal species includingtimber wolves,grizzly bears,black bears,lynxes,bison, andelk make this park one of the best wildlife viewing spots in the country.[115] (WHS)[116] (BR)[117] |
| Yosemite * |  | California 37°50′N119°30′W / 37.83°N 119.50°W /37.83; -119.50 (Yosemite) | October 1, 1890 | 761,747.50 acres (3,082.7 km2) | 4,121,807 | Yosemite features sheer granite cliffs, exceptionally tall waterfalls, and old-growth forests at a unique intersection of geology and hydrology.Half Dome andEl Capitan rise from the park's centerpiece, the glacier-carvedYosemite Valley, and from its vertical walls dropYosemite 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 theSierra Nevada, are home to a wide variety of rare plant and animal species.[118] (WHS)[119] |
| Zion |  | Utah 37°18′N113°03′W / 37.30°N 113.05°W /37.30; -113.05 (Zion) | November 19, 1919 | 147,242.66 acres (595.9 km2) | 4,946,592 | Located at the junction of theColorado Plateau,Great Basin, andMojave Desert, this park contains sandstone features such as mesas, rock towers, and canyons, including theVirgin River Narrows. The various sandstone formations and theforks of the Virgin River create a wilderness divided into four ecosystems:desert,riparian,woodland, andconiferous forest.[120] |
The following table includes the 30 states and two territories that have national parks. Exclusive parks refer to parks entirely within one state or territory. Shared parks refer to parks in multiple states.
Territories are set initalics.
| 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 | — |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 1 | 1 | — |
| Virginia | 1 | 1 | — |
| West Virginia | 1 | 1 | — |
| Idaho | 1 | — | 1 |
| North Carolina | 1 | — | 1 |
| Tennessee | 1 | — | 1 |
The National Park System encompasses 417 national parks in the United States.... Within the system, 59 sites include 'National Park' as part of their proper name
"Gross Area Acres" data retrieved from "Listing of Acreage" sheet.
Subtitle E--White Sands National Park and White Sands Missile Range, SEC. 2851...approximately 2,826 acres of land identified as "To NPS, lands inside current boundary" [plus] approximately 5,766 acres of land identified as "To NPS, new additions" [minus] approximately 3,737 acres of land identified as "To DOA".
