Boasting the beauty and vastness of the natural world, National Parks have become prized centers for all types of people, from hikers to tourists. There are 63 national parks in 30 states and two US territories scattered around the United States. But which one is the biggest? Keep reading to figure out the biggest National Park in the US, alongside other incredible parks.
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How National Parks are Designated
National Parks in the United States are designated between the National Park Service (NPS) and Congress. First, the NPS conducts studies to determine the quality of the area and its significance. Then, Congress passes legislation to authorize the creation of a national park, with committees to decide more specific information about the park.
National parks are usually large natural areas with favorable attributes like unique geological features, diverse ecosystems, and recreational opportunities. They are managed by the federal government, with hunting and extractive activities prohibited on the premises. Today, these parks are visited by millions each year and continue to draw more interest from both the tourist and scientific world.
The Biggest National Park in the US
It’s no surprise that the biggest National Park in the US resides in Alaska. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is in south-central Alaska, covering 13.2 million acres. This includes most of the highest peaks in the United States between the Wrangell Mountains and the Saint Elias Mountains. The highest point in the park is Mount Saint Elias, at 18,008 feet.
Shaped by competing forces of volcanism and glaciation, some of the park’s features include the Malaspina Glacier, Hubbard Glacier, and Nabesna Glacier. The Bagley Icefield covers much of the park’s interior, and at the center is the abandoned boomtown of Kennecott, comprising a National Historic Landmark.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve was established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act following its designation as a National Monument in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter. Today the park is visited annually by over 70,000 people from across the world.
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Other Big National Parks in the US
While Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is quite renowned for its size; there are several other National Parks in the United States that cover millions of acres. Below are the next four largest National Parks, with the Gates of the Arctic, Denali, and Katmai also residing in Alaska. Death Valley National Park is the only one in the top five outside of Alaska, spread across California and Nevada.
- Gates of the Arctic (8.4 million acres)
- Denali (6 million acres)
- Katmai (4 million acres)
- Death Valley (3.3 million acres)
The Smallest National Park in the US
The Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Missouri, is the smallest National Park in the US, covering just 91 acres, which is less than 2% of the size of the next biggest National Park, the Hot Springs. Initially a National Memorial, the Arch commemorates the Louisiana Purchase, the westward movement of American explorers, the first civil government west of the Mississippi River, and the debate over slavery raised by the Dred Scott case.
Other than the Arch, the park also features the Mississippi River, the Old Courthouse, and the 140,000-square-foot museum. The Gateway Arch was completed on October 28, 1965, and has since been maintained by the National Park Service.
The Biggest National Park in the World
While you may think the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is huge; it’s nothing compared to the largest National Park in the world. This title belongs to the Northeast Greenland National Park, covering a whopping 240 million acres. Established in 1974, the park protects the interior and northeastern coast of Greenland and is larger than the area of Tanzania, also making it larger than 166 of the world’s 195 countries.
The Northeast Greenland National Park is the only national park in Greenland, the first national park to be created in the Kingdom of Denmark, and the northernmost national park in the world.
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The Largest State Parks in the US
Looking for a large State Park to explore instead of a National Park? Check out these five largest State Parks in the United States, located on both the East and West Coasts:
- Adirondack Park (NY) – 6 million acres
- Smith Rock State Park (OR) – 650,000 acres
- Anza-Borrego Desert (CA) – 640,000 acres
- Chugach State Park (AL) – 495,000 acres
- Kachemak Bay (AL) – 400,000 acres
Bottom Line
National Parks are an amazing feature no matter where you are in the world, preserving the natural world and so many incredible species. Whether it’s the biggest or the smallest park, each one has a unique identity that must preserved for generations to come. If you ever want to take a chance at exploring some of these natural wonders, make sure to add the biggest National Park in the US to your list.
