The United States National Park System contains 62 parks that cover around 52.2 million acres (81,562 square miles) of beautiful and awe-inspiring land. From the mountains to the oceans and from deserts to rainforests there is a wide diversity of parks to explore, each their own adventure. While each park is unique in their own right, let’s look at some of the (literal) highs and lows that the National Park system has to offer.
Biggest National Park: Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park, est. 1978
At 13,175,799 acres (20,587 square miles) this national park accounts for around 25% of the entire land in the national park system. It is bigger than Yellowstone, Everglades, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, The Grand Tetons, and the Great Smoky Mountains combined. In fact, it is so large it is bigger than each of the 9 smallest states in the U.S. beating out even Maryland.
At 13,175,799 acres (20,587 square miles) this national park accounts for around 25% of the entire land in the national park system. It is bigger than Yellowstone, Everglades, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, The Grand Tetons, and the Great Smoky Mountains combined. In fact, it is so large it is bigger than each of the 9 smallest states in the U.S. beating out even Maryland.
Smallest National Park: Gateway Arch National Park, est. 2018
At a mere 192 acres (0.3 square miles) it is 68,623 times smaller than the largest national park and only takes up 0.000004% of the entire land in the National Park System. It is located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri in honor of the Louisiana purchase. While the park itself does not have any trails in the traditional sense it has a newly renovated museum dedicated to the Lewis and Clark expedition, and an observatory deck at the top of the Gateway Arch.
At a mere 192 acres (0.3 square miles) it is 68,623 times smaller than the largest national park and only takes up 0.000004% of the entire land in the National Park System. It is located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri in honor of the Louisiana purchase. While the park itself does not have any trails in the traditional sense it has a newly renovated museum dedicated to the Lewis and Clark expedition, and an observatory deck at the top of the Gateway Arch.
Most Visited National Park: Great Smoky Mountains, est. 1934
This park receives 11 million visitors every year visit this easily accessible park to hike some of its 800 miles of trails, visit a few of its 90 historical sites, and enjoy some of the culturally exciting cities around the area. It doesn’t hurt that its free to enter as well. If you are planning a visit here keep in mind that there are two peak seasons that carry the most visitors, those being June 15th-August 15th and the entire month of October.
Most Visited National Park: Great Smoky Mountains, est. 1934
This park receives 11 million visitors every year visit this easily accessible park to hike some of its 800 miles of trails, visit a few of its 90 historical sites, and enjoy some of the culturally exciting cities around the area. It doesn’t hurt that its free to enter as well. If you are planning a visit here keep in mind that there are two peak seasons that carry the most visitors, those being June 15th-August 15th and the entire month of October.
Least Visited National Park: Gates of the Arctic, est. 1980 (See also “Coldest National Park”)
This park only brings in around 10,000 visitors a year, Gates of the Arctic National Park located near Fairbanks, Alaska is one of the remote National Parks to visit. There are no roads that lead into this park meaning that visitors have to fly or hike into the park which lead to the reduced number of visitors.
Hottest National Park: Death Valley National Park, est. 1994 (see also “Lowest Elevation”)
Not only is this the hottest national park in the U.S. it’s also the hottest place on the planet. According to the World Meteorological Organization the hottest air temperature ever recorded on this Earth was an astounding 134.1 degrees Fahrenheit in in Furnace Creek Ranch in the Death Valley Desert on July 10th, 1913. The average high in July (the hottest month) is 116 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low during this time is 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
Not only is this the hottest national park in the U.S. it’s also the hottest place on the planet. According to the World Meteorological Organization the hottest air temperature ever recorded on this Earth was an astounding 134.1 degrees Fahrenheit in in Furnace Creek Ranch in the Death Valley Desert on July 10th, 1913. The average high in July (the hottest month) is 116 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low during this time is 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
Coldest National Park: Gates of the Arctic, est. 1980 (See also “least visited” National Park)
Is it any real surprise that the coldest National Park is Gates of the Arctic? Lying within the Arctic Circle, it is not uncommon for the temperature to drop to a stagger -75 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. The average minimum temperature in the winter is -67 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average high during this time is 33 degrees Fahrenheit. Needless to say, if you are planning a trip to this National Park, don’t forget your jacket.
Is it any real surprise that the coldest National Park is Gates of the Arctic? Lying within the Arctic Circle, it is not uncommon for the temperature to drop to a stagger -75 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. The average minimum temperature in the winter is -67 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average high during this time is 33 degrees Fahrenheit. Needless to say, if you are planning a trip to this National Park, don’t forget your jacket.
Highest National Park: Denali National Park, est. 1917
Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley) stands at an impressive 20,310 feet above sea level, towering 2,302 feet higher than the next highest mountain in the U.S. While it is not the highest point above sea level by any means (Everest is 29,029 feet above sea level), it is the third-most topographically prominent peak in the world. In layman’s terms that means that it is the 3rd highest rising from base to peak.
Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley) stands at an impressive 20,310 feet above sea level, towering 2,302 feet higher than the next highest mountain in the U.S. While it is not the highest point above sea level by any means (Everest is 29,029 feet above sea level), it is the third-most topographically prominent peak in the world. In layman’s terms that means that it is the 3rd highest rising from base to peak.
Lowest National Park: Death Valley National Park, est. 1994 (See also “Hottest National Park”)
Badwater Basin is the lowest point in all of North America at 282 feet below sea level, and the second lowest point in the Western Hemisphere second only to Laguna del Carbón in Argentina.
Badwater Basin is the lowest point in all of North America at 282 feet below sea level, and the second lowest point in the Western Hemisphere second only to Laguna del Carbón in Argentina.
Oldest National Park: Yellowstone National Park, est. 1872
Yellowstone is the grand-daddy of all the National Parks. Established March 1st, 1872 it became the first National Park in the U.S after President Ulysses S. Grant signed “The Act of Dedication” law that established the National Park system in the first place.
Yellowstone is the grand-daddy of all the National Parks. Established March 1st, 1872 it became the first National Park in the U.S after President Ulysses S. Grant signed “The Act of Dedication” law that established the National Park system in the first place.
Youngest National Park: White Sands National Park, est. 2019
Officially became a National Park on December 20th, 2019 but was established as a National Monument on January 18th, 1933. It was the busiest park in New Mexico with around 600,000 visitors a year.
Officially became a National Park on December 20th, 2019 but was established as a National Monument on January 18th, 1933. It was the busiest park in New Mexico with around 600,000 visitors a year.
