National Parks
Most units of the National Park Service have been established by an act of Congress, with the president confirming the action by signing the act into law.
A potential park should meet all four of the following standards:
- It is an outstanding example of a particular type of resource.
- It possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the natural or cultural themes of our Nation’s heritage.
- It offers superlative opportunities for recreation, for public use and enjoyment, or for scientific study.
- It retains a high degree of integrity as a true, accurate, and relatively unspoiled example of the resource.
National Parks
The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations.
The NPS is charged with a dual role of preserving the ecological and historical integrity of the places entrusted to its management, while also making them available and accessible for public use and enjoyment.
As of 2018, the NPS employs approximately 27,000 employees who oversee 419 units, of which 61 are designated national parks.
Yellowstone National Park was the first national park in the United States. In 1872, there was no state government to manage it, so the federal government assumed direct control. Yosemite National Park began as a state park; the land for the park was donated by the federal government to the state of California in 1864 for perpetual conservation. Yosemite was later returned to federal ownership.
Below is a list of the National Parks, National Monuments, National Historic Sites, National Wildlife Refuges, and National Recreations Areas located within the states in the Southwest, which include Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
Arizona National Parks and Sites
Related Content >> Arizona State Parks
Arizona National Heritage Areas
Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area
Arizona National Historic Sites
Fort Bowie National Historic Site
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
Tumacacori National Historical Park
Arizona National Monuments
Agua Fria National Monument
Canyon De Chelly National Monument
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Chiricahua National Monument
Coronado National Memorial
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
Hohokam Pima National Monument
Ironwood Forest National Monument
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Navajo National Monument
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Pipe Spring National Monument
Sonoran Desert National Monument
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Tonto National Monument
Tuzigoot National Monument
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Wupatki National Monument
Arizona National Parks
Grand Canyon National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Saguaro National Park
Arizona National Recreation Areas
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (see Nevada too)
Arizona Wildlife Refuges
Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
Cabeza Peieta National Wildlife Refuge
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge
San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge
California National Parks and Sites
Related Content >> California State Parks
California National Historic Sites
Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site
Fort Point National Historic Site
John Muir National Historic Site
Manzanar National Historic Site
California National Historical Park
Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
California National Memorial
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
California National Monuments
Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument
California Coastal National Monument
Carrizo Plain National Monument
Castle Mountains National Monument
César E Chávez National Monument
Devils Postpile National Monument
Fort Ord National Monument
Giant Sequoia National Monument
Lava Beds National Monument
Mojave Trails National Monument
Muir Woods National Monument
San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
Sand to Snow National Monument
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
California National Parks
Channel Islands National Park
Death Valley National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Pinnacles National Park
Redwood National and State Parks
Sequoia National Park
Yosemite National Park
California National Preserve
Mojave National Preserve
California Recreation Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore
California Recreation Areas
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Smith River National Recreation Area
Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area
Colorado National Parks and Sites
Colorado National Historic Sites
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
Colorado National Monuments
Browns Canyon National Monument
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
Chimney Rock National Monument
Colorado National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Hovenweep National Monument
Yucca House National Monument
Colorado National Parks
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Mesa Verde National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Colorado National Recreation Areas
Arapaho National Recreation Area
Curecanti National Recreation Area
Idaho National Parks and Sites
Idaho National Historic Park
Nez Perce National Historical Park
Idaho National Historic Site
Minidoka National Historic Site
Idaho National Monument
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Idaho National Recreation Area
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Idaho National Reserve
City of Rocks National Reserve
Nevada National Parks and Sites
Nevada is home to 3 National Monuments, 2 National Parks, and 1 Recreation Area.
RELATED ARTICLE >>> Nevada State Parks
National Monuments in Nevada
Basin and Range National Monument
Gold Butte National Monument
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
National Parks in Nevada
Death Valley National Park (see California too)
Great Basin National Park
National Recreation Area in Nevada
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (see Arizona too)
National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada
Anaho Island National Wildlife Refuge
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Fallon National Wildlife Refuge
Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge
Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge
Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge
New Mexico National Parks and Sites
New Mexico National Heritage Area
Northern Rio Grand National Heritage Area
New Mexico National Monument
Aztec Ruins National Monument
Bandelier National Monument
Capulin Volcano National Monument
El Malpais National Monument
El Morro National Monument
Fort Union National Monument
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
Petroglyph National Monument
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
White Sands National Monument
New Mexico National Historic Parks
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Pecos National Historical Park
New Mexico National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Oregon National Parks and Sites
Oregon National Historic Site
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
Oregon National Monument
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
Oregon National Parks
Crater Lake National Park
Oregon National Recreation Area
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Texas National Parks and Sites
Texas National Historic Site and Parks
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Texas National Memorial
Chamizal National Memorial
Texas National National Monument
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
Waco Mammoth National Monument
Texas National Parks
Big Bend National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Texas National Preserve
Big Thicket National Preserve
Texas National Recreation Area
Amistad National Recreation Area
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
Texas National Scenic River
Rio Grande National Wild & Scenic River
Texas National Seashore
Padre Island National Seashore
Utah National Parks and Sites
Related Content >> Utah State Parks
Utah National Historic Site
Golden Spike National Historic Site
Utah National Monuments
Bears Ears National Monument
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Hovenweep National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
Utah National Parks
Arches National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Zion National Park
Utah National Recreation Areas
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Utah National Wildlife Refuges
Bear River National Wildlife Refuge
Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge
Ouray National Wildlife Refuge
Wyoming National Parks and Sites
Wyoming Historic Site
Fort Laramie National Historic Site
Wyoming Memorial Parkway
John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway
Wyoming National Monuments
Devils Tower National Monument
Fossil Butte National Monument
Wyoming National Parks
Grand Teton National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Wyoming National Recreation Areas
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
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