America’s 61 National Parks Ranked By Popularity (Updated 2023)
All through the Joined together States of America there’s an expansive sum of National Parks. These parks are worked by the National Stop Benefit and can as it were be built up by an act of the US Congress.
Yellowstone was the primary characteristic zone to be assigned a National stop in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Give; since at that point plenty of other districts have joined the list, and the USA as of now gloats 63 National Parks.
To qualify as a National Stop, the characteristic zone must meet certain criteria such as giving an exceptional locale of characteristic excellence, an abnormal environment, or plenty of recreational exercises for illustration.
Due to the shifted scenes of the Joined Together States, these parks are colossally differing. Yosemite National Stop for illustration contains clearing timberland secured valleys and shake arrangements such as El Capitan, while Curves National Stop contains over 2000 sandstone curves and a staggering forsake scene.
These parks are a gigantically critical angle of American culture and heritage, and the country takes gigantic pride in the assortment and magnificence of its numerous secured locales.
I have actually been climbing in 12 of the National Parks and I’ll before long be including more to my list. My favorite one is unquestionably Yosemite since I cherish the sound of waterfalls. I made this list based on freely accessible guest information.
Let’s have a see at all US National Parks recorded by the number of guests:
1. Great Smoky Mountains
America’s most visited national park, the Great Smoky Mountains is popular for its beautiful and dramatic scenery and endless hiking opportunities.
Located in North Carolina and Tennessee in the southeastern United States. This national park spans the entire Great Smoky Mountains, which are part of the Appalachian Mountains.
The landscape of this park includes mountains, deep valleys, and lush forests. There are countless hiking trails within the park boundaries, as well as interesting historical sites such as Cays Cove, Roaring Fork Creek, and Cataloochee Valley.
Size: 522,426.88 acres (2,114.2 km2)
Visitors: 14,161,548
2. Zion National Park
Zion is a very popular national park in Utah, in the southwestern United States. Covering only 147,242 hectares, this relatively small park is one of the most visited parks in the state and has some great attractions and features. One of the park’s main attractions is the impressive Zion Canyon.
This natural feature is 24 miles long and is beautifully colored with Navajo sandstone.
In addition to the canyons, notable attractions within the park include Kolob Gorge, Three Patriarsi, Horse Ranch Mountain, and Twin Brothers Peak.
The park’s infrastructure is excellent, with trams serving it as a means of transportation, as well as various information offices and ranches.
Size: 147,242.66 acres (595.9 km2)
Visitors: 5,039,835
3. Yellowstone National Park
Most of us have heard of Yellowstone National Park, but it’s a wonder this area of natural beauty isn’t the highest on the visitor rankings.
Located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, Yellowstone is famous for its spectacular supervolcanic system and geysers known as Old Faithful. Old Faithful erupts like clockwork every 91 minutes and is the park’s main attraction.
Beyond the volcanic landscape, Yellowstone has a diverse ecosystem of vast meadows, pine forests, and mountains.
The park is arguably Wyoming’s premier tourist attraction, and the visitor center and facilities are second to none. Don’t miss the spectacular Grand Prismatic Springs and Excelsior Geyser Crater when you visit Yellowstone.
Size: 2,219,790.71 acres (8,983.2 km2)
Visitors: 4,860,242
4. Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is one of the most famous and famous natural landmarks in the world. The largest surviving canyon in northern Arizona, he has an area of 1.2 million hectares.
Formed over millions of years, this spectacular canyon was formed by the Colorado River. In fact, the Colorado River still flows through the canyon today.
Millions of tourists visit the Grand Canyon each year, and it’s easy to see why The vastness of the area is breathtaking and the views from the north and south rims are simply stunning.
Size: 1,201,647.03 acres (4,862.9 km2)
Visitors: 4,532,677
5. Rocky Mountain National Park
The Rocky Mountains are one of the most famous mountain ranges in the United States, and the Northern Colorado region above Denver is a sublime national park.
This park was founded in 1915 and has since been designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Rocky Mountain Park is made up of a series of massive peaks and deep valleys, as well as several glaciers such as Andrews Glacier.
The area is also known for its diverse ecosystems and diverse flora and fauna. Wildlife in the park includes elk, bobcats, bears, bighorn sheep, and coyotes. This is another park that appeals to adventure seekers and nature lovers.
Size: 265,807.24 acres (1,075.7 km2)
Visitors: 4,434,848
6. Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is one of the few parks located entirely on an island. The park is located on the south coast of Maine on Mount Desert Island and its surrounding archipelago.
The area was historically inhabited by the Wabanaki Indians and became a national park in the 1920s. Acadia has a diverse landscape of forests, mountains, and rugged coastlines.
Notable attractions within the park include Mount Penobscot, Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, Otter Cove, Echo Lake, Thunder Hole, and the Scuddic Peninsula. Wildlife on the island includes beavers, deer, minks, black bears, coyotes, chipmunks, and gray seals. Acadia is a perfect combination of sea and inland attractions and is one of Maine’s highlights.
Size: 49,071.40 acres (198.6 km2)
Visitors: 4,069,098
7. Grand Teton National Park
The Teton Mountains are a major landmark in northern Wyoming, and the surrounding area is known as Grand Teton National Park. The park covers an area of 310,000 hectares and is located south of Yellowstone National Park.
The Teton Range is actually part of the Rock Range, which makes up most of the park. Another major feature is the huge canyon known as Jackson Hole
The canyon includes Jackson Lake, Elk National Refuge, and Snake River. The entire park is home to a diverse ecosystem, with glaciers in the mountains and wildlife in the forests and plains. The Grand Teton offers plenty of hiking and scenic drives.
Size: 310,044.36 acres (1,254.7 km2)
Visitors: 3,885,230
8. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is one of California’s most popular national parks, spanning Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera, and parts of the Sierra Nevada. The park was actually listed as a World Heritage Site in 1984 and is still a popular vacation spot for Americans as well as tourists.
Yosemite is famous for its towering granite cliffs, many beautiful waterfalls, giant sequoia groves, and spectacular natural scenery. Yosemite Valley itself is the most popular area, with several impressive natural landmarks such as Half Dome, Three Brothers, and El Capitan. If you love the outdoors, hiking, and rock climbing, then travel to Yosemite.
Size: 761,747.50 acres (3,082.7 km2)
Visitors: 3,287,595
9. Indiana Dunes
The Indiana Dunes was designated a national park in 2019 and is located in Indiana. Most are on the shores of Lake Michigan.
There are beaches, swamps, forests, dunes, rivers, meadows, and more. There are several historic buildings within the park, including the Florida Tropical House, the Selberg Farm, and the Bailey Homestead
Size: 15,349.08 acres (62.1 km2)
Visitors: 3,177,210
10. Glacier National Park
This wonderful park is located on the US-Canada border in northern Montana. Boasting some of the most pristine scenery in the country, Glacier National Park covers an area of over 1,000,000 hectares.
The park has mountains such as Chief His Mountain, as well as various frozen and natural lakes such as Two Medicine Lake and Hidden Lake.
In addition, the glacier is home to over 50 species of mammals, including bighorn sheep, bison, elk, black bears, and cougars. Notable attractions in Glacier Park include Kintra Peak, Bowman Lake, Going to the Sun Road, and Logan Pass. In addition to hiking and climbing, fly fishing is also a very popular activity.
Size: 1,013,126.39 acres (4,100.0 km2)
Visitors: 3,081,656
11. Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park, established in 1994, is one of the newest additions to the collection of national parks. It is located in the southwest part of California, to the east of Los Angeles and San Diego.
This national park is renowned for its stunning desert landscapes and abundance of Joshua trees. Joshua Tree National Park is actually part of the Mojave and Colorado deserts, and it boasts a diverse range of terrains including rocky areas, desert forests, grasslands, dunes, and scrub.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities within the park, such as hiking through hidden valleys, rock climbing, stargazing, and bird watching. The awe-inspiring and thrilling landscape of Joshua Tree National Park is sure to captivate and invigorate you. Keep an eye on the Federal Reserve this Wednesday.
Size: 795,155.85 acres (3,217.9 km2)
Visitors: 3,064,400
12. Olympic National Park
The states of the northwestern United States are known for their vast expanses of native forest, and Olympic National Park is home to one of the country’s most extensive forests.
The park is located in the far west of Washington State, directly below Vancouver Island, across from Seattle Bay. In fact, there are four distinct regions within the Olympic Park: the majestic Pacific Coast, the temperate rainforests of the west, the high mountains, and the dry forests of the east.
The coast has many sandy beaches and wide coves, and the center of the park is lined with glacial peaks such as Mount Olympus and Mount Deception. Camping and hiking in the woods and along the coast are popular activities, and the park’s diversity and size offer an endless variety of attractions and places to visit.
Size: 922,649.41 acres (3,733.8 km2)
Visitors: 2,718,925
13. Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley is one of the smaller national parks, but its proximity to the city of Cleveland attracts many visitors each year. The Cuyahoga River runs through the center of the park, and the surrounding valleys are filled with green forests.
Notable landmarks within the park include Cuyahoga Falls, Lake Arkona, Lake Warren, and Stamford House. Additionally, the Ohio and Erie Canal Trailhead is a popular hiking route that follows the course of the Old Erie Canal, passing many historic sites
Cycling and hiking are the most popular activities in the park. In addition, many people come to see wildlife such as hawks, otters, bald eagles, and herons.
Size: 32,571.88 acres (131.8 km2)
Visitors: 2,575,275
14. Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs National Park is one of the few parks within a city designed around highways and buildings.
Located in the city of Hot Springs in central Arkansas, the park is a famous spa town whose waters are said to have wonderful healing properties.
The park’s main attraction is its beautiful historic bathhouses. Hot Springs has a variety of baths, including Lamar Baths, Ozark Baths, and Quapaw Baths. Most of these are located on Bathhouse Row and are open to the public.
In addition to the baths, the park has a number of great hiking trails that wind around Onsenyama
Size: 5,554.15 acres (22.5 km2)
Visitors: 2,162,884
15. Bryce Canyon National Park
Utah is home to several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, with Bryce Canyon being one of the most popular along with Zion National Park.
Bryce Canyon is located in south-central Utah, east of Zion National Park, near the Grand Staircase-Escalante.
The park’s main feature is Bryce Canyon itself, which is actually a series of rocky amphitheaters containing beautiful hoodoo formations. These hoodoos are simply spectacular and have been sculpted over thousands of years into fantastic shapes like Thor’s hammer.
Although the canyon looks like a desert landscape, fir forests are abundant and snow is regularly seen on the ground during the winter months. Horseback riding and hiking are popular activities, especially along the Rim Trail.
Size: 35,835.08 acres (145.0 km2)
Visitors: 2,104,600