NATIONAL PARKS
Updated August 5, 2020 |
Infoplease Staff
| Name, location, and year authorized | Acreage | Outstanding characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Acadia (Maine), 1919 | 47,548.94 | Rugged seashore on Mt. Desert Island and adjacent mainland |
| Arches (Utah), 1971 | 76,518.98 | Unusual stone arches, windows, pedestals caused by erosion (park was a National Monument 1929–1971) |
| Badlands (S.D.), 1978 | 242,755.94 | Arid land of fossils, prairie, bison, deer, bighorn sheep, antelope (park was a National Monument 1929–1978) |
| Big Bend (Tex.), 1935 | 801,163.21 | Mountains and desert bordering the Rio Grande |
| Biscayne (Fla.), 1980 | 172,924.07 | Aquatic, coral reef park south of Miami (park was a National Monument, 1968–1980) |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison (Colo.), 1999 | 30,243.53 | Canyon with narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths (park was a National Monument 1933–1999) |
| Bryce Canyon (Utah), 1924 | 35,835.08 | Area of brilliantly colored, grotesque eroded rocks |
| Canyonlands (Utah), 1964 | 337,597.83 | Colorful wilderness with impressive red-rock canyons, spires, arches |
| Capitol Reef (Utah), 1971 | 241,904.26 | Highly colored sedimentary rock formations in high, narrow gorges (park was a National Monument 1937–1971) |
| Carlsbad Caverns (N.M.), 1930 | 46,766.45 | One of the world's largest known caves |
| Channel Islands (Calif.), 1980 | 249,561.00 | Area is rich in marine mammals, sea birds, endangered species, and archaeology (park was a National Monument 1938–1980) |
| Congaree (S.C.), 2003 | 21,743.58 | Contains the largest contiguous tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the U.S. (park was a National Monument 1976–2003) |
| Crater Lake (Ore.), 1902 | 183,224.05 | Deep blue lake in heart of inactive volcano |
| Cuyahoga Valley (Ohio), 2000 | 32,860.73 | Wilderness area offering recreational, historic, and cultural attractions, including scenic rail journeys (park was a National Recreation Area 1974–2000) |
| Death Valley (Calif.-Nev.), 1994 | 3,340,409.65 | Largest desert, surrounded by high mountains, containing the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere (park was a National Monument 1933–1994) |
| Denali (Alaska), 1917 | 4,740,911.72 | Contains Mt. McKinley, N. America's highest mountain (20,320 ft) (formerly Mt. McKinley National Park, 1917–1980) |
| Dry Tortugas (Fla.), 1992 | 64,701.22 | Located 70 mi off Key West. Features an underwater nature trail (formerly Ft. Jefferson National Monument 1935–1992) |
| Everglades (Fla.), 1934 | 1,508,491.84 | Subtropical area with abundant bird and animal life |
| Gates of the Arctic (Alaska), 1980 | 7,523,897.74 | Diverse north central wilderness contains part of Brooks Range |
| Glacier (Mont.), 1910 | 1,013,572.41 | Rocky Mountain scenery with many glaciers and lakes |
| Glacier Bay (Alaska), 1980 | 3,224,840.31 | Popular for wildlife, whale-watching, glacier-calving, scenery (park was a National Monument 1925–1980) |
| Grand Canyon (Ariz.), 1919 | 1,217,403.32 | Mile-deep gorge, 4 to 18 mi wide, 217 mi long |
| Grand Teton (Wyo.), 1929 | 309,994.66 | Picturesque range of high mountain peaks |
| Great Basin (Nev.), 1986 | 77,180.00 | Exceptional scenic, biologic, geologic attractions (formerly Lehman Caves National Monument 1922–1986) |
| Great Smoky Mts. (N.C.-Tenn.), 1926 | 521,495.36 | Highest mountain range east of Black Hills; luxuriant plant life |
| Guadalupe Mountains (Tex.), 1966 | 86,415.97 | Contains highest point in Texas: Guadalupe Peak (8,751 ft) |
| Haleakala (Hawaii), 1916 | 29,830.15 | World-famous 10,023-ft Haleakala volcano (dormant) (formerly part of Hawaii National Park. Renamed in 1960) |
| Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii), 1916 | 209,695.38 | Spectacular volcanic area; luxuriant vegetation at lower levels (formerly Hawaii National Park. Renamed in 1961) |
| Hot Springs (Ark.), 1921 | 5,550.25 | 47 mineral hot springs said to have therapeutic value |
| Isle Royale (Mich.), 1931 | 571,790.11 | Largest wilderness island in Lake Superior; moose, wolves, lakes |
| Joshua Tree (Calif.), 1994 | 784,162.05 | Desert region featuring Joshua trees and a great variety of plants and animals (park was a National Monument 1936–1994) |
| Katmai (Alaska), 1980 | 3,674,529.68 | Expansion may ensure brown bear's preservation. Park is known for fishing, 1912 eruption of Novarupta, bears (park was a National Monument 1918–1980) |
| Kenai Fjords (Alaska), 1980 | 669,982.99 | Mountain goats, marine mammals, birdlife are features at this seacoast park near Seward (park was a National Monument 1978–1980) |
| Kings Canyon (Calif.), 1890 | 461,901.20 | Huge canyons; high mountains; giant sequoias (formerly General Grant National Park 1890–1940) |
| Kobuk Valley (Alaska), 1980 | 1,750,736.82 | Native culture and anthropology center around the broad Kobuk River in northwest Alaska (park was a National Monument 1978–1980) |
| Lake Clark (Alaska), 1980 | 2,619,733.21 | Park provides scenic and wilderness recreation across Cook Inlet from Anchorage (park was a National Monument 1978–1980) |
| Lassen Volcanic (Calif.), 1916 | 106,372.36 | Exhibits of impressive volcanic phenomena |
| Mammoth Cave (Ky.), 1926 | 52,830.19 | Vast limestone labyrinth with underground river |
| Mesa Verde (Colo.), 1906 | 52,121.93 | Best-preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in United States |
| Mount Rainier (Wash.), 1899 | 235,625.00 | Single-peak glacial system; dense forests, flowered meadows |
| National Park of American Samoa, 1988 | 9,000.00 | Samoa National Park, American Samoa: two rain forest preserves and a coral reef on the island of Ofu are home to unique tropical animals. The park also includes several thousand acres on the islands of Tutuila and Ta'u |
| North Cascades (Wash.), 1968 | 504,780.94 | Roadless Alpine landscape; jagged peaks; mountain lakes; glaciers |
| Olympic (Wash.), 1938 | 922,650.94 | Finest Pacific Northwest rain forest; scenic mountain park |
| Petrified Forest (Ariz.), 1962 | 93,532.57 | Extensive natural exhibit of petrified wood (park was a National Monument 1906–1962) |
| Redwood (Calif.), 1968 | 112,512.97 | Coastal redwood forests; contains world's tallest-known tree (369.2 ft) |
| Rocky Mountain (Colo.), 1915 | 265,765.03 | Section of the Rocky Mountains; 107 named peaks over 10,000 ft |
| Saguaro (Ariz.), 1994 | 91,445.16 | Giant saguaro cacti, unique to the Sonoran Desert, sometimes reach a height of 50 ft in this cactus forest (park was a National Monument 1933–1994) |
| Sequoia (Calif.), 1890 | 404,051.17 | Giant sequoias; magnificent High Sierra scenery, including Mt. Whitney |
| Shenandoah (Va.), 1926 | 199,038.07 | Tree-covered mountains; scenic Skyline Drive |
| Theodore Roosevelt (N.D.), 1978 | 70,446.89 | Scenic valley of Little Missouri River; T.R. Ranch; wildlife (Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park 1947–1978) |
| Virgin Islands (U.S. V.I.), 1956 | 14,688.87 | Beaches; lush hills; prehistoric Carib Indian relics |
| Voyageurs (Minn.), 1971 | 218,200.17 | Wildlife, canoeing, fishing, hiking |
| Wind Cave (S.D.), 1903 | 28,295.03 | Limestone caverns in Black Hills; bison herd |
| Wolf Trap Farm (Va.), 2003 | 130.28 | The nation's first National Park for the Performing Arts |
| Wrangell–St. Elias (Alaska), 1980 | 8,323,147.59 | Largest park system area has abundant wildlife, second highest peak in U.S. (Mt. St. Elias); adjoins Canadian park (park was a National Monument 1978–1980) |
| Yellowstone (Wyo.-Mont.-Idaho), 1872 | 2,219,790.71 | World's greatest geyser area; abundant falls, wildlife, canyons |
| Yosemite (Calif.), 1890 | 761,266.28 | Mountains; inspiring gorges and waterfalls; giant sequoias |
| Zion (Utah), 1919 | 146,597.64 | Multicolored gorge in heart of southern Utah desert |
| The National Park System | National Historical Parks |
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