I just celebrated my birthday bitching about how much I hate my 40s. I might not be ok with aging, but there is someone who is. No, I’m not talking about the dancing 106-year-old woman who met the President and Mrs. Obama; I’m talking about the US National Park System.
Our National Parks Have Turned 100!
For you trivia geeks – here are a few important facts:
There are 59 National Parks in the US. Twenty-seven states have national parks. California has the most (9), followed by Alaska (8), Utah (5), and Colorado (4). The largest national park is Wrangell–St. Elias in Alaska: at over 8 million acres, it is larger than each of the nine smallest states. The next three largest parks are also in Alaska. The smallest park is Hot Springs, Arkansas, at less than 6 thousand acres. The total area protected by national parks is approximately 51.9 million acres. The most-visited national park is the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, with over ten million visitors in 2014, followed by Arizona’s Grand Canyon, with over 4.7 million. In contrast, only 12,669 people visited the remote Gates of the Arctic in Alaska in the same year. Fourteen national parks are designated World Heritage Sites.
Explore Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon and stuff in between
I thought I’d celebrate the National Parks Centennial by sharing a few of my favorite pictures of parks that I’ve visited through the years (at least since I’ve had a decent camera). Plus, you’ll find my personal park trivia tidbits at the end! Be sure to share yours too!
Badlands National Park South Dakota
Arches National Park Utah
Denali National Park Alaska
Bryce National Park Utah
Volcanoes National Park Big Island Hawaii
Wrangell St. Elias National Park Alaska
Grand Canyon National Park Arizona
Death Valley National Park California
Haleakala National Park Maui Hawaii
Zion National Park Utah
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Dakota
Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska
My Park Trivia
Parks I’ve been to in my lifetime (* means I only visited as a child):
Arches NP, Badlands NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Canyonlands NP, Death Valley NP, Denali NP, Glacier NP*, Grand Canyon NP, Great Smokey Mountains NP, Haleakala NP, Hawaii Volcanoes NP, Kenai Fjords NP, Mammoth Cave NP, Mt. Ranier NP*, Petrified Forest NP, Shenandoah NP, Theodore, Roosevelt NP, Wrangell St. Elias NP, Yellowstone NP*, Yosemite NP, Zion NP
New Parks I’m planning to go to in 2016!
Acadia NP – Maine
Lassen Volcanic NP – California
Redwoods NP- California
Rocky Mountain NP – Colorado
Great Sand Dunes NP – Colroado
What’s YOUR Park trivia? How many parks have you been to and how many are you going to in 2016? Share in the comments below!
Check out #FindYourPark
Find Your Park is about more than just national parks! It’s about state parks, local parks, trails, museums, historic sites, and the many ways that the American public can connect with history and culture, enjoy nature, and make new discoveries.
Visit FindYourPark.com to sample upcoming centennial events near you, share your stories, and find your park! Participate in Find Your Park Experiences to learn, discover, be inspired, or simply have fun in national parks.
I just celebrated my birthday bitching about how much I hate my 40s. I might not be okay with aging, but there is someone who is. No, I’m not talking about the dancing 106-year-old woman who met the President and Mrs. Obama; I’m talking about the US National Park System.
Table of Contents
Our National Parks Have Turned 100!
For you trivia geeks – here are a few important facts:
There are 59 National Parks in the US. Twenty-seven states have national parks. California has the most (9), followed by Alaska (8), Utah (5), and Colorado (4). The largest national park is Wrangell-St. Elias in Alaska: at over 8 million acres, it is larger than each of the nine smallest states.
The next three largest parks are also in Alaska. The smallest park is Hot Springs, Arkansas, at less than 6 thousand acres. The total area protected by national parks is approximately 51.9 million acres.
The most-visited national park is the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, with over ten million visitors in 2014, followed by Arizona’s Grand Canyon, with over 4.7 million.
In contrast, only 12,669 people visited the remote Gates of the Arctic in Alaska in the same year. Fourteen national parks are designated World Heritage Sites.
Explore the Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon and stuff in between
I thought I’d celebrate the National Parks Centennial by sharing a few of my favorite pictures of parks that I’ve visited through the years (at least since I’ve had a decent camera). Plus, you’ll find my personal park trivia tidbits at the end! Be sure to share yours too!
My Park Trivia
Parks I’ve been to in my lifetime (* means I only visited as a child):
Arches NP, Badlands NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Canyonlands NP, Death Valley NP, Denali NP, Glacier NP*, Grand Canyon NP, Great Smokey Mountains NP, Haleakala NP, Hawaii Volcanoes NP, Kenai Fjords NP, Mammoth Cave NP, Mt. Ranier NP*, Petrified Forest NP, Shenandoah NP, Theodore, Roosevelt NP, Wrangell St. Elias NP, Yellowstone NP*, Yosemite NP, Zion NP
New Parks I’m planning to go to in 2016!
Acadia NP – Maine
Lassen Volcanic NP – California
Redwoods NP- California
Rocky Mountain NP – Colorado
Great Sand Dunes NP – Colorado
What’s YOUR Park trivia? How many parks have you been to and how many are you going to in 2016? Share in the comments below!
Check out #FindYourPark
Find Your Park is about more than just national parks! It’s about state parks, local parks, trails, museums, historic sites, and the many ways that the American public can connect with history and culture, enjoy nature, and make new discoveries.
Visit FindYourPark.com to sample upcoming centennial events near you, share your stories, and find your park! Participate in Find Your Park Experiences to learn, discover, be inspired, or simply have fun in national parks.
By Sue March 1, 2016 - 10:29 am
I took a cross country trip last Spring & happened upon Lassen Volcanic NP–never heard anything about it!! So I took a scenic drive & just loved it! Beautiful landscapes, sights, & an easy drive. You will enjoy this park!! Another one for a future visit is Carlsbad Caverns–spectacular!!!
By Sherry March 5, 2016 - 5:51 pm
Thanks for the tip. Where is carlsbad caverns? I’m really excited to see Lassen as I had never heard of it – I think it lives in the shadow of Yosemite!
By Stef March 1, 2016 - 6:42 pm
Until now, I haven’t been to the US but this will change this year as I’m going on a roadtrip along the westcoast and hope to see some national parks along the way. Of course GRand Canyon and Death Valley, I would love to visit Yosemite and Antelope Canyon as well. If you have any “secret tips” in that area, let me know 😉
By Sherry March 5, 2016 - 5:50 pm
I don’t know if I have any secret tips – but I do suggest that you visit as many parks as you can! Bryce, Zion are also super! AND…try to head to Monument Valley – not a national park – but sort of like Antelope canyon. There’s some great horse back riding there too. It’s been a few years since I’ve been there though. If you have time to do some hiking in these parks do it! I was always in such a rush that I did very little hiking!
By rajasthan tour operator March 2, 2016 - 2:40 am
I haven’t vist us till now, but your images attract to travel US National park.
By Lori March 5, 2016 - 12:11 pm
US has some amazing parks that are definitely worth a visit. I hope I see some of them one day! Wonderful photos!
By Leigh | Campfires & Concierges March 5, 2016 - 9:43 pm
Love the photos! I’ve been to about 36 of our National Parks so far. I’m currently waiting for Yosemite to process their permit applications to see if I’ll be hiking the High Sierra Camps loop this August! I would HIGHLY recommend Big Bend National Park – it’s quite out of the way in West Texas, but well worth the trip. Magnificent scenery. Same for Saguaro National Park near Tucson…..I could on and on…. 🙂
By Maggie March 21, 2016 - 1:24 am
Absolutely fantastic posting! lovely pictures of national parks in US…. Thanks for sharing such a great list of National parks.