National Parks -- General Information
Don't be Part of the Crowd
Park personnel offer helpful hints for avoiding the crowds during summertime visits to our five most popular national parks: Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Olympic, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.
Entrance Fees and Passports
How to obtain annual passes, senior passes, and disabled passes.Experiencing the National Parks
They offer so much more that just outdoor recreation -- they offer a chance to learn about our nation's diverse history, geography, and culture.Fall Foliage
Check out these resources and fall color hotlines to help plan your trip, send out a free fall postcard, or see the latest foliage cam images.The Gift of Nature
Holiday gift ideas ranging from the simple to the creative, but all focusing on nature and our national and state parks.History of the National Parks
The establishment of the National Park Service and its subsequent development.Interview with National Park Service Personnel
Learn what it's like to work in the Office of Communications as a Public Affairs Specialist, in the first of a series of interviews with NPS staff.Jobs at National Parks
Some basics on applying for a job at a national park or at other federal land agencies, where to find lists of job announcements, and more.Lodging at U.S. National Parks
From Yellowstone's historic Old Faithful Inn to the more recently refurbished Crater Lake Lodge, you'll find links to all the hotels, lodges, and inns located inside the national parks.The National Christmas Tree
From Calvin Coolidge to Bill Clinton, the ceremony of lighting the National Tree at the White House has been an unbroken tradition of U.S. Presidents.New National Parks Pass
Here's a list of frequently asked questions about the new National Parks Pass that will be available in mid-April.New Year's Resolutions
Some environmentally friendly ideas to get you outdoors in the new year.Park Classification
The process of adding and classifying new units in the National Park System.Park Quizzes
How well do you really know your parks? Test your knowledge of nature, history, and geography with these four 15-question quizzes on national and state parks.Parks as Classrooms
A program to introduce national park resources to students and teachers.Photographing the National Parks
Professional landscape photographer Kim Steinbacher offers some suggestions on how to capture that memorable park scenery on film.
Polling Questions
Cast a vote on important issues involving our national and state parks.President Clinton's Monumental Decision
Three new national monuments proclaimed in Arizona and California under the controversial Antiquities Act of 1906.Publications and Maps
How to obtain publications, maps, and other literature from the National Park Service.Reservation Services
How to make online reservations for campgrounds and tours at 26 national parks.Traveling with Pets
National Park Service regulations on bringing your pets.Volunteer Opportunities
Learn about the National Park Service's Volunteer in Parks (VIP) Program and other chances to enjoy the outdoors while giving something in return.Who Wants to be a Parkologist?
Ever wonder what "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" might look like if there were only questions about national and state parks? Test your skill and find out how you would do.
Working at the National Park Service
First of a two-part interview with Dennis Burnett, Law Enforcement Program Manager for the National Park Service.Working at the National Park Service
Second of a two-part interview with Dennis Burnett, Law Enforcement Program Manager for the National Park Service.
Other Public Lands
American Heritage Rivers
A federal initiative to protect and preserve rivers of cultural, historic, recreational, and environmental value.Bureau of Land Management
Book review of Beyond the National Parks: A Recreation Guide to Public Lands in the West, an informative guide to the 265 million acres of wild lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management.International Biosphere Reserves
A UNESCO program that recognizes more than 300 sites worldwide, including 29 of our national parks.National Estuaries
Safeguarding some of our nation's most important coastal waters.National Marine Sanctuaries
Protecting distinctive natural and cultural resources of the marine environment.Wild and Scenic Rivers
Learn about our nation's system of wild, scenic, and recreational rivers.
Historical Parks and Events
Abraham Lincoln
Learn all about the president with the most national parks named in his honor.Arlington House - The Robert E. Lee Memorial
Commemorates the life of this important figure in American history.Clara Barton National Historic Site
Commemorates the life of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross.Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
Preserves the area's aviation heritage associated with Wilbur and Orville Wright, and honors the life and work of Paul Laurence Dunbar.Earth Day 2001
Celebrating the 31st Anniversary of one man's vision of bringing the environmental movement into mainstream culture.Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
Interpreting the mysterious disappearance of "The Lost Colony" of Roanoke.Fort Smith National Historic Site
Site commemorates a significant phase of America’s westward expansion, and stands today as a reminder of 80 turbulent years in the history of Federal Indian policy.Golden Spike National Historic Site
The 130th Anniversary of the driving of the golden spike, marking the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad -- one of the most important events in U.S. history.Independence National Historical Park
Preserves much of our Colonial, Revolutionary, and Federal-period heritage, including Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and where the US Constitution was created.Johnstown Flood National Memorial
Learn about one of the greatest disasters in American history in which more than 2,000 people were killed.Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
Commemorates the life of prominent African-American who achieved success in the world of business and finance as the first woman in the United States to establish and serve as president of a bank.Manassas National Battlefield Park
The scene of two major Civil War battles and the place where Confederate Brigadier General Thomas J. Jackson acquired his nickname "Stonewall."Manzanar National Historic Site
Learn about the controversial Manzanar War Relocation Center in eastern California, one of ten camps at which Japanese-American citizens and Japanese aliens were interned during World War II.Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
This Atlanta, GA national historic site commemorates his life, his work, and his legacy.Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Pioneer environmentalist was known as the savior of Florida's Everglades.Memorial Day
Learn about the history of this national holiday and about many of the national park sites that serve to commemorate our nation's armed service personnel who were killed in wartime.Minute Man National Historical Park
Visit the site of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, which touched off the Revolutionary War.Presidents' Day
Origins of the modern holiday and links to presidential sites, including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.Saint Croix Island International Historic Site
The only international historic site designated as a unit of the NPS, it is preserved as a monument to the first year-round settlement established in North America by Europeans.Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island National Monuments
Plan a visit to the park and learn about the the important role this island claimed during the mass migration of humanity to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Washington Monument
Learn about the history and latest restoration effort to preserve the tallest building in Washington DC and a memorial to our nation's first president.The White House
Find out how to arrange a visit and learn some interesting facts about the first 200 years of this famous architectural symbol of the American Presidency.Women's Rights National Historical Park
Commemorates the First Women's Rights Convention and the early leadership in the women's rights movement in the United States.
Scenic Parks
Acadia National Park Travel Planner
Its unique blend of history, culture, and rugged beauty make one of the smallest US national parks one of its most popular.Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
One of the most remote areas in the national park system can be found in northwest Alaska.Big Bend National Park
Fewer visitors, cooler temperatures, wildflowers, and an international festival make October a great time to visit this mountain and desert park on the Mexican border.Big Bend National Park Travel Planner
Situated on the boundary with Mexico along the Rio Grande, this relatively unknown national park features mountains, desert, and a rich array of plants and animals.Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area
The Cape Florida lighthouse, built in 1825, is the oldest structure in South Florida.H2O + More H2O = Biscayne National Park
With 95% of its area covered by water, the largest marine park in the National Park System features mangrove shoreline, crystal clear waters, emerald isles, and living coral reefs.Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument
Visit one of the steepest and most rugged canyons in the national park system.Boston Harbor Islands NRA
One of our newest national parks includes 30 islands located just 4-10 miles outside of Boston.Bryce Canyon National Park Travel Planner
This uniquely beautiful park offers a canyon of pinnacles and spires, pure air, bright sunshine, and a panoramic view that averages more than 100 miles of nearly unmarred scenery.Carlsbad Caverns
Learn about the famous "Bat Flights" and a park that features more than 85 known caves, including the nation's deepest limestone cave.Crater Lake National Park
This southern Oregon attraction offers unforgettable scenery, severe weather, and the nation's deepest lake.Cumberland Island National Seashore
A day trip to Georgia's largest barrier island and national seashore.Cuyahoga Valley National Park Travel Planner
Links the urban centers of Cleveland and Akron, preserving the rural character of the Cuyahoga River Valley.
Death Valley National Park
With summertime temperatures reaching 120 degrees, the fall and winter are the best time to visit our country's largest national park outside of Alaska.Delaware State Parks
Delaware may be the only state without a national park, but it includes more than a dozen state parks that feature a variety of natural, historical, and recreational areas.Denali National Park Travel Planner
Featuring North America's highest mountain -- 20,320-foot Mount McKinley -- the park's more than six million acres encompass spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife.Devils Tower National Monument
Our nation's first national monument, featured in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind.Glacier National Park
A travel planner for my favorite US national park, a Montana landscape of rugged mountain beauty, meadows, lakes, forests, and abundant wildlife.
Glacier National Park
An August visit to "The Crown of the Continent."Glacier National Park
Part 2 of an August visit to "The Crown of the Continent."Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Designated both a Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site, the nation's most visited national park covers more than 800 square miles in North Carolina and Tennessee.Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Autumn Colors
Learn when and where to observe the fall colors in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Haleakala National Park Travel Planner
Situated on the island of Maui, park preserves the volcanic landscape of the upper slopes of Haleakala, the unique ecosystems of Kipahulu Valley, the scenic pools along Oheo Gulch, and many rare and endangered species.Hot Springs National Park Travel Planner
The oldest park currently in the National Park System protects 47 hot springs and their watershed, as well as "Bathhouse Row," a National Historic Landmark.Isle Royale National Park Travel Planner
The largest forested island in Lake Superior includes 165 miles of scenic hiking trails and opportunities for wildlife observation.Joshua Tree National Park Travel Planner
Two large desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together here to vividly illustrate the contrast between high and low desert.Mammoth Cave National Park Travel Planner
Plan a visit to the national park that features the longest recorded cave system in the world with more than 336 miles explored and mapped.National Park of American Samoa
Two rain forest preserves and a coral reef are home to unique tropical animals including the Flying Fox, Pacific Boa, tortoises, and an array of birds and fish.Olympic National Park Travel Planner
Plan a visit to this Washington park that includes more than 60 miles of wild Pacific coastline, glacier-capped mountains, and stands of old-growth and temperate rain forest.Russell Cave National Monument:
Trace southern prehistory back 9,000 years and explore a "wild" cave at this Alabama park.Underwater Adventures in the Virgin Islands
If you're tired of the heat this summer, maybe it's time to cool off in the Tropics.White Sands National Monument
Preserves a portion of the world's largest gypsum dunefield, along with the plants and animals that have adapted to this environment.Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Located in the "mountain kingdom of North America," park covers 13.2 million acres, including 8.7 million acres of wilderness area.Zion National Park Travel Planner
Park includes sheer, vividly-colored cliffs and deep canyons, one of the last mostly free-flowing river systems on the Colorado Plateau, and the richest diversity of plants in Utah.
State Parks
The Best of the Best State Parks
Find out which are the best state parks in terms of scenery, and cultural and historical significance, as selected by the directors of each state park system.
The Best of the Best Winter State Parks
The most outstanding state parks in the United States as selected by each of the 50 state park agency directors.
Trails & Byways
Celebrating America's Trails
The first Saturday every June is designated National Trails Day. Learn about the many activities that take place on that day and how you can get involved with helping to build and maintain our national system of trails.The Millennium Trails
A national initiative to recognize our nation's most outstanding trails in terms of scenery, culture, and history.National Scenic Byways
A program to recognize the nation's most scenic, historic, and cultural routes.The National Trails Program - Part I
Learn all about the history and development of our National Trails Program through an interview with Steve Elkinton, Program Leader for the National Trails System.The National Trails Program - Part II
Steve Elkinton, Program Leader for the National Trails System, discusses the American Discovery Trail, the Rails to Trails Program, and some of the best trail spots to visit.The National Trails System
A cooperative venture to link natural, historic, and cultural resources throughout the country.The Trans Canada Trail
This 16,000-kilometer trail, which passes through every Canadian province and territory, accommodates walkers, cyclists, horseback riders, cross-country skiers, as well as snowmobilers.
Canadian Parks
Canadian Park Passes
Information on seasonal and annual entrance passes to Canadian national parks and historic sites.