List of U.S. National Parks

The United States has 62 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. A bill creating the first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, followed by Mackinac National Park in 1875 (decommissioned in 1895), and then Rock Creek Park (later merged into National Capital Parks), Sequoia and Yosemite in 1890. The Organic Act of 1916 created the National Park Service "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Many current national parks had been previously protected as national monuments by the president under the Antiquities Act 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), while 21 national parks are designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BR). Eight national parks are designated in both UNESCO programs.

Twenty-nine states have national parks, as do the territories of American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. California has the most with nine, followed by Alaska with eight, Utah with five, and Colorado with four. The largest national park is Wrangell–St. Elias in Alaska: at over Template:Convert, it is larger than each of the nine smallest states. The next three largest parks are also in Alaska. The smallest park is Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri, at approximately Template:Convert. The total area protected by national parks is approximately Template:Convert, for an average of Template:Convert but a median of only Template:Convert.

The national parks set a visitation record in 2017, with more than 84 million visitors and set a further record in 2018 with a 0.1% increase. The most-visited national park is Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee, with over 11.3 million visitors in 2017, followed by Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park, with over 6.2 million. In contrast, only 11,177 people visited the remote Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska in the same year.

A few former national parks are no longer designated as such, or have been disbanded. Other units of the National Park Service (Template:National Park Units altogether) while broadly referred to as national parks within the National Park System do not hold the formal designation in their title.

## National parks

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### Parks by state

Exclusive parks refers to parks located entirely within one state. Shared parks refers to parks in multiple states.

## See also

* National Park Service
* History of the National Park Service
* List of areas in the United States National Park System
* List of the United States National Park System official units
* List of National Monuments of the United States
* List of U.S. National Forests
* List of World Heritage Sites in the United States

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## References

1. ↑ National Park System (U.S. National Park Service) (March 15, 2018).
2. ↑ NPS Organic Act Overview. National Park Service (January 17, 2007). Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved on February 26, 2017.
3. ↑ World Heritage List - United States of America. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved on February 25, 2017.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 UNESCO » Biosphere Reserves » United States of America. UNESCO (November 2015). Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved on February 22, 2017.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Template:Cite book
6. ↑ Annual Visitation by Park Type or Region for: 2017 By Park Type. Retrieved on March 1, 2018.
7. ↑ National Park Service Statistical Abstract 2018 (2019-12-19).
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Annual Park Ranking Report for Recreation Visitors in: 2017. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 11, 2019.
9. ↑ "Lower, Rocío (October 17, 2016). How many national parks are there?. National Park Foundation. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 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”
10. ↑ National Park System Areas Listed in Chronological Order of Date Authorized under DOI (PDF). National Park Service (June 27, 2005). Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved on January 18, 2010.
11. ↑ National Park Service, Land Resources Division, Summary of Acreage. National Park Service (December 31, 2019). Retrieved on January 15, 2020. “The areas used here are the *Gross Area Acres* which are in the final column of the report. The figure for Everglades National Park includes the figure for "Everglades Expansion". National preserves of associated national parks are not included in the acreage figures shown here.”
12. ↑ Acadia National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
13. ↑ Acadia National Park Places To Go. National Park Service. Retrieved on January 28, 2014.
14. ↑ National Park of American Samoa. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
15. ↑ Arches National Park - Arches Rock Stars. National Park Service. Retrieved on February 25, 2017.
16. ↑ Arches National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
17. ↑ Badlands National Park - Fossils. National Park Service. Retrieved on February 25, 2017.
18. ↑ Badlands National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
19. ↑ Big Bend National Park. National Park Service (December 8, 2009).
20. ↑ Big Bend Biosphere Reserve and National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
21. ↑ Biscayne National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
22. ↑ Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
23. ↑ Bryce Canyon National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
24. ↑ Canyonlands National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
25. ↑ Capitol Reef National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
26. ↑ Carlsbad Caverns National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
27. ↑ World Heritage List - Carlsbad Caverns National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
28. ↑ Channel Islands National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
29. ↑ Channel Islands Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
30. ↑ Congaree National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
31. ↑ South Atlantic Coastal Plain Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
32. ↑ Crater Lake National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
33. ↑ Cuyahoga Valley National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
34. ↑ Cuyahoga Valley National Park Scenic Railroad. National Park Service. Retrieved on November 4, 2012.
35. ↑ Must See Highlights: Badwater Basin. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 4, 2018.
36. ↑ Death Valley National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
38. ↑ Denali National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
39. ↑ Denali Biosphere Reserve and National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
40. ↑ Dry Tortugas National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Everglades & Dry Tortugas Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
42. ↑ Everglades National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
43. ↑ World Heritage List - Everglades National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
44. ↑ Gates of the Arctic National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
45. ↑ President Donald J. Trump Signs S. 1438 into Law. The White House (February 22, 2018). Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved on November 19, 2018.
46. ↑ Gateway Arch National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on February 23, 2018.
47. ↑ Glacier National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
48. ↑ Glacier National Park - Fossils. National Park Service. Retrieved on February 25, 2017.
49. ↑ World Heritage List - Waterton Glacier International Peace Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
50. ↑ Glacier Biosphere Reserve and National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
51. ↑ Glacier Bay National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 World Heritage List - Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
53. ↑ Glacier Bay and Admiralty Island Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
54. ↑ Grand Canyon National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
55. ↑ World Heritage List - Grand Canyon National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
56. ↑ Grand Teton National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
57. ↑ Great Basin National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
58. ↑ Great Sand Dunes National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
59. ↑ Great Smoky Mountains National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
60. ↑ World Heritage List - Great Smoky Mountains National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
61. ↑ Southern Appalachian Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
62. ↑ Guadalupe Mountains National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
63. ↑ Haleakala National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
65. ↑ Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
66. ↑ World Heritage List - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
67. ↑ Hot Springs National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
68. ↑ President Donald J. Trump Signs S. 1438 into Law. *White House*.
69. ↑ Indiana Dunes National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on February 16, 2019.
70. ↑ Isle Royale National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
71. ↑ Isle Royale Biosphere Reserve and National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
72. ↑ Joshua Tree National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
73. ↑ Katmai National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
74. ↑ Kenai Fjords National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
75. ↑ Kings Canyon National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
76. ↑ Kings Canyon National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on July 13, 2018.
77. ↑ Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Final General Management Plan and Comprehensive River Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. U.S. National Park Service (2006). Retrieved on July 13, 2018.
78. ↑ Dilsaver, Lary M. (1990). Expansion of Sequoia and Creation of General Grant. *Challenge of the Big Trees*. U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved on July 13, 2018.
79. ↑ 79.0 79.1 Sequoia and Kings Canyon Biosphere Reserve and National Parks. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
80. ↑ Kobuk Valley National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
81. ↑ Lake Clark National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
82. ↑ Lassen Volcanic National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
83. ↑ Mammoth Cave National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
84. ↑ World Heritage List - Mammoth Cave National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
85. ↑ Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Reserve and National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
86. ↑ Mesa Verde National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
87. ↑ World Heritage List - Mesa Verde National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
88. ↑ Mount Rainier National Park-Frequently Asked Questions. National Park Service. Retrieved on February 28, 2017.
89. ↑ Mount Rainier National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
90. ↑ North Cascades National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
91. ↑ Olympic National Park-Weather and Climate. National Park Service. Retrieved on February 28, 2017.
92. ↑ Olympic National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
93. ↑ World Heritage List - Olympic National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
94. ↑ Olympic Biosphere Reserve and National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
95. ↑ Petrified Forest National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
96. ↑ Pinnacles National Park. National Park Service (January 11, 2013). Retrieved on January 12, 2013.
97. ↑ Redwood National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
98. ↑ World Heritage List - Redwood National and State Parks. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
99. ↑ Rocky Mountain National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
100. ↑ Rocky Mountain Biosphere Reserve and National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
101. ↑ Saguaro National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
102. ↑ Sequoia National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
103. ↑ Shenandoah National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
104. ↑ Theodore Roosevelt National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
105. ↑ Virgin Islands National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
106. ↑ Voyageurs National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
107. ↑ H.R.2500 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. “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".”
108. ↑ White Sands National Park. National Park Service (December 26, 2019). Retrieved on December 27, 2019.
109. ↑ Wind Cave National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
110. ↑ Wind Cave's Early Days. National Park Service. Retrieved on February 28, 2017.
111. ↑ Wrangell – St. Elias National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
112. ↑ Yellowstone National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
113. ↑ World Heritage List - Yellowstone National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
114. ↑ Yellowstone Biosphere Reserve and National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
115. ↑ Yosemite National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
116. ↑ World Heritage List - Yosemite National Park. UNESCO. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved on February 24, 2017.
117. ↑ Zion National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.

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## External links

* Official WEbsite of the National Park Service (NPS)
* Find a park (NPS)
* Visitor use statistics (NPS)
* *The National Parks: America's Best Idea* by PBS
* America's Natural Heritage - The Essential Guide to the National Parks by *The Washington Post*
* Interactive map at Sharemap.org (beta testing)

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