Rugged seashore on Mt. Desert Island and adjacent mainland
Arches (Utah), 1971
76,518.98
Unusual stone arches, windows, pedestals caused by erosion (park was a National Monument 19291971)
Badlands (S.D.), 1978
242,755.94
Arid land of fossils, prairie, bison, deer, bighorn sheep, antelope (park was a National Monument 19291978)
Big Bend (Tex.), 1935
801,163.21
Mountains and desert bordering the Rio Grande
Biscayne (Fla.), 1980
172,924.07
Aquatic, coral reef park south of Miami (park was a National Monument, 19681980)
Bryce Canyon (Utah), 1924
35,835.08
Area of grotesque eroded rocks brilliantly colored
Canyonlands (Utah), 1964
337,597.83
Colorful wilderness with impressive red-rock canyons, spires, arches
Capitol Reef (Utah), 1971
241,904.26
Highly colored sedimentary rock formations in high, narrow gorges (park was a National Monument 19371971)
Carlsbad Caverns (N.M.), 1930
46,766.45
One of the world's largest known caves
Channel Islands (Calif.), 1980
249,561.00
Area is rich in marine mammals, sea birds, endangered species, and archeology (park was a National Monument 19381980)
Crater Lake (Ore.), 1902
183,224.05
Deep blue lake in heart of inactive volcano
Cuyahoga Valley (Ohio)
32,863.95
Wilderness area offering recreational, historic, and cultural attractions, including scenic rail journeys (park was a National Recreation Area 19742000)
Death Valley (Calif.-Nev.), 1994
3,286,241.46
Largest desert, surrounded by high mountains, containing the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere (park was a National Monument 19331994)
Denali (Alaska), 1917
4,740,911.72
Contains Mt. McKinley, N. America's highest mountain (20,320 ft) (formerly Mt. McKinley National Park, 19171980)
Dry Tortugas (Fla.), 1992
64,701.22
Located 70 mi off Key West. Features an underwater nature trail (formerly Ft. Jefferson National Monument 19351992)
Everglades (Fla.), 1934
1,508,571.36
Subtropical area with abundant bird and animal life
Gates of the Arctic (Alaska), 1980
7,523,897.77
Diverse north central wilderness contains part of Brooks Range
Glacier (Mont.), 1910
1,013,572.42
Rocky Mountain scenery with many glaciers and lakes
Glacier Bay (Alaska), 1980
3,224,840.31
Popular for wildlife, whale-watching, glacier-calving, and scenery (park was a National Monument 19251980)
Grand Canyon (Ariz.), 1919
1,217,403.32
Mile-deep gorge, 4 to 18 mi wide, 217 mi long
Grand Teton (Wyo.), 1929
309,994.02
Picturesque range of high mountain peaks
Great Basin (Nev.), 1986
77,180.00
Exceptional scenic, biologic, and geologic attractions (formerly Lehman Caves National Monument 19221986)
Great Sand Dunes (Colo.)
38,662.18
Includes spectacular sand dunes, alpine lakes, tundra, ancient forests, grass and wetlands in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (park was a National Monument 19322000)
Great Smoky Mts. (N.C.-Tenn.), 1926
521,490.18
Highest mountain range east of Black Hills; luxuriant plant life
Guadalupe Mountains (Tex.), 1966
86,415.97
Contains highest point in Texas: Guadalupe Peak (8,751 ft)
Haleakala (Hawaii), 1916
29,830.15
World-famous 10,023-foot Haleakala volcano (dormant) (formerly part of Hawaii National Park. Renamed in 1960)
Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii), 1916
209,695.38
Spectacular volcanic area; luxuriant vegetation at lower levels (formerly Hawaii National Park. Renamed in 1961)
Hot Springs (Ark.), 1921
5,549.46
47 mineral hot springs said to have therapeutic value
Isle Royale (Mich.), 1931
571,790.11
Largest wilderness island in Lake Superior; moose, wolves, lakes
Joshua Tree (Calif.), 1994
1,018,198.01
Desert region featuring Joshua trees and a great variety of plants and animals (park was a National Monument 19361994)
Katmai (Alaska), 1980
3,674,529.68
Expansion may assure brown bear's preservation. Park is known for fishing, 1912 eruption of Novarupta, bears (park was a National Monument 19181980)
Kenai Fjords (Alaska), 1980
669,982.99
Mountain goats, marine mammals, birdlife are features at this seacoast park near Seward (park was a National Monument 19781980)
Kings Canyon (Calif.), 1890
461,901.20
Huge canyons; high mountains; giant sequoias (formerly General Grant National Park 18901940)
Kobuk Valley (Alaska), 1980
1,750,736.86
Native culture and anthropology center around the broad Kobuk River in northwest Alaska (park was a National Monument 19781980)
Lake Clark (Alaska), 1980
2,619,733.22
Park provides scenic and wilderness recreation across Cook Inlet from Anchorage (park was a National Monument 19781980)
Lassen Volcanic (Calif.), 1916
106,372.36
Exhibits of impressive volcanic phenomena
Mammoth Cave (Ky.), 1926
52,830.19
Vast limestone labyrinth with underground river
Mesa Verde (Colo.), 1906
52,121.93
Best-preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in United States
Samoa National Park, American Samoa: two rain forest preserves and a coral reef on the island of Ofu are home to unique tropical animals. The park also includes several thousand acres on the islands of Tutuila and Ta'u
Finest Pacific Northwest rain forest; scenic mountain park
Petrified Forest (Ariz.), 1962
93,532.57
Extensive natural exhibit of petrified wood (park was a National Monument 19061962)
Redwood (Calif.), 1968
112,612.58
Coastal redwood forests; contains world's tallest known tree (369.2 ft)
Rocky Mountain (Colo.), 1915
265,769.14
Section of the Rocky Mountains; 107 named peaks over 10,000 ft
Saguaro (Ariz.), 1994
91,445.96
Giant saguaro cacti, unique to the Sonoran Desert, sometimes reach a height of 50 ft in this cactus forest (park was a National Monument 19331994)
Sequoia (Calif.), 1890
402,510.05
Giant sequoias; magnificent High Sierra scenery, including Mt. Whitney
Shenandoah (Va.), 1926
198,979.33
Tree-covered mountains; scenic Skyline Drive
Theodore Roosevelt (N.D.), 1978
70,446.89
Scenic valley of Little Missouri River; T.R. Ranch; wildlife (Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park 19471978)
Virgin Islands (U.S. V.I.), 1956
14,688.87
Beaches; lush hills; prehistoric Carib Indian relics
Voyageurs (Minn.), 1971
218,200.17
Wildlife, canoeing, fishing, and hiking
Wind Cave (S.D.), 1903
28,295.03
Limestone caverns in Black Hills; buffalo herd
Wrangell-St. Elias (Alaska), 1980
8,323,617.68
Largest Park System area has abundant wildlife, second highest peak in U.S. (Mt. St. Elias); adjoins Canadian park (park was a National Monument 19781980)
Yellowstone (Wyo.-Mont.-Idaho), 1872
2,219,790.71
World's greatest geyser area; abundant falls, wildlife, and canyons
Yosemite (Calif.), 1890
761,266.28
Mountains; inspiring gorges and waterfalls; giant sequoias
Zion (Utah), 1919
146,592.31
Multicolored gorge in heart of southern Utah desert
