Where Are National Parks Located? Diverse Landscapes Across the U.S.

U.S. national parks span an incredible range of ecosystems and landforms, from towering peaks to submerged coral reefs. Here’s a breakdown of the major environments where they’re found:

Mountains

Yosemite (CA) — granite cliffs, giant sequoias, high alpine meadows.
Rocky Mountain (CO) — continental divide, alpine tundra, glacial valleys.

Forests

Redwood (CA) — tallest trees on Earth, fog-drenched coastal forests.
Great Smoky Mountains (TN/NC) — biodiverse temperate rainforest, ancient Appalachian peaks.

Deserts

Death Valley (CA/NV) — hottest, driest, lowest point in North America (Badwater Basin: −282 ft).
Joshua Tree (CA) — Mojave & Colorado Desert transition, iconic Joshua trees.

Coastal & Marine

Acadia (ME) — rugged granite coast, Cadillac Mountain, island archipelagos.
Biscayne (FL) — coral reefs, mangroves, 95% underwater.

Tundra & Arctic

Gates of the Arctic (AK) — no roads, vast wilderness, caribou migrations, Brooks Range.
Denali (AK) — North America’s tallest peak (20,310 ft), subarctic taiga.

Other Unique Settings

• Volcanic: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Lassen Volcanic
• Cave systems: Mammoth Cave (KY), Carlsbad Caverns (NM)
• Wetlands: Everglades (FL) — largest subtropical wilderness in U.S.
• Badlands: Badlands (SD) — eroded buttes, fossil beds

With 63 national parks (as of 2024), the system protects every major biome in the country — a testament to America’s geographic diversity.