The Most Visited Parks
The United States is filled with natural beauty, which can be enjoyed by visiting one of the many parks throughout the country. From forests to canyons, waterfalls to mountains, you can find a park that has what you are looking for. Below are some of the most popular parks in the country, based on yearly visitor data.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Located right along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers over half a million acres of land.[1] More than 11 million people[2] will come to explore the more than 800 miles of hiking trails,[3] see the unique mountain wildlife, or visit one of the many famous falls, such as Grotto Falls and Laurel Falls.[4] The park has 71 miles of hiking through the Appalachian mountain range[5] and also features attractions, such as Cades Cove Loop Road.[6]
Grand Canyon National Park
One of the most widely known recognized natural wonders in the world, the Grand Canyon draws visitors from around the globe. More than six million a year will view the natural beauty at the Grand Canyon National Park, located in Arizona.[7] The massive ravine is 277 square miles long and over a mile deep.[8] The park is located on the South Rim close to towns such as Flagstaff and Williams, which makes it a popular vantage point of the canyon for tourists.[9] The park features camping, various lodging, and many hiking trails.
Yosemite National Park
Located in California, Yosemite National Park is one of the first parks that comes to mind when many people think of U.S. parks. The 1,200 square-mile park[10] features a number of natural wonders including large granite rock formations and waterfalls,[11] with perhaps the most famous being Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America.[12] The park sees over four million visitors each year and is popular for its many outdoor activities and abundant wildlife.[13] Some of the most popular hiking trails lead to the park attractions including the Half Dome rock formation, and the El Capitan granite monolith.[14]
The U.S. is filled with many popular parks that attract tourists from across the nation and even some parts of the globe. Whether you are looking to view some of the most beautiful natural landscapes and formations the country has to offer, or take advantage of some amazing outdoor activities, you can find a great way to spend the day at one of the parks listed above.
[1] https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/management/statistics.htm
[2] https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/management/statistics.htm
[3] https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/management/statistics.htm
[4] https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm
[5] https://www.gatlinburg.com/blog/post/two-fun-ways-to-discover-the-appalachian-trail/
[6] https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm
[7] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/article/grand-canyon-national-park
[8] https://www.grandcanyon.org/park-information/canyon-facts/
[9] https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/directions_s_rim.htm
[10] https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
[11] https://www.nps.gov/articles/nps-geodiversity-atlas-yosemite-national-park.htm
[12] https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/yosemitefallstrail.htm
[13] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/09/us/yosemite-covid-travel.html
[14] https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/viewpoints.htm
Sources
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/management/statistics.htm
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm
https://www.gatlinburg.com/blog/post/two-fun-ways-to-discover-the-appalachian-trail/
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/article/grand-canyon-national-park
https://www.grandcanyon.org/park-information/canyon-facts/
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/directions
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
https://www.nps.gov/articles/nps-geodiversity-atlas-yosemite-national-park.htm
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/yosemitefallstrail.htm
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/09/us/yosemite-covid-travel.html
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/viewpoints.htm
LPL Tracking 01-05142150
