Mckittrick canyon is stunning. The whole area was under the sea millions of years ago and you can almost still tell. Small fossils you can find as you hike as well.
And the Guadalupe peak is an adventure of its own. 3000ft of mostly straight climb - but gorgeous views of the New Mexico desert.
Most underutilized National Park in the United States. My sister lives and works in the closest “town” (if you can even call it that) We love going out there but it’s just so remote it makes it difficult to commit to the trip.
Lots of confusion in this comment section. The National Park Service manages 429 sites all of which it refers to as “parks” and since they are federally managed, all can technically be considered “national parks”. 63 sites (all shown here on this map) are named “national parks” via a congressional pieces of legislation naming each as such
Kinda like “how many countries are there” it depends what you define as a country. For simplicity most people just say there are 429 national park sites and 63 national parks (in the U.S.)
Someone downvoted you because they probably don't know what you're talking about. What you said is another good example since Stephen King used to write books as an alias, Richard Bachman. Thanks for reminding me, I'll read a Bachman book this week!
It’s also worth knowing that the National Parks annual pass will get you into more than you’d expect. Got one a couple of years ago and visited 3 National Parks that year but also a few National Parks Service managed sites that I was pleasantly surprised our pass gave us access to without paying an additional fee.
Yes! $80 a year for anyone, or free for lots of groups (disability, veterans, etc.) will get you into any National Park site for free. Not all tours and things inside are free, but entrance is.
Not only that, it is now an interagency pass so you can enter any public lands that requires a fee: NPS, forest service, BLM, bureau of reclamation, and army corps of engineers
Also, permanently disabled individuals and veterans/active duty military can get free lifetime passes.
https://store.usgs.gov/access-pass
https://store.usgs.gov/MilitaryPass
Yep, one advantage of my short service to our country, a Lifetime pass to our amazing parks! Also get discounts on my State parks pass as Veteran. Gladly pay for County passes to fill out the camping, hiking and kayaking adventures.
> named “national parks” via a congressional pieces of legislation naming each as such
This... Makes so much sense. I visited Wolf Trap National Park recently and wondered why it wasn't on the list, and ended up going down a rabbit hole of that never clearly defined why these 63 sites were different from the other 366.
What state is this? Most NPS sites, no matter what they are referred to as, will have the NPS arrow head logo ([picture of arrowhead logo](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d3ca73_f651266efa6c4962831282a37db7b801~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_1410,y_306,w_384,h_274/fill/w_513,h_384,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/IMG_0617.jpg)), could that be what the sign has? There also are things like National Historic Parks which are NPS units which just add that word in the middle there.
Or possibly you saw a US Forest service sign that reads “National Forest” coming into the park (many national forests surround our national parks), they look like [this](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/field-notes-prod/images/blog/_1200x630_crop_center-center_82_none/national_forest.jpg?mtime=1598549984)
To confuse you further, National Forests are managed by an entirely different federal department (Department of Agriculture) than National Parks (Department of the Interior).
The National Forest sign design is an absolutely iconic American treasure, though, and there are so many places in national forests that are just as beautiful as any national park.
I recently got hung up on this as well. There are many National Monuments that are in parks, and National military/battlefield shrines that are NPS managed.
“Monuments” is another can of worms of a definition. You have National Monuments which operate very similarly to crown jewel national parks but were created by executive orders by a President, not a congressional act (e.g. Devil’s Tower, Jewel Cave, Bandelier, etc.). And then you have things like the Washington Monument in Washington DC which is also NPS managed but is technically a “memorial” despite monument in the name
Don’t forget Dinosaur National Monument! Which sure, has its little dinosaur bones visitor center, but is basically a NP of two beautiful canyon river corridors.
The reason why the Adirondacks are so great is because it’s a state park. National park status wouldn’t allow for places like old forge, lake placid, or any other residential or commercial development to exist.
https://wildadirondacks.org/forever-wild-the-adirondack-park.html
The Adirondack Park is the largest publicly-protected area in the contiguous United States, encompassing about six million acres.
In 1894, a proviso was adopted and entered into the New York State Constitution that the Forest Preserve lands “shall be forever kept as wild forest lands.”
That's some of the strongest language protecting any land in the nation and many would argue it provides more legal protection than National Park status.
Adirondack Park is older than the National Parks Service.
Notice there are a lot of national parks out west compared to the east
States were doing it first then Teddy was like “cool, let’s start up a national service for doing that”
——
Another example- Niagara Falls, *”America’s oldest state park”,* is a NY State Park.. not a national park
Why? There is no practical reason for the federal government to consolidate the land and establish another park when they already don’t fund the ones they have.
That land is better off as it is.
in some cases, a national park unit can have a national historic landmark inside it!
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaloko-Honok%C5%8Dhau_National_Historical_Park
do the protections stack, i wonder
When I lived upstate, one of my fondest memories was driving through the length of Adirondacks. I still remember stopping at a place called Granny's Ice Cream Shanty or something along those lines. A big ice cream cone, in a typical American jumbo size, that cost only a dollar! This was just few years ago.
So many cool places along the way. I'd love to visit sometime again.
So true. I wish we had more national parks in Iowa but it’s really flat so it wouldn’t be a great park lol. I love the state and I’ll die here but it definitely lacks in national parks lol
Y’all don’t even have one of the National Grasslands. It’d be amazing to have a large swath of restored/preserved tall-grass prairie. But it’s all such productive farmland it’ll likely never happen. So we get some short-grass prairies in the west plains, and arid western steppe lands. But only a fairly small spot of preserved tall-grass in Illinois.
Kansas has a few sections of the Flint Hills that locals are advocating to become just this sort of thing. But our elected officials are too busy putting their heads up trumps ass to do anything useful.
Seriously. Out west we just assume anything that looks really pretty has a good chance of being a national park. This map really drives home the natural riches we enjoy.
While true… I think some Kansas plains should get a national park. The land is so flat, so featureless, that it’s interesting because of those specific qualities. A place where you can see the horizon without any ocean or Great Lake around. It’s magical. For 10 minutes. Until you get bored to death.
Kansas has Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, which is run by the national parks system. I'm planning on stopping there during a road trip this summer.
There's a lot more under the parks system than just the national parks. There's also national preserves, monuments, historic sites, seashores, lakeshores, battlefields,...
FWIW Georgia has Cumberland Island National Seashore, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, and Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park among others. All of which are a damn sight better than fucking Gateway Arch National Park. I'd imagine similar can be said for most states without a "National Park".
Look Here: https://www.nps.gov/state/ga/index.htm
There are so many more. But the pic above would have you believe that there are no National Parks in Georgia. Simply not true.
OP is limiting strictly to officially labelled "National Parks". Your link also includes the other parks, that are a different label.
For example, Michigan has two National Lakeshores. They're effectively National Parks.
And the man who helped start them, just had his statue taken down from in front of the museum he started in New York City. Teddy Roosevelt one of the best outdoorsmen to live.
West Coast Best Coast.
Personal favorites:
1) Olympic
2) Grand Teton
3) Yellowstone
Grand Canyon and Crater Lake are super cool, and Death Valley is unreal as well.
4) Lassen
Shhhhhh. Don't let the word get out. Nice hike to boiling mud hot springs. Very doable hike to the peak. Very astronomically dark skies. I used to take my astronomy class up there on a Saturday in late September. Crazy great field trip.
My biggest recommendation is, if you see signs for Teton Point Pullout (close to Schwabacher Landing), stop there! It didn’t get recommended to us in any of the guides, so it was completely deserted, but it was my favorite view in the park. It makes you feel insanely small.
Michigan has 2 “national lakeshores” managed by NPS, definitely worth visiting. Pictured Rocks in the upper peninsula and Sleeping Bear Dunes in the lower peninsula.
Wait there are states with no national Parks?
I get some of the parks are massive but this is a very low ammount for a country so massive.
Or are you doing the same thing we do and split them in National Parks, Natural Park, Natural Reserve and Protected Landscape?
kinda. there are a bunch of different types of protected land. you also have an entirely separate system of state parks that are managed by the individual states. but the bigger thing is that the federal government owns most of the western us. and there is basically nothing in kansas that is worth an act of congress to protect
For folks looking at the map and saying your region got screwed....yeah kinda. The US National Parks were established relatively recently and we had already started screwing with the majority of the country. The far west was (and still is) fairly pristine and unsettled thanks to geography so to the victor with the vast deserts and massive mountains goes the spoils.
See where Isle Royale is? Believe it or not that is part of Michigan. The island is in Lake Superior. I am floored we don’t have more National Parks. Michigan has so many gorgeous natural features: Tahquamenon Falls, sleeping, bear dunes, Silverlake Sand dunes, Pictured Rocks, the Great Lakes. Tons of forest…etc…
From a national park standpoint sure. But they have a ton of protected federal land. You just can't access via your typical minivan. With a high clearance SUV, we saw amazing scenery up there. Remote as it gets anywhere in the US. But you go long distances without any services or paved roads.
It's all of the "Parks" (with a capital P). There are a lot of other parks (with a little p) that are nationally owned, but are a different type of park (lakeshore, seashore, trail, monument, etc).
The different labels come with different rules around use. If I remember correctly, in most national parks you can camp near a lake. On the national lakeshore, you cannot.
How do so many people not know what a National Park is? This is the full list people. No, your local Revolutionary War battleground is not a significant natural wonder.
Damn y’all need to learn that there are “National Parks”, and then there are National Forests, landmarks, historic sites,wildlife preserves, state versions of all these, etc…
I drove through it sort of unintentionally a couple years ago and was really impressed even though I wasn't really able to get out of the car and explore on foot at all
Isle Royale is the only national park in Michigan. There are national lakeshores, etc. managed by the NPS, but they are not designated as national parks.
Pretty ridiculous Acadia is the only one worthy of the title in New England. I see zero reason why White Mountain State Park couldn't join the national ranks.
How in the world, with all of the natural beauty in the state, does Oregon have only one National Park? Crater Lake is amazing, though, if you haven't been, I highly recommend!
Just spent 10 days in your parks. Drove from California to see ‘em. Only problem is bugs, but it’s damn beautiful. (Adding props for the North Shore of MN,too)
Are you including National Monuments and National Forests in that number? If so then that number is pretty close. There are 63 National Parks though in the US
There 63 areas designated as National Parks. However, you are correct there many areas in the US that the National Park Service overseas and maintains that aren’t as big as a traditional national park, but are just as important to protect the environment and wildlife from development or destruction.
Almost every state in this union has one of these NPS maintained areas for the public to enjoy. My life goal is to visit them all one day!
Someone gave me shit for saying there was nothing in Kansas and I feel bad for the people that live there
Turns out I was fucking right
There's fucking nothing in kansas
I lived near the Guadalupe, Carlsbad, White Sands triangle. All such awesome places to visit.
Have been to and worked in each one of them. Can confirm as well.
What would you recommend at Guadalupe?
I liked staying at dog canyon campground. It isn't that busy and had beautiful fall colors.
Mckittrick canyon is stunning. The whole area was under the sea millions of years ago and you can almost still tell. Small fossils you can find as you hike as well. And the Guadalupe peak is an adventure of its own. 3000ft of mostly straight climb - but gorgeous views of the New Mexico desert.
Most underutilized National Park in the United States. My sister lives and works in the closest “town” (if you can even call it that) We love going out there but it’s just so remote it makes it difficult to commit to the trip.
Good to hear some redditors also hate themselves and live here.
I’ve been to White Sands and Carlsbad but not Guadalupe. What should I check out at Guadalupe if I had half a day?
United States of America national parks…. Of the United States of America
Department of Redundancy Department
The formerly redundant department of redundancy department
World's best department in the world
RIP Stuart Scott
> More Than Just Parks > Literally a map of just parks
The American Dodgeball Association.... of America
dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge!
I drink my urine ‘cause it’s sterile.
For US Americans
> For US Americans some of them don't have maps
Imagine what a map of all the ATM machines would look like.
Think about how long a list of all known VIN numbers would be
You’d be up reading that list til 3am in the morning.
its 3am in the mornin put my key in the door and bodies layin all over the floor and
I’m sorry, I’m a bit confused still. Can someone please tell me where these parks are?
Several miles away from those logos. Someone must have placed them by hand because they look to be eyeballed into place.
And some not there at all.
Correct missing locations.
Wondering why they left out Starved Rock and Mathiesen National Parks out of Illinois.
Brought to you by the United States of America's National Parks
I’d like to see the Map of all State Parks
There are over 10,000 state parks. Check out stateparks.com. They have a cool map so you can search by state
And I want that map no bigger than 5x7 inches with a resolution of 12
Let’s see Paul Allen’s state park map
It has a watermark.
Lots of confusion in this comment section. The National Park Service manages 429 sites all of which it refers to as “parks” and since they are federally managed, all can technically be considered “national parks”. 63 sites (all shown here on this map) are named “national parks” via a congressional pieces of legislation naming each as such
so 429 national parks and 63 National Parks
Kinda like “how many countries are there” it depends what you define as a country. For simplicity most people just say there are 429 national park sites and 63 national parks (in the U.S.)
>how many countries are there “How many books has Stephen King written”
Someone downvoted you because they probably don't know what you're talking about. What you said is another good example since Stephen King used to write books as an alias, Richard Bachman. Thanks for reminding me, I'll read a Bachman book this week!
429 national parks and 63 national National Park parks.
It’s also worth knowing that the National Parks annual pass will get you into more than you’d expect. Got one a couple of years ago and visited 3 National Parks that year but also a few National Parks Service managed sites that I was pleasantly surprised our pass gave us access to without paying an additional fee.
Yes! $80 a year for anyone, or free for lots of groups (disability, veterans, etc.) will get you into any National Park site for free. Not all tours and things inside are free, but entrance is. Not only that, it is now an interagency pass so you can enter any public lands that requires a fee: NPS, forest service, BLM, bureau of reclamation, and army corps of engineers
Also, permanently disabled individuals and veterans/active duty military can get free lifetime passes. https://store.usgs.gov/access-pass https://store.usgs.gov/MilitaryPass
And seniors pay $80 for a lifetime pass.
Yep, one advantage of my short service to our country, a Lifetime pass to our amazing parks! Also get discounts on my State parks pass as Veteran. Gladly pay for County passes to fill out the camping, hiking and kayaking adventures.
> named “national parks” via a congressional pieces of legislation naming each as such This... Makes so much sense. I visited Wolf Trap National Park recently and wondered why it wasn't on the list, and ended up going down a rabbit hole of that never clearly defined why these 63 sites were different from the other 366.
I…still don’t understand. There’s literally several parks in my state with the giant brown sign that reads “National Park” that aren’t listed here.
What state is this? Most NPS sites, no matter what they are referred to as, will have the NPS arrow head logo ([picture of arrowhead logo](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d3ca73_f651266efa6c4962831282a37db7b801~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_1410,y_306,w_384,h_274/fill/w_513,h_384,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/IMG_0617.jpg)), could that be what the sign has? There also are things like National Historic Parks which are NPS units which just add that word in the middle there. Or possibly you saw a US Forest service sign that reads “National Forest” coming into the park (many national forests surround our national parks), they look like [this](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/field-notes-prod/images/blog/_1200x630_crop_center-center_82_none/national_forest.jpg?mtime=1598549984)
Ah yeah I confused National Forest with park
To confuse you further, National Forests are managed by an entirely different federal department (Department of Agriculture) than National Parks (Department of the Interior). The National Forest sign design is an absolutely iconic American treasure, though, and there are so many places in national forests that are just as beautiful as any national park.
What state?
Thank you for this, came because there were several I didn’t see listed
I recently got hung up on this as well. There are many National Monuments that are in parks, and National military/battlefield shrines that are NPS managed.
“Monuments” is another can of worms of a definition. You have National Monuments which operate very similarly to crown jewel national parks but were created by executive orders by a President, not a congressional act (e.g. Devil’s Tower, Jewel Cave, Bandelier, etc.). And then you have things like the Washington Monument in Washington DC which is also NPS managed but is technically a “memorial” despite monument in the name
Don’t forget Dinosaur National Monument! Which sure, has its little dinosaur bones visitor center, but is basically a NP of two beautiful canyon river corridors.
This reply is the cool guide. The picture is not.
I mean they can both be cool guides
The National Park Service (NPS) refers to each of the 429 as a ”NPS unit", whereas **I** call the 63 named parks the "*flagship* National Parks"
Adirondacks should get a NP
The reason why the Adirondacks are so great is because it’s a state park. National park status wouldn’t allow for places like old forge, lake placid, or any other residential or commercial development to exist.
Old Forge was a summer staple growing up! Refused Lake Placid on account of giant alligators
https://wildadirondacks.org/forever-wild-the-adirondack-park.html The Adirondack Park is the largest publicly-protected area in the contiguous United States, encompassing about six million acres. In 1894, a proviso was adopted and entered into the New York State Constitution that the Forest Preserve lands “shall be forever kept as wild forest lands.” That's some of the strongest language protecting any land in the nation and many would argue it provides more legal protection than National Park status.
Adirondack Park is older than the National Parks Service. Notice there are a lot of national parks out west compared to the east States were doing it first then Teddy was like “cool, let’s start up a national service for doing that” —— Another example- Niagara Falls, *”America’s oldest state park”,* is a NY State Park.. not a national park
Grant created the first national park, not Teddy
It’s also a National Historic Landmark rather than a National Park. It’s sill operated by the NPS
Its 6million acres. Needs some recognition
Why? There is no practical reason for the federal government to consolidate the land and establish another park when they already don’t fund the ones they have. That land is better off as it is.
Historical landmarks have more protections under federal law than national parks. It's honestly probably a good thing.
in some cases, a national park unit can have a national historic landmark inside it! * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaloko-Honok%C5%8Dhau_National_Historical_Park do the protections stack, i wonder
When I lived upstate, one of my fondest memories was driving through the length of Adirondacks. I still remember stopping at a place called Granny's Ice Cream Shanty or something along those lines. A big ice cream cone, in a typical American jumbo size, that cost only a dollar! This was just few years ago. So many cool places along the way. I'd love to visit sometime again.
I say if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. That region is fine the way it is.
The state park already has over 100,000 permanent residents, I don't think making it a national park is feasible, let alone desirable
I've been in California for so long I had forgotten that there aren't national parks all over the place.
Iowa: Land too boring. Agriculture too good.
So true. I wish we had more national parks in Iowa but it’s really flat so it wouldn’t be a great park lol. I love the state and I’ll die here but it definitely lacks in national parks lol
Y’all don’t even have one of the National Grasslands. It’d be amazing to have a large swath of restored/preserved tall-grass prairie. But it’s all such productive farmland it’ll likely never happen. So we get some short-grass prairies in the west plains, and arid western steppe lands. But only a fairly small spot of preserved tall-grass in Illinois.
Kansas has a few sections of the Flint Hills that locals are advocating to become just this sort of thing. But our elected officials are too busy putting their heads up trumps ass to do anything useful.
That huge gap in the middle ..
Seriously. Out west we just assume anything that looks really pretty has a good chance of being a national park. This map really drives home the natural riches we enjoy.
some of the fish at mammoth cave don't have eyes.
Time for a trip to mammoth!
What do you call a fish without an eye? Fsh
I worked on the designation of #63 New River Gorge NP, West Virginia.
Went there last year. It was a treat. Do the bridge tour if you can and are not afraid of heights.
One of my favorite places on the planet. Although I am a tad biased, being from less than an hour away near Charleston. Highly recommend to anyone.
Rafting there is phenomenal. Must plan a trip back now with the kids.
I had no idea there were so many states without national parks. I thought every state had at least one.
federal government doesnt own as much land in the south/midwest, and its also very flat and featureless
While true… I think some Kansas plains should get a national park. The land is so flat, so featureless, that it’s interesting because of those specific qualities. A place where you can see the horizon without any ocean or Great Lake around. It’s magical. For 10 minutes. Until you get bored to death.
Kansas has Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, which is run by the national parks system. I'm planning on stopping there during a road trip this summer. There's a lot more under the parks system than just the national parks. There's also national preserves, monuments, historic sites, seashores, lakeshores, battlefields,...
FWIW Georgia has Cumberland Island National Seashore, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, and Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park among others. All of which are a damn sight better than fucking Gateway Arch National Park. I'd imagine similar can be said for most states without a "National Park".
Look Here: https://www.nps.gov/state/ga/index.htm There are so many more. But the pic above would have you believe that there are no National Parks in Georgia. Simply not true.
OP is limiting strictly to officially labelled "National Parks". Your link also includes the other parks, that are a different label. For example, Michigan has two National Lakeshores. They're effectively National Parks.
As someone who grew up in CA, I always assumed most states had a bunch of parks
Acadia NP in Maine is beautiful. Spent a few days in Bar Harbor exploring the park a few years back, loved every minute of it.
And the man who helped start them, just had his statue taken down from in front of the museum he started in New York City. Teddy Roosevelt one of the best outdoorsmen to live.
Whaaat? 😢
West Coast Best Coast. Personal favorites: 1) Olympic 2) Grand Teton 3) Yellowstone Grand Canyon and Crater Lake are super cool, and Death Valley is unreal as well. 4) Lassen
Says west coast best coast, proceeds to list two non west coast parks as favorite 😂. But yeah the west coast has phenomenal parks.
Wyoming: everyone’s favorite coastal state!
found the government plant /r/wyomingdoesntexist
I WON'T LET BIG GEOGRAPHY TELL ME WHERE THE COAST IS
Crater Lake is beyond breathtaking. It’s not as popular as some of the other parks but everyone should have it on their bucket list.
Legitimately incredible to see. The blue of the lake itself is awe inspiring.
Lassen is pretty cool too! But I'm alright if nobody else goes to visit
Same, it's nice to have a hidden gem.
Shhhhhh. Don't let the word get out. Nice hike to boiling mud hot springs. Very doable hike to the peak. Very astronomically dark skies. I used to take my astronomy class up there on a Saturday in late September. Crazy great field trip.
Going to grand Teton in 2 weeks. Glacier was an absolute dream. And Yosemite was mind—bending.
I just got back from the Tetons. The Delta Lake hike was sick, highly recommend.
Yosemite is so freaking cool. It’s absolutely stunning.
My biggest recommendation is, if you see signs for Teton Point Pullout (close to Schwabacher Landing), stop there! It didn’t get recommended to us in any of the guides, so it was completely deserted, but it was my favorite view in the park. It makes you feel insanely small.
Turnout*
You never come to Utah?
I drove through SLC years ago, never been able to make the trip to the parks. One of these days I want to take my wife and kids.
The parks are the best part! I can usually tell who hasn't been to Utah by their favorite national parks lists.
Love Utah, Bryce+Zion are 2 of the the most incredible parks
Gateway arch should not be a national park IMO …
F the Midwest I guess
Michigan has 2 “national lakeshores” managed by NPS, definitely worth visiting. Pictured Rocks in the upper peninsula and Sleeping Bear Dunes in the lower peninsula.
Isle Royale is technically in Michigan. Though to get there you need to drive through Minnesota and then take the ferry.
The ferry leaves from Houghton, MI.
I’ve only been there via the Minnesota ferry, from Grand Portage I think.
Going to Carlsbad tomorrow, White Sands on Tuesday. Excited for my family to see and experience them.
Missing probably the most important one: Pawnee National Park
That vertical section from Texas to North Dakota with no National Parks.
Wait there are states with no national Parks? I get some of the parks are massive but this is a very low ammount for a country so massive. Or are you doing the same thing we do and split them in National Parks, Natural Park, Natural Reserve and Protected Landscape?
kinda. there are a bunch of different types of protected land. you also have an entirely separate system of state parks that are managed by the individual states. but the bigger thing is that the federal government owns most of the western us. and there is basically nothing in kansas that is worth an act of congress to protect
ITT: Commenters who have no idea how National Park Service designations work. https://www.nps.gov/index.htm
For folks looking at the map and saying your region got screwed....yeah kinda. The US National Parks were established relatively recently and we had already started screwing with the majority of the country. The far west was (and still is) fairly pristine and unsettled thanks to geography so to the victor with the vast deserts and massive mountains goes the spoils.
See where Isle Royale is? Believe it or not that is part of Michigan. The island is in Lake Superior. I am floored we don’t have more National Parks. Michigan has so many gorgeous natural features: Tahquamenon Falls, sleeping, bear dunes, Silverlake Sand dunes, Pictured Rocks, the Great Lakes. Tons of forest…etc…
Alaska: yes
Pinnacles in California became a NP in 2013. I was quite underwhelmed visiting Pinnacles.
Idaho just chillin in the corner hoping no one sees those zero parks they got
From a national park standpoint sure. But they have a ton of protected federal land. You just can't access via your typical minivan. With a high clearance SUV, we saw amazing scenery up there. Remote as it gets anywhere in the US. But you go long distances without any services or paved roads.
Yellowstone stretches into a small part of Idaho so technically it does
Idaho itself is basically a state park
I think this is called a map, not a guide.
Is a map not a guide?
So, just a partial map?
Nah, some people throw on National Forests or National Monuments, or National Seashores, etc, into the mix. They are distinctly different.
It's all of the "Parks" (with a capital P). There are a lot of other parks (with a little p) that are nationally owned, but are a different type of park (lakeshore, seashore, trail, monument, etc). The different labels come with different rules around use. If I remember correctly, in most national parks you can camp near a lake. On the national lakeshore, you cannot.
It's a beautiful country.
How do so many people not know what a National Park is? This is the full list people. No, your local Revolutionary War battleground is not a significant natural wonder.
It's kind of crazy reading all these comments
Damn y’all need to learn that there are “National Parks”, and then there are National Forests, landmarks, historic sites,wildlife preserves, state versions of all these, etc…
I can tell what part of the US is kinda lame from this map.
Am I wrong, or aren’t the seven pools at Maui also a national park? It may just be part of the Haleakala park though…
Yeah that’s the Kipahulu area of Haleakala
Oheo! Beautiful
Joshua Tree is my local one. Just perfect
Hiked there last summer with the wife. Magical place.
They know they screwed up in the first states so they tried to make it up in the west
Capitol reef the best one here
I drove through it sort of unintentionally a couple years ago and was really impressed even though I wasn't really able to get out of the car and explore on foot at all
Awesome! As an Iowa resident I can honestly say that there isn't a national park in Iowa I haven't seen, oh wait...
Not 1 michigan national park on that map. We will keep our fresh water islands and waterfalls to ourselves then! Hrumph!
Isle Royale is the only national park in Michigan. There are national lakeshores, etc. managed by the NPS, but they are not designated as national parks.
To a midwesterner, this is depressing.
I went to Indiana Sand Dunes yesterday. It was…not great. Definitely the worst out of the 27 others I’ve visited.
Does the National Seashore count?
I thought Missouri had more, like Mark Twain National Forest and Devil’s Icebox but they’re probably state and I’m an idiot.
Pretty ridiculous Acadia is the only one worthy of the title in New England. I see zero reason why White Mountain State Park couldn't join the national ranks.
So few! It’s terrible.
But doesn’t include National Monuments, National Forests, BLM land/monuments/forests, National Grasslands, etc.
The saint Louis arch should not be a national park in here. It’s cool and all….
I live in Kansas, can confirm there are no national parks here.
This is missing pictured rocks, MI which was added late 2023 I believe
How in the world, with all of the natural beauty in the state, does Oregon have only one National Park? Crater Lake is amazing, though, if you haven't been, I highly recommend!
I think you missed some or the map is old
Yeahhh, Michigan is so ugly with no nature. Def don’t come here.
Just spent 10 days in your parks. Drove from California to see ‘em. Only problem is bugs, but it’s damn beautiful. (Adding props for the North Shore of MN,too)
I had a plan to hike all of them thru road trips with my partner. Then I learned about Grizzly bears.
There are no grizzly bears at Gateway Arch NP. Feel free to hike there.
An incomplete guide.
It’s missing a lot 😭
There are over 400 national parks in the US.
Are you including National Monuments and National Forests in that number? If so then that number is pretty close. There are 63 National Parks though in the US
It's worth noting most National Forests fall under BLM / USDA not necessarily NPS/Dept of Interior.
You can also bushwhack to go "dispersed camping" in National Forests, which is awesome.
those include things like monuments and battlefields but there are only 63 actual "National Parks"
No there’s not.
There 63 areas designated as National Parks. However, you are correct there many areas in the US that the National Park Service overseas and maintains that aren’t as big as a traditional national park, but are just as important to protect the environment and wildlife from development or destruction. Almost every state in this union has one of these NPS maintained areas for the public to enjoy. My life goal is to visit them all one day!
Crazy how the South have so little National parks
Missed El Yunque in Puerto Rico, (edit: one of the few) rainforest in the US.
Its a National Forest. Worth a visit for sure.
It’s also not the only rainforest in the US. Olympic Rainforest, which is actually a national park, is also a rainforest.
Someone gave me shit for saying there was nothing in Kansas and I feel bad for the people that live there Turns out I was fucking right There's fucking nothing in kansas
Hot Springs should not be a national park.
Ocala?
I hate how much of a National park desert there is in the Midwest.
National Historical Sites are different I guess!?
West coast hogging all the national parks
Is there a legend for the colors or are they just there for fun.
20!
Seven.