Lifestyle

Top 10 Most Popular National Parks in America

By Paul Fogarty

January 23, 2024

Over 330 million people visited American national parks last year.

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The parks protect nature and history. Let's explore the 10 most popular parks of the United States!

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3.4 million visitors per year. Known for wild, rugged Pacific Northwest landscape with glaciers, mountains, and temperate rain forests along the coast.

Olympic National Park, Washington

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Nearly 6 million visitors per year. Features a 277 mile long, mile deep canyon carved by the Colorado River with layers of rock showing Earth history.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

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 4.7 million visitors yearly. Known for mountain scenery, alpine lakes, wildlife like elk and bighorn sheep. Has over 60 peaks higher than 12,000 feet!

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

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 Over 4 million visitors per year. Famous sights include El Capitan rock formation, giant sequoia trees, and waterfalls like Yosemite Falls.

 Yosemite National Park, California

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3.5 million visitors per year. Located on Mount Desert Island and Schoodic Peninsula on Atlantic coast. Features granite peaks, oceanside cliffs, and forested mountains.

 Acadia National Park, Maine

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3.4 million visitors yearly. Dramatic craggy Teton Range rising above Jackson Hole valley. Great for hiking, fishing, spotting wildlife.

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

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Nearly 3 million visitors per year. Rugged forested peaks and alpine valleys with over 700 lakes. Home to grizzlies and glaciers, but the glaciers are melting due to climate change.

Glacier National Park, Montana

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4.5 million yearly visitors. Unique colorful sandstone cliffs tower high above red canyon narrow paths. Must ride the shuttle to see main Zion Canyon area.

 Zion National Park, Utah

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12.5 million visitors per year! Largest national park in eastern U.S with lush forest and wildflowers. Abundant black bears, deer, birds, fireflies and more.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

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The Great Falls is an impressive waterfall. The Passaic River roars over steep cliffs. A pretty place to walk and picnic.

The Great Falls, New York

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Branch Brook Park has cherry blossom trees like D.C. See pink flowers bloom in Spring. Pretty spot for family photos.

Branch Brook Park

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High Point State Park has great views from NJ’s highest point. Lake Marcia popular for fishing, boating, and hiking.

High Point State Park

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The Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited, followed by Zion and Glacier National Parks. Yellowstone was the first ever national park.

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These special places preserve America's scenic wilderness and history. Make sure to stay on trails, pack out trash, and observe park rules to protect the parks, while visiting!

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Now you know the top 10! Start planning your next national park adventure to experience awesome American landscapes and wildlife!

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