The US boasts of many National Parks. These parks attract a large number of tourists and locals. We take a look at the most popular National Parks.
Criteria for designating any area as a national park in the US includes recreational facilities, natural beauty as well as novel geology and distinct ecosystems.
An act of the US Congress is mandatory in order to establish any National Park. The country has 62 national parks run by the National Park Service.
We take a look at the most visited national parks in USA based on the number of visitors as per the National Park Service.
In 2019, this popular park had 12.5 million visitors. The park is world famous for its diverse flora and fauna. A must-see here are its beautiful waterfalls.
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
With its hiking trails, the park is a hiker's paradise. The attraction is home to one of America's oldest mountain ranges. The park is termed the Smokies due to the perennial morning fog.
The major attraction of the park is the Grand Canyon. It is the largest canyon in the world as well as is one of the world's top natural wonders.
2. Grand Canyon National Park
Situated in Arizona, the park is over a century old. A major attraction is the majestic Colorado river. The park is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The park boasts of more than 100 mountains which are over 11,000 feet tall. It's located in Colorado and covers an area of 415 square miles.
3. Rocky Mountain National Park
Here visitors can sight Bobcats, Bison as well as Grizzly Bears. A must-visit is the Trail Ridge Road which is the country's highest paved road.
Located in Utah, this is a relatively small park spanning across 146,000 acres. A major attraction here is the majestic Zion Canyon.
4. Zion National Park
The park boasts of a distinctive geography as well as unusual flora and fauna. There are 4 life zones here, namely coniferous forest, desert, woodland and riparian.
In 1984, this park was declared a World Heritage site. It boasts of magnificent granite cliffs and giant sequoia groves.
5. Yosemite National Park
The park is situated in California and dates back to 1864. It is especially famous for its spectacular waterfalls.
The park is Wyoming's main attraction. It boasts of hot springs as well as gushing geysers. A must-see here is the famous 'Old Faithful ' geyser.
6. Yellowstone National Park
Did you know that it is the world's first national park? The park is famous for its wildlife and forests. There are over 290 waterfalls here.
The park is located predominantly on Maine's Mount Desert Island. There are 158 miles of hiking trails here.
7. Acadia National Park
Last year, the park had over 3.4 million visitors. It is home to awe-inspiring landscapes and an impressive variety of wildlife.
The famous park is located in Wyoming and is near the Yellowstone National Park. It contains flora and fauna of prehistoric times. A popular attraction here is 'Jackson Hole' which is a picturesque valley.
8. Grand Teton National Park
The park is home to different ecosystems. It offers opportunities to backpackers, climbers and hikers. Popular attractions here are glaciated peaks, beautiful beaches and spectacular bays.
9. Olympic National Park
The beautiful park is located on the US-Canada border. It boasts of majestic mountains, natural lakes as well as frozen lakes. It is a top hiking and climbing destination.