Review of US National Parks

Review of US National Parks.

National Parks vs National Monuments

Many people assume National Parks and National Monuments are the same thing.

They are not.

National Parks are generally:

• Created by Congress
• Larger landscapes
• Subject to stronger protections
• Intended to preserve major natural resources

National Monuments can be created by Congress or by Presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act and often protect:

• Archaeological sites
• Cultural landscapes
• Historic locations
• Unique geological features

Interestingly, several famous National Parks started as National Monuments:

• Grand Canyon
• Zion
• Joshua Tree
• Death Valley

National Monuments often function as a kind of “minor league” for future National Parks.

 The Complete List of America’s National Parks

The United States currently has 63 National Parks.wikipedia+1 I bowled parks I have visited and an* for those on my list.

One big problem in visiting US NP is that most of them, with rare exceptions, can not be accessed by public transit; that is just how it is in the car-dependent USA. The exceptions are the Grand Canyon and Yosemite NP, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, and a few others that allow private bus tour

East

• Shenandoah
• *New River Gorge
• *Cuyahoga Valley near Cleveland
•  Great Falls National Park DMV

Southeast

• *Great Smoky Mountains
• *Congaree
• *Mammoth Cave
• Everglades
• Biscayne
• *Dry Tortugas
• Hot Springs

Great Lakes

• *Indiana Dunes
• *Isle Royale
• *Voyageurs

Rocky Mountains

• Rocky Mountain
• *Great Sand Dunes
• *Black Canyon of the Gunnison
• *Mesa Verde
• Yellowstone
• Grand Teton
• *Wind Cave
• *Theodore Roosevelt
• Badlands

Southwest

• Grand Canyon
• Petrified Forest
• Saguaro
• *Arches
• *Bryce Canyon
• *Canyonlands
• *Capitol Reef
• *Zion
• *Great Basin
• *Carlsbad Caverns
• *Guadalupe Mountains
• Big Bend
• White Sands

Pacific Coast

• Yosemite
• Sequoia
• Kings Canyon
• Redwood
• Lassen Volcanic
• Pinnacles
• Crater Lake
• Olympic
• Mount Rainier
• North Cascades
• *Joshua Tree
• *Channel Islands
• Death Valley
• Mohave

Alaska

• Denali
• Glacier Bay
• Wrangell-St. Elias
• Katmai
• Lake Clark
• Gates of the Arctic
• Kobuk Valley
• Kenai Fjords

Hawaii & Territories

• Haleakalā
• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
• *Virgin Islands
• *National Park of American Samoa

America’s Most Important National Monuments

There are roughly 138 National Monuments today.wikipedia

Among the most notable:

Geological Wonders

• Devils Tower
• *Bears Ears
• *Grand Staircase-Escalante
• *Vermilion Cliffs
• *Craters of the Moon
• *Colorado National Monument
• Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks
• *Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
• Lava Beds NM, Oregon
• Oregon Caves, Oregon

Cultural Treasures

• Chaco Culture
• Canyon de Chelly
• Hovenweep
• Navajo National Monument

Historic Sites

• Statue of Liberty
• Castillo de San Marcos
• Fort Sumter
• Stonewall
• Mount Rushmore

Future National Parks?

Several places are frequently mentioned as possible future National Parks.

*Adirondack Park (unlikely but worthy)

Because of its mixed public-private ownership structure, National Park status is improbable, but scenery and ecological significance certainly qualify.

*Ocmulgee Mounds (Georgia)

Currently one of the leading candidates for National Park designation due to its immense Native American cultural significance.

Delaware Water Gap

Already managed by the National Park Service and frequently mentioned as a potential future National Park candidate.

Chiricahua National Monument (Arizona)

One of the most spectacular landscapes in the Southwest and frequently discussed as a potential park upgrade.

White Mountains (New Hampshire)

Scenically worthy, though already well protected within the National Forest system.

America’s “Unofficial National Parks”

Places that are arguably worthy of National Park status but are protected under other designations.

Examples:

• Adirondack Park (NY)
• Catskill Park (NY)
• White Mountain National Forest (NH)
• Green Mountain National Forest (VT)
• Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA/NJ)
• Black Hills National Forest (SD)
• Chiricahua National Monument (AZ)
• Sawtooth National Recreation Area (ID)
• Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (WA)
• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (MN)

Additional American Canyon Adventures

Hells Canyon (Idaho–Oregon)

Further information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5184400

• Carved by the Snake River along the Idaho-Oregon border.
• At approximately 7,900 feet (2,400 m) from river to rim, it is actually deeper than the Grand Canyon.
• Home to portions of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
• Features rugged backcountry trails, whitewater rafting, bighorn sheep, and remote wilderness.
• Best-known hikes include the Snake River Trail and Seven Devils area routes.

Why it’s special: Often called America’s most underrated canyon landscape.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Texas)

Further information: Texas Parks & Wildlife: Palo Duro Canyon

• Nicknamed “The Grand Canyon of Texas.”
• Approximately 120 miles long and up to 20 miles wide.
• The second-largest canyon system in the United States.
• Located in the Texas Panhandle near Amarillo.
• Famous for colorful rock formations, mesas, and desert scenery.

Best hikes

• Lighthouse Trail
• Givens, Spicer & Lowry Trail Loop
• Rock Garden Trail

Why it’s special: Combines Grand Canyon-scale scenery with much easier access and lighter crowds.

Canyon Bucket List Ranking:

A fun fact for your readers: Hells Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon, but the Grand Canyon is much wider and larger in overall volume, which is why it remains the more visually overwhelming landscape.

The World’s Great Waterfalls

North America’s Bucket-List Waterfalls

Featured Destination: Great Falls National Park

Further Information: https://www.nps.gov/grfa/

Located along the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., Great Falls Park showcases a dramatic series of cascades where the Potomac drops nearly 80 feet through a narrow gorge.

Highlights

• Outstanding overlooks
• Potomac River Gorge
• Rock climbing
• Historic Patowmack Canal

Featured Destination: Great Falls of the Missouri

Further Information: https://www.nps.gov/lecl/index.htm

Near Great Falls, Montana, a series of five major waterfalls on the Missouri River forced the Lewis & Clark Expedition into one of the most difficult portages of their journey.

The falls include:

• Black Eagle Falls
• Colter Falls
• Crooked Falls
• Rainbow Falls
• Great Falls

For history buffs, they’re every bit as important as many national parks.

Featured Destination: Niagara Falls

Further Information: Niagara Parks

Perhaps the most famous waterfall on Earth.

Interesting facts

• More than 3,000 tons of water flow over the falls every second.
• Consists of three waterfalls:
  • Horseshoe Falls
  • American Falls
  • Bridal Veil Falls
• Shared between the United States and Canada.

Best experiences

• Maid of the Mist boat tour
• Cave of the Winds
• Niagara Parkway
• Illuminated nighttime views

International Waterfall Bucket List

Editor’s Choice: Top 10 Waterfalls to See Before You Die

1. Angel Falls (Venezuela)
2. Iguazú Falls (Argentina/Brazil)
3. Victoria Falls (Zambia/Zimbabwe)
4. Niagara Falls (USA/Canada)
5. Yosemite Falls (California)
6. Huangguoshu Falls (China)
7. Dettifoss (Iceland)
8. Shoshone Falls (Idaho)
9. Multnomah Falls (Oregon)
10. Great Falls of the Missouri (Montana)

Fun Fact

If your article already includes the Great Canyons section, you can tie everything together with this comparison:

• Deepest canyon in North America: Hells Canyon (Idaho/Oregon)
• Most famous canyon: Grand Canyon (Arizona)
• Grand Canyon of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon (Texas)
• Most famous waterfall: Niagara Falls (USA/Canada)
• Tallest waterfall in North America: Yosemite Falls (California)
• Tallest waterfall in the world: Angel Falls (Venezuela)

Many travelers would find these just as rewarding as the official parks.

America’s Most Famous National Wild & Scenic Rivers

 Major National Historical Parks

• Colonial National Historical Park (VA)
• Independence National Historical Park (PA)
• Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (VA)
• Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (WV)
• Lowell National Historical Park (MA)
• San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (TX)
• Historical Park of Kaloko-Honokohau (HI)
• Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (AK/WA)
• DC attractions 

Major National Battlefield Parks

The most important historically:

• Gettysburg National Military Park  – must walk the famous Picket’s walk 
• Antietam National Battlefield
• Vicksburg National Military Park
• Shiloh National Military Park
• Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
• Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
• Manassas National Battlefield Park
• Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

National Seashores

Every serious road tripper should consider:

Atlantic Coast:

• Cape Cod
• Fire Island
• Assateague Island
• Cape Hatteras
• Cape Lookout
• Canaveral

Gulf Coast:

• Gulf Islands National Seashore
• Padre Island National Seashore

Pacific:

• Point Reyes National Seashore
• Olympic Coast (within Olympic NP)

National Lakeshores

• Sleeping Bear Dunes
• Pictured Rocks
• Apostle Islands (National Lakeshore)

These are among the most overlooked destinations in the National Park System.

Major National Recreation Areas

Some are as impressive as National Parks:

• Delaware Water Gap
• Glen Canyon
• Lake Mead
• Lake Powell
• Gateway NRA (NYC)
• Golden Gate NRA (San Francisco)
• Sawtooth NRA (Idaho)
• Lake Shasta NRA

Major State Parks and Preserves Worthy of National Attention

Northeast

• *Adirondack Park
• *Catskill Park
• Baxter State Park (Maine)

Southeast

• Red River Gorge (Kentucky)
• Tallulah Gorge (Georgia)

Midwest

• Custer State Park (South Dakota)

West

• Valley of Fire (Nevada)
• Dead Horse Point (Utah)
• Smith Rock (Oregon)
• Anza-Borrego (California)

Note – there are a lot more State and local parks to list, but to prevent this from becoming unwieldy,. we can stop here, and we can also skip a discussion of the wilderness areas in the US, mostly located in National Parks and National Forests, as well as discussing the National Forest, Bureau of Land Management lands, Indian reservation lands, and state/local park systems which are found across the US.

Many of these would be major national attractions if they happened to be federally managed.

Potential Future National Parks

Several sites are frequently discussed as future additions.

Ocmulgee Mounds (Georgia)

Possibly the leading candidate, protecting one of the most significant Native American cultural landscapes in the East.

Chiricahua National Monument (Arizona)

Already often described as a “National Park in waiting.”

Delaware Water Gap

One of the most visited NPS units in the country.

Apostle Islands

Unique Great Lakes scenery and maritime history.

Adirondack Park

Unlikely politically, but unquestionably worthy scenically.

I bolded the trails I have hiked parts of the trails.

Global Hiking Destinations: The World’s Great Trail Networks, Pilgrimage Routes & Wilderness Walks

The World’s Great Pilgrimage Walks

While North America dominates wilderness thru-hiking, Europe excels at cultural and pilgrimage routes, and East Asia blends ancient spiritual traditions with world-class trail infrastructure. Together, these trails offer a lifetime of adventures, stretching from the cathedrals of Spain and temple paths of Japan to the mountain passes of the Rockies and the wild coasts of New Zealand.

Spain: The World’s Great Pilgrimage Destination

Camino de Santiago

Further information: Camino de Santiago Official Portal

The Camino may be the most influential walking route on Earth. Pilgrims have crossed northern Spain for over a thousand years toward Santiago de Compostela. Today it attracts everyone from religious pilgrims to retirees, ultrarunners, and backpackers.

Bucket-list highlights

• The Pyrenees crossing
• Medieval villages
• Rioja wine country
• Santiago Cathedral

France: Europe’s Hiking Superpower

Tour du Mont Blanc

Further information: https://www.autourdumontblanc.com

Often considered the world’s premier alpine trek, circling Mont Blanc through three countries.

GR20

Further information: https://www.parc-corse.org

Widely regarded as Europe’s toughest classic long-distance trail.

GR10

Further information: https://www.ffrandonnee.fr

A coast-to-coast crossing of the French Pyrenees.

England’s Lake District

Coast to Coast Walk

Further information: Wainwright Society

Created by Alfred Wainwright, this famous crossing links the Irish Sea with the North Sea and traverses the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, and North York Moors.

Why hikers love the Lakes

• Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain
• Beatrix Potter country
• Wordsworth’s landscapes
• Dense network of public footpaths

Scotland: Wild Walking in the Highlands

West Highland Way

Further information: West Highland Way Official Site

Scotland’s best-known trail and often considered the gateway to long-distance hiking in the Highlands.

Great Glen Way

Further information: Great Glen Way Official Site

Following Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal through the heart of the Highlands.

Why Scotland belongs on every hiker’s list

• Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak
• Historic glens and lochs
• World-class wild camping
• Extensive right-to-roam access

Japan: Ancient Pilgrimage Meets Modern Trekking

Shikoku Pilgrimage

Further information: https://shikoku-tourism.com/en

A 1,200 km route linking 88 Buddhist temples around Shikoku Island.

Highlights

• Mountain temples
• Traditional inns (ryokan)
• Ancient pilgrimage culture
• Excellent infrastructure

Michinoku Coastal Trail

Further information: Michinoku Trail Club

One of the world’s newest major long-distance trails, stretching more than 1,000 km along Japan’s northeastern coast.

Kumano Kodo

Further information: Kumano Travel

One of the few UNESCO-recognized pilgrimage routes in the world and often compared directly with the Camino de Santiago.

South Korea: Asia’s Emerging Hiking Capital

Jeju Olle Trail

Further information: Jeju Olle Foundation

A remarkable series of connected trails circling volcanic Jeju Island.

Why hikers love Korea

• Exceptional trail maintenance
• Mountain-top temples
• Rural villages
• Outstanding public transportation

The Olle Trail inspired similar walking-route systems across Asia, including portions of Japan’s modern trail development.

China: Ancient Trade Routes and Mountain Kingdoms

Unlike Europe and North America, China’s hiking culture is generally organized around regional trail networks rather than a single national thru-hike.

Tea Horse Road Routes

Further information: China Highlights

Ancient trade routes formerly linking Tibet, Yunnan, and Sichuan.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Further information: https://www.yunnanexploration.com

One of Asia’s most dramatic multi-day hikes, traversing a canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon in places.

Mount Siguniang

Further information: https://www.sichuantravelguide.com

Often called the “Alps of China” due to its spectacular mountain scenery.

Editor’s Choice: The World’s 10 Bucket-List Hikes

1. Appalachian Trail (USA)
2. Camino de Santiago (Spain)
3. Continental Divide Trail (USA)
4. GR20 (France)
5. Kumano Kodo (Japan)
6. Pacific Crest Trail (USA)
7. Shikoku Pilgrimage (Japan)
8. Tour du Mont Blanc (France/Italy/Switzerland)
9. West Highland Way (Scotland)
10. Jeju Olle Trail (South Korea)

While North America dominates wilderness thru-hiking, Europe excels at cultural and pilgrimage routes, and East Asia blends ancient spiritual traditions with world-class trail infrastructure. Together, these trails offer a lifetime of adventures, stretching from the cathedrals of Spain and temple paths of Japan to the mountain passes of the Rockies and the wild coasts of New Zealand.

The Ultimate One-Year American Parks Odyssey

If I were retired tomorrow and had one year to explore America’s greatest landscapes, I would not simply try to collect National Parks like baseball cards.

Instead, I would try to understand the entire American conservation experiment.

That means visiting:

• National Parks
• National Monuments
• National Historical Parks
• National Battlefields
• National Seashores
• National Recreation Areas
• Wilderness Areas
• National Forests
• And several of America’s great “unofficial National Parks”

The result would be a journey of roughly 20,000 to 25,000 miles depending on side trips.

A full year allows something most travelers never accomplish:

Following good weather year-round.

January: South Florida and the Caribbean

Winter is the perfect time for subtropical parks.

National Parks

• Everglades
• Biscayne
• Dry Tortugas

Other Major Sites

• Castillo de San Marcos
• Big Cypress Preserve
• Florida Keys

Major Cities

• Miami
• Key West
• St. Augustine

Most northern Americans think of Florida as beaches.

The National Park version of Florida is far more interesting:

• Alligators
• Manatees
• Mangrove forests
• Tropical coral reefs

February: Gulf Coast and Deep South

National Parks

• Congaree
• Hot Springs

National Seashores

• Gulf Islands National Seashore

Historical Parks

• Vicksburg Military Park
• New Orleans Historical Sites

Cities

• New Orleans
• Mobile
• Birmingham
• Atlanta

This month becomes a study of:

• Civil Rights history
• Civil War history
• Southern ecology

March: Texas and Borderlands

National Parks

• Big Bend
• Guadalupe Mountains

Other Major Sites

• White Sands
• Carlsbad Caverns
• Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks NM

Cities

• San Antonio
• Austin
• El Paso

Much of America’s most underrated scenery lies in West Texas and southern New Mexico.

April: Arizona

Spring is ideal desert season.

National Parks

• Grand Canyon
• Petrified Forest
• Saguaro

National Monuments

• Canyon de Chelly
• Navajo National Monument
• Vermilion Cliffs

Potential Future Park

• Chiricahua National Monument

If I were betting on future National Park designations, Chiricahua would be near the top of my list.

The towering volcanic rock formations rival Bryce Canyon.

May: Utah

The greatest concentration of National Park scenery on Earth.

National Parks

• Zion
• Bryce Canyon
• Arches
• Canyonlands
• Capitol Reef

National Monuments

• Bears Ears
• Grand Staircase-Escalante
• Natural Bridges

One could easily spend an entire month here.

Many photographers do.

June: California

National Parks

• Death Valley
• Joshua Tree
• Channel Islands
• Pinnacles
• Sequoia
• Kings Canyon
• Yosemite

Potential Future Consideration

Some conservationists argue portions of the Sierra Nevada deserve additional National Park expansion.

Cities

• San Diego
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco

July: Pacific Northwest

National Parks

• Redwood
• Crater Lake
• Olympic
• Mount Rainier
• North Cascades

Other Sites

• Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Cities

• Portland
• Seattle

This may be the most beautiful summer month of the trip.

August: Rockies

National Parks

• Glacier
• Yellowstone
• Grand Teton
• Rocky Mountain

National Monuments

• Devils Tower
• Craters of the Moon

Cities

• Bozeman
• Jackson
• Denver

This is America’s classic western landscape.

September: Northern Plains and Great Lakes

National Parks

• Theodore Roosevelt
• Wind Cave
• Badlands
• Voyageurs
• Isle Royale
• Indiana Dunes

Sites

• Mount Rushmore
• Custer State Park

Custer State Park could easily be mistaken for a National Park.

Some visitors prefer it.

October: New England

Peak foliage season.

National Parks

• Acadia

Unofficial National Parks

• White Mountains
• Green Mountains

Cities

• Boston
• Portland
• Burlington

November: New York and Pennsylvania

The month of the Adirondacks.

Unofficial National Parks

• Adirondack Park
• Catskill Park
• Poconos

National Recreation Areas

• Delaware Water Gap

Cities

• New York City
• Albany

The Adirondacks become the centerpiece of the argument that National Park status is not the only successful conservation model.

December: Mid-Atlantic and Appalachia

National Parks

• Shenandoah
• New River Gorge
• Great Smoky Mountains
• Mammoth Cave
• Cuyahoga Valley

Historical Parks

• Gettysburg
• Antietam
• Harpers Ferry
• Appomattox

Cities

• Philadelphia
• Washington
• Pittsburgh

An ideal finale combining history and landscapes.

The Future National Parks

The most fascinating part of such a trip might actually be visiting places that are not National Parks yet.

Several areas are frequently mentioned as future additions.

Ocmulgee Mounds (Georgia)

This is currently one of the strongest candidates.

The site preserves thousands of years of Native American history and would represent an important addition to the eastern park system.

Chiricahua National Monument (Arizona)

Probably the landscape most people describe as “already a National Park.”

Many visitors assume it is one.

Delaware Water Gap

Already managed by the National Park Service.

Its scenery, visitation levels, and proximity to major population centers make it a logical candidate.

Apostle Islands

The Great Lakes remain underrepresented in the National Park System.

Apostle Islands would add maritime history, sea caves, lighthouses, and unique freshwater ecosystems.

Driftless Area

Stretching across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, this geological region was untouched by the last glaciers and contains unique terrain unlike anything else in the Midwest.

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

The National Park System may be America’s greatest idea, but some of our most remarkable landscapes exist outside the official National Park designation.

The Adirondacks, White Mountains, Poconos, Catskills, and Black Hills all demonstrate that conservation can take many forms.

If anything, the Adirondacks remind us that wilderness preservation is not solely a federal project. Sometimes a state, through foresight and political will, can create something every bit as remarkable as a National Park.

And if I ever take that six-month road trip, the Adirondacks will be near the top of my list, even if the sign at the entrance doesn’t say, “National Park.”

What if we’ve been thinking about America’s park system backwards?

Instead of asking why the Adirondacks aren’t a National Park, perhaps we should ask whether the National Park model is merely one of many successful ways to conserve great landscapes.

The Adirondacks, Catskills, White Mountains, Black Hills, Boundary Waters, and countless state parks demonstrate that conservation can succeed under state, federal, local, tribal, and mixed ownership models. The sign at the entrance matters far less than whether the landscape remains intact for future generations.

Standard Disclaimer

These writings and musings are entirely my own and the product of my overactive imagination and is based on my 70 years of lived experience, including 27 years of service in the US State Department as a Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) working in ten countries and DC, as well as travel to all 50 States, DC, and PR, and travel to 45 countries, and living in Alexandria, VA. Bangkok, Berkeley, DC,  Bridgetown, Barbados, Mumbai (Bombay), Medford, Oregon, Seattle, Yakima, Washington and Stockton. California.   Along the way, I married the lady of my dreams, learned to speak Korean, Spanish, and Thai. I retired in 2016 and have been splitting my time between Korea, Oregon, and DC, and am moving back to Alexandria this summer.

My writing tends to be neo-beatnik or outlaw poetry style, or wild SciFi speculations or political rants. Some people will be offended by some of my writing, but rest assured that is never my intention.

These reflections are based on decades of exploring the national wonders of the US.

I have been using AI tools (Chat GP3,  Claude, Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT , pfr research,and editing for grammar, punctuation, and spelling, the words are all mine.

The End

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