ByNational Geographic Staff
March 27, 2024
•7 min read
Since the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) started keeping records in 1904, its mountain landscapes, seaside wildernesses, and high desert acres have registered more than 16 billion visits. Some of the best known parks experienced record crowds in 2023. Straddling the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park passed 13 million recreation visits; more than 3 million people took in the plant- and rock formation-filled desertscape of California’s Joshua Tree National Park.
Visitors are drawn to the vastness and variety of “America’s best idea.” From sea to shining sea (as well as in the wilds of Alaska and Hawaii), the NPS’s 85 million acres encompass 150,000 miles of rivers and streams and over 21,000 miles of trails.
(Go wild, and skip the crowds, at these 7 spectacular parks.)
These 10 parks are the superstars of the system, but they offer just a glimpse of the variety to be found in the 429 park units (including 63 national parks) of the NPS.
10. Olympic National ParkIn 2023, 2,947,503 people visited Washington State’s Olympic National Park. The park comprises 922,651 acres of wild Pacific coast (pictured), rugged glacier-capped mountains, and old-growth temperate rain forest.
Photograph by Raul Touzon, Nat Geo Image Collection
9. Joshua Tree National ParkDrawn by outsized rock formations and distinctive yucca brevifolia plants, 3,270,404 travelers entered Joshua Tree National Park in 2023. It offers hiking, bouldering, and stargazing in the Sonora and Mojave deserts east of Los Angeles, California.
Photograph by Ben Horton, Nat Geo Image Collection
8. Grand Teton National ParkThe peaks of the Teton Range, regal and imposing, soar nearly 7,000 feet above the Wyoming valley floor, making them some of the boldest geological statements in the Rockies. Grand Teton National Park’s jewel-like lakes, blue and white glaciers, and naked granite pinnacles enticed 3,417,106 visitors in 2023.
Photograph by Jimmy Chin, Nat Geo Image Collection
7. Acadia National ParkSea and mountains meet at Acadia National Park in Maine, which saw 3,879,890 people visit in 2023. Most of the park is on Mount Desert Island, a patchwork of parkland, private property, and waterside villages.
Photograph by , Nat Geo Image Collection
6. Yosemite National Park“No temple made with human hands can compete with Yosemite,” wrote John Muir, whose crusading led to the creation of California’s Yosemite National Park in 1890. Nearly 4 million visitors came to this temple of granite cliffs and towering waterfalls in 2023. Most spent time in Yosemite Valley, a mile-wide, seven-mile-long canyon that was cut by a river and then widened and deepened by glacial action.
Photograph by Andrew Coleman, Nat Geo Image Collection
5. Rocky Mountain National ParkSweeping alpine vistas attracted 4.1 million visitors to Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park in 2023. The park contains 150 lakes and 450 miles of streams, plus ecosystems ranging from wetlands to pine forests to montane areas to alpine tundra.
Photograph by Peter McBride, Nat Geo Image Collection
4. Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone National Park—the world’s first national park—was visited by 4.5 million people in 2023. The vast reserve—covering 2.2 million acres in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana—has craggy peaks, explosive geysers, alpine lakes, deep forests, and a wealth of wild animals. The stars are bison, bears, sheep, moose, and wolves.
Photograph by Michael K. Nichols, Nat Geo Image Collection
3. Zion National ParkRising in Utah’s high plateau country, the Virgin River carves its way through Zion Canyon to the desert below. Zion National Park’s striking vertical topography—rock towers, sandstone canyons, and sharp cliffs—attracted 5 million visitors in 2023.
Photograph by Ben Horton, Nat Geo Image Collection
2. Grand Canyon National ParkIn 2023, Grand Canyon National Park attracted 4.7 million people to witness one of the largest canyons on Earth, which is a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide at some points. Explore it by hiking, mule riding, or rafting in the mighty Colorado River.
Photograph by Peter McBride, Nat Geo Image Collection
1. Great Smoky Mountains National ParkMore than 13 million visitors went to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2023. Travelers can explore its misty peaks and waterfall-filled valleys via a mountain-skimming scenic highway or by taking to 800-plus miles of hiking trails stretching across North Carolina and Tennessee.
Photograph by , Nat Geo Image Collection
This article is updated yearly with new information.
Hike with us: National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated maps highlight the best places for hiking, camping, boating, paddling, and wildlife viewing in North America’s rugged frontiers and urban fringes. Created in partnership with local land management agencies, these expertly researched maps deliver unmatched detail and helpful information to guide experienced outdoor enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. Click here for maps of National Parks.
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