Plenty of people still think the National Park system is, as writer Wallace Stegner put it, “America’s best idea.” Over the last year alone, its 84 million acres were visited over 331 million times. But this vast network still has plenty of secrets left to explore.
As you start planning your summer vacations, consider our national parks. The National Park Service turned 100 last year, and they've been busy. They continuously work to protect 407 sites with 28 different designations. On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service.
Let's delve into some captivating facts about national parks, showcasing the diverse and fascinating aspects of these protected areas.
National parks and national monuments are sometimes confused. Only one state in the country is not lucky enough to currently have either a national park or national monument.
The smallest national park is Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, coming in at about 5,500 acres. This was actually the first federally protected piece of land in 1832.
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California's Sequoia National Park is home to the largest living single-stem tree in the world, the wonderfully named General Sherman.
You can visit two parks in a day if you visit Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.
But if you narrow that list to only national parks, it climbs to second place! The only national park that sees more annual visitors is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
In 2019, Zion celebrated 100 years since becoming a national park. But the park actually existed before that time. In 1909, President William Taft provided federal protection to the area that we now know as Zion. In 1918, the name was changed to Zion National Monument, and its size was increased at this time.
Most visitors to the park today stop by the Zion National Park Lodge to do so shopping, eat lunch, or simply check out the historic building. The lodge was built in 1967. The first Zion National Park Lodge was actually built in 1925. At that time, it was funded by the Union Pacific Railroad and used to promote rail travel to the park. But a fire struck the original structure in the 1960s, destroying the entire structure. At first, the new lodge didn’t look anything like the original Zion Lodge.
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Most visitors to Zion head straight to the park’s Lower Canyon. Depending on what time of year you visit, this might mean riding the Zion Canyon Shuttle to get from one popular photo spot or trailhead to the next. But far fewer guests make their way to the second section of Zion. This section is called Kolob Canyon. Most visitors don’t realize that it exists, largely because you can’t get to it from within Zion Canyon. Instead, you’ll need to travel 40 miles north on Interstate 15.
Take a cruise along Highway 9, also known as Zion Park Boulevard, and you’ll quickly find yourself climbing in elevation. This historic tunnel was built between the late 1920s and early 1930s, and is over a mile long! It’s long and features several curves that plunge drivers into total darkness. Today, traffic control at both ends of the tunnel exists to help larger vehicles like RVs pass. When a large vehicle approaches the tunnel, traffic will be switched to one-way to allow them to pass safely. This service costs $15 per vehicle.
When you think of natural arches, you no doubt think of Arches National Park. But many guests don’t realize that Zion is actually home to the second-largest freestanding arch in the world! To get to this natural attraction, you’ll need to head to the Kolob Canyon section of the park. There you’ll find Kolob Arch.
Because access to the park by vehicle is limited to a short stretch of road, many visitors don’t quite realize how large Zion really is. In reality, the park covers 148,733 acres in total. Within those acres, you’ll find more than 100 miles of hiking trails! For those needing an accessible or easier alternative, there are 15 miles of paved trails in the park.
Located just a short drive from Zion National Park, our Zion resort offers the perfect base camp for your next adventure.
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Here are some surprising facts about each of the 59 parks.
Acadia National Park
Acadia is the oldest park east of the Mississippi River and the first instance where the land was donated to the federal government.
Arches National Park
There are more than 2,000 documented arches in the national park, some spanning up to 300 feet.
Badlands National Park
The Badlands are home to the largest known cluster of late Eocene and Oligocene mammal fossils.
Big Bend National Park
Historically, people traveled to the Hot Springs Historic District in Big Bend to heal their ailments. Today, visitors can soak in the 105-degree water that gushes from the old foundation of a bathhouse.
Biscayne National Park
Six shipwrecks over nearly a century have been mapped on Bicayne National Park's Maritime Heritage Trail.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Sculpted over two million years with the help of the Gunnison River and forces of weather, the Black Canyon is a staggering 48 miles long.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon has the largest collection of hoodoos-odd-shaped pillars of rock-in the world.
Canyonlands National Park
Horseshoe Canyon contains some of the most significant rock art in North America, including the intricate life-sized figures of the Great Gallery.
Capitol Reef National Park
The rocks in Capitol Reef National Park are up to 270 million years old.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
More than 119 caves are hidden beneath the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert.
Channel Islands National Park
Divers and snorkelers can explore the watery remains of the Winfield Scott shipwreck. Between 1850 and 1900, at least 33 ships were wrecked in the Santa Barbara Channel.
Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park hosts the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake's caldera is almost 6 miles in diameter and 3,900 feet deep.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
True to its name, the Beaver Marsh wetland in Cuyahoga Valley National Park was created by beavers that moved along remnants of canals.
Death Valley National Park
Rare rainstorms in this normally desiccated landscape spawn spectacular spring wildflower displays.
Denali National Park and Preserve
Beyond mile 15 of the Denali Park Road, vistors need to explore the park by bus, bicycle, or on foot, as private vehicles are not allowed to help reduce traffic and protect the natural resources.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is known for its abundance of sea turtles, including loggerheads, leatherbacks, and hawksbill turtles that annually nest in the area.
Everglades National Park
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