National Parks of the US Links
Updated: Jul 11
The national park system in the United States was established on August 25, 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act into law. However, the idea of preserving natural areas for the public's enjoyment and benefit dates back much further.
In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill that granted Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias to the state of California as a protected parkland. This was the first time the federal government had set aside land for public use, recreation, and preservation.
Over the next few decades, other parks and monuments were created, including Yellowstone National Park in 1872, the first national park in the world. The park system continued to grow, and in 1916, the National Park Service was created to manage and protect the parks.
Today, the national park system includes over 400 parks, monuments, historic sites, and other protected areas covering more than 84 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories. The system is managed by the National Park Service, which is part of the Department of the Interior.
Scratch off National Parks Scratch off National Parks Map
The following is a list of the National Parks of the US that we have been to and links to take you to our adventures in the park.
Arches NP: not posted yet
Arches National Park, located in eastern Utah, is home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, as well as many other stunning rock formations and hiking trails.
Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park in South Dakota is characterized by its rugged terrain, eroded rock formations, vibrant colors, and diverse wildlife, making it a popular destination for hiking and sightseeing.
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park Santa Elena Canyon
Big Bend National Park, situated in southwest Texas, boasts a stunningly diverse landscape of rugged mountains, canyons, desert, and river ecosystems, offering abundant opportunities for hiking, camping, stargazing, and wildlife watching.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado is renowned for its steep, narrow canyon walls that plunge over 2,000 feet down to the Gunnison River, offering breathtaking views, challenging hikes, and world-class rock climbing.
Bryce Canyon National Park
1 Day at Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park, located in southern Utah, is known for its iconic towering hoodoos and otherworldly rock formations, as well as its dark night skies perfect for stargazing.
Canyonlands NP: not posted yet
Canyonlands National Park is a stunning desert wilderness area in southeastern Utah, characterized by colorful canyons, towering mesas, and spectacular rock formations.
Capitol Reef National Park
3 Amazing Days in Capitol Reef National Park
Exploring Capitol Reef National Park offers an incredible opportunity to hike among towering sandstone formations, explore hidden slot canyons, and witness the stunning beauty of Utah's red rock desert landscape.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a breathtaking experience that allows you to descend into the depths of the earth to explore a vast underground labyrinth of stunningly beautiful caverns, stalactites, and stalagmites.
Channel Islands National Park
Exploring the Underwater World of the Northern Channel Islands
The underwater world of the Channel Islands National Park is a mesmerizing wonderland of kelp forests, vibrant coral reefs, and diverse marine life, including whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions.
Crater Lake National Park
3 Days of Exploring Crater Lake National Park
Exploring Crater Lake National Park provides a unique opportunity to witness the beauty of the deepest lake in the United States, nestled within a stunning volcanic caldera and surrounded by old-growth forests and towering peaks.
Death Valley National Park
One Day in Death Valley National Park
Exploring Death Valley National Park allows you to experience one of the hottest and driest places on earth, with stunning sand dunes, colorful canyons, salt flats, and otherworldly rock formations.
Everglades NP: not posted yet
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park 3 Day Travel Guide
Visiting Glacier National Park offers a unique opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring beauty of Montana's rugged wilderness, with towering mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and sweeping vistas of glaciers, forests, and alpine meadows.
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim
The Grand Canyon's Hidden Gem: The North Rim
2 Days at Toroweap Overlook, Grand Canyon National Park
Point Imperial Overlook, Grand Canyon National Park
Explore Desert View Watchtower
Visiting the Grand Canyon National Park is an unforgettable experience that allows you to witness the stunning natural wonder of one of the world's most iconic geological formations, with its awe-inspiring size, colorful rock formations, and breathtaking vistas.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park and a Mob of Moose
A Guide to Schwabacher Landing: Grand Teton National Park
Visiting Grand Teton National Park is a breathtaking adventure that takes you through a pristine wilderness of majestic mountain peaks, glacial lakes, and abundant wildlife, offering endless opportunities for hiking, camping, and outdoor recreation.
Great Basin National Park
2 Days in Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park offers stunning views of the night sky, ancient bristlecone pines, great hiking trails, and the unique ecosystem of the Great Basin desert.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
3 Days at Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park is a fascinating destination that boasts the tallest sand dunes in North America, along with alpine lakes, diverse wildlife, and stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise that features the highest peak in Texas, rugged canyons, picturesque desert landscapes, and a rich diversity of flora and fauna.
Haleakala NP: not posted yet
Hawaii Volcanoes NP: not posted yet
Joshua Tree National Park
White Tank Campground Joshua Tree National Park
Jumbo Rocks Campground Joshua Tree National Park
Neon Nights at Joshua Tree National Park
Visiting Joshua Tree National Park is an otherworldly experience that allows you to explore a unique desert landscape of rugged rock formations, twisted Joshua trees, and breathtaking sunsets, making it a paradise for rock climbers, hikers, and stargazers.
Kings Canyon National Park
Stunning Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is a stunningly beautiful destination that offers visitors the chance to explore deep canyons, towering peaks, rushing rivers, and some of the largest trees on Earth in Grant Grove.
Lassen Volcanic NP: not posted yet
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park is a captivating historical site that preserves some of the best-preserved and most notable ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings, which provide a unique glimpse into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived there over 700 years ago.
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is a breathtakingly beautiful destination that features the iconic snow-capped Mount Rainier, meadows bursting with wildflowers, alpine lakes, and a variety of wildlife, making it an outdoor enthusiast's dream.
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park
We recently visited North Cascades National Park and it was absolutely breathtaking. The natural beauty was truly awe-inspiring and we felt a deep sense of peace and connection with nature. We highly recommend visiting this national park if you have the opportunity to do so.
Olympic National Park
Getting Wet in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is a diverse and enchanting destination that encompasses a rugged coastline, ancient rainforests, glacier-capped mountains, and alpine meadows, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the beauty of nature in all its forms.
Petrified Forest NP: not posted yet
Pinnacles NP: not posted yet
Redwoods National Park
Redwoods National and State Park
Visiting Redwoods National Park is a humbling experience that allows you to witness some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world, as well as explore stunning coastal landscapes and a diverse range of wildlife.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is a breathtakingly beautiful destination that offers visitors the chance to experience towering peaks, sparkling lakes, alpine tundra, and an abundance of wildlife, making it a nature lover's paradise
Saguaro National Park
2 Days in Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is a mesmerizing destination that showcases the beauty and resilience of the Sonoran Desert, home to towering cacti, rugged mountains, vibrant sunsets, and a unique ecosystem that has adapted to the harsh desert climate.
Sequoia National Park
The Giants in Sequoia National Park
Have you ever visited Sequoia National Park to witness the majestic Giants?
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
4 Days in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a ruggedly beautiful destination that features colorful badlands, roaming bison and wild horses, and an array of outdoor activities that capture the adventurous spirit of the park's namesake president.
Voyageurs National Park
Paddling Around Voyageurs National Park
Kayaking in Voyageurs National Park is a truly magical experience, allowing you to paddle through a stunning maze of interconnected waterways, explore remote islands, and catch a glimpse of the park's diverse wildlife, all while surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty.
White Sands National Park
2 Days in White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park is a uniquely beautiful destination that features miles of shimmering white gypsum sand dunes that look like a winter wonderland in the middle of the desert.
Wind Cave National Park
A Tour of Wind Cave National Park
Touring Wind Cave National Park is an unforgettable experience that takes you through the intricate underground maze of one of the world's longest and most complex cave systems and offers the chance to see unique formations and encounter wildlife on the surface.
Yellowstone National Park
2 Amazing Weeks in Yellowstone National Park
8 Fun Filled Days in Yellowstone National Park
Spending three weeks in Yellowstone National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allows you to immerse yourself in the park's stunning natural beauty, witness its incredible geothermal features, encounter its diverse wildlife, and explore its many hiking trails and backcountry areas.
Yosemite National Park
7 Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park
Your 1-Day Itinerart to Yosemite National Park
Adventures in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a world-renowned destination that features towering granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, ancient sequoia trees, and a diverse range of wildlife, making it a must-visit for anyone who loves the great outdoors.
Zion National Park
10 Must-see Attractions in Zion National Park
The Subway/What We Did and the Gear We Needed
Hiking the Kolob Canyons in Zion National Park
