Years to Your

24/05/2024

A new addition to the United States' lineup of national parks (it was established in 2013), Pinnacles is one of the only places on the North American continent where you can see the endangered California condor—famous for its almost 10-foot wingspan—fly free.

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24/05/2024

This group of five islands off the California coast—Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel—is often referred to as the "Galapagos of North America" due to their endemic plants and plentiful wildlife. Beyond animals, the oldest human bones on the continent (dating back to 13,000 BCE) were found on Santa Rosa Island. These remains were named the Arlington Springs Man.

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24/05/2024

Usually, national parks are found in the wilderness, not in the middle of a city. But St. Louis' 192-acre Gateway Arch National Park is right in the heart of downtown, making it the country's smallest national park.

And there are some optical tricks at play here, too. Despite how it might look, the riverfront arch is exactly as wide as it is tall (630 feet). That is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty!

24/05/2024

Did you know that 95 percent of Biscayne National Park is located underwater? Here, you'll find no fewer than 44 documented shipwrecks, though there are hundreds more yet to be discovered.

Some date back to the 1500s, but only six of the wrecks have been mapped for divers to explore.

24/05/2024

Acadia is home to the East Coast's tallest peak, Cadillac Mountain, which measures up to 1,530 feet. It's also the first place you can spot the sunrise in America from early October to March.

And that's not all! Acadia happens to be "the first national park created from private lands gifted to the public through the efforts of conservation-minded citizens," according to the National Park Service.

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24/05/2024

In 1916, sisters Esther and Elizabeth Burnell first visited Rocky Mountain National Park. They loved it so much that they trained to become the first female naturalists certified by the National Park Service. After that, Esther snowshoed 30 miles across the Continental Divide, and Elizabeth spearheaded the park's trail school for more than a decade.

24/05/2024

This park on the shore of Lake Michigan may be known for its sand dunes, but it's also home to savannas, marshes, prairies, forests, swamps, and more within its 15,000 acres. In fact, it's actually one of the most biodiverse areas on the continent, with more plant and animal species than Hawaii.

24/05/2024

Instead of being named after the color of its rocks—as one might think—this Colorado national park is called "Black Canyon" for the way the sunlight hits it. Because the canyon walls are 2,722 feet tall in the deepest part, the rays only reach the very bottom for 33 minutes each day.

24/05/2024

There's one fairly unusual activity you can participate in while you're here: fruit picking. The national park in Utah has 1,900 fruit trees, including apple, pear, peach, and cherry trees. Visitors are allowed to pick and eat the fru