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National Parks That Have Grown Most in Popularity Since 1980

National Parks That Have Grown Most in Popularity Since 1980

Perhaps one silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for people who love the outdoors, is that people were forced to spend more time outside. According to a OnePoll survey from September 2020, about 60% of the 2,000 participants said they did not appreciate nature as much as they should have before the pandemic. About 40% said they had actually become more physically active, engaging in outdoor activities.

For most of 2020, people were asked to avoid getting together or meeting indoors. Instead, many turned to parks. As health officials discouraged nonessential travel, international tourism nearly screeched to a halt, and some parks closing for a portion of the year, visitations to national parks fell by about a third in 2020 compared to 2019. Still, millions of Americans ventured out into the wilderness.

To identify the national parks that have grown in popularity, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on the change in recreational visits between 1980 and 2020 published in the National Park Service’s annual visitation report.

The vast majority of parks on this list gained popularity up through 2019, but visits dropped in 2020 as access was restricted due to COVID-19 and attendance dropped. For example, recreational visits to the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska increased from merely 95,000 in 1980 to over 672,000 in 2019 but dropped to nearly 6,000 in 2020.

Another national park in Alaska had a similar fate. More than 216,000 people visited Denali National Park and Preserve. The number of visitors grew to more than 601,000 in 2019, only to collapse to about 55,000 in 2020.

Over the last four decades, the list of the most popular national parks every year has remained largely unchanged with Great Smoky Mountains along the North Carolina and Tennessee border topping the charts every year. These all-time favorite parks have seen 20% to 50% growth in the number of visits over the years. Other parks that are somewhat less popular, however, have seen a growth of more than 700%.

Exploring the wilderness, hiking through mountains, and sleeping under the stars are just some of the nature experiences these parks have to offer, often free of charge. And these are the national parks that had the most visitors in 2020.

Methodology

To identify the national parks that have grown in popularity, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on the change in recreational visits between 1980 and 2020 published in the National Park Service’s annual visitation report. The NPS aggregates visitation data for various government land designations and visitation purposes. Only National Parks (NP) and National Parks and Preserves (NP & PRES) were considered in our analysis.

To avoid double counting land area, designations such as national monuments and historic sites, which are frequently contained within national parks and are often limited to single structures, were excluded.

Visitation data for each park for 2019 was also obtained from the NPS.

Gates of the Arctic NP & PRES, Kenai Fjords NP, Kobuk Valley NP, Lake Clark NP & PRES were excluded because they were officially established as national parks on Dec. 2, 1980 and were not in the NPS data for 1980 visits.

Congaree NP and National Park of American Samoa were excluded because they were not officially established as national parks until 2003 and 1988, respectively, and were not in the NPS data for 1980.

NPS did not have recreation visits data for New River Gorge NP & PRES and Wrangell-St. Elias NP & PRES, which were established as national parks in 1978.
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Source: landscapesinthewest / Flickr

55. North Cascades NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -96.1%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 796,079 — 1.48% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 30,885 — 0.05% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 38,208 — 0.04% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 -95.2% — the largest decrease

Source: guldem / Flickr

54. Glacier Bay NP & PRES
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -93.9%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 95,005 — 0.18% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 5,748 — 0.01% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 672,087 — 0.74% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 607.4% — the 4th largest increase

Source: ColorPlayer / iStock via Getty Images

53. Mammoth Cave NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -80.6%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 1,495,787 — 2.77% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 290,392 — 0.43% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 551,590 — 0.61% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 -63.1% — the 3rd largest decrease

Source: Patricia Elaine Thomas / iStock via Getty Images

52. Gateway Arch NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -74.8%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 1,928,825 — 3.58% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 486,021 — 0.72% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 2,055,309 — 2.26% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 6.6% — the 3rd smallest increase

Source: zzvision / Getty Images

51. Denali NP & PRES
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -74.6%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 216,361 — 0.40% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 54,850 — 0.08% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 601,152 — 0.66% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 177.8% — the 16th largest increase

Source: elan7t50 / iStock via Getty Images

50. Carlsbad Caverns NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -72.7%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 672,963 — 1.25% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 183,835 — 0.27% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 440,691 — 0.48% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 -34.5% — the 4th largest decrease

Source: Douglas Rissing / iStock via Getty Images

49. Virgin Islands NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -69.4%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 547,918 — 1.02% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 167,540 — 0.25% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 133,398 — 0.15% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 -75.7% — the 2nd largest decrease

Source: boblinsdell / Flickr

48. Hawaii Volcanoes NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -65.2%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 1,692,338 — 3.14% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 589,775 — 0.87% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 1,368,376 — 1.50% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 -19.1% — the 4th smallest decrease

Source: joeross / Flickr

47. Isle Royale NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -56.6%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 14,977 — 0.03% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 6,493 — 0.01% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 26,410 — 0.03% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 76.3% — the 24th largest increase

Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

46. Kings Canyon NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -49.3%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 819,065 — 1.52% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 415,077 — 0.61% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 632,110 — 0.69% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 -22.8% — the 5th largest decrease

Source: snoofek / iStock via Getty Images

45. Mesa Verde NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -46.7%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 539,257 — 1.00% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 287,477 — 0.42% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 556,203 — 0.61% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 3.1% — the 2nd smallest increase

Source: franckreporter / E+ via Getty Images

44. Redwood NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -43.8%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 471,710 — 0.87% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 265,177 — 0.39% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 504,722 — 0.55% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 7.0% — the 4th smallest increase

Source: andrew_kearns_photography / Flickr

43. Petrified Forest NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -43.7%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 683,121 — 1.27% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 384,483 — 0.57% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 643,588 — 0.71% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 -5.8% — the smallest decrease

Source: davedugdale / Flickr

42. Haleakala NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -43.0%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 560,238 — 1.04% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 319,147 — 0.47% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 994,394 — 1.09% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 77.5% — the 22nd largest increase

Source: vincentsg / Flickr

41. White Sands NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -18.8%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 511,476 — 0.95% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 415,383 — 0.61% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 608,785 — 0.67% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 19.0% — the 8th smallest increase

Source: su-may / Flickr

40. Yosemite NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -8.9%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 2,490,282 — 4.62% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 2,268,313 — 3.34% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 4,422,861 — 4.86% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 77.6% — the 21st largest increase

Source: westernlandscapes / Flickr

39. Mount Rainier NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -8.5%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 1,268,256 — 2.35% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 1,160,754 — 1.71% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 1,501,621 — 1.65% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 18.4% — the 7th smallest increase

Source: Ershov_Maks / iStock via Getty Images

38. Sequoia NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -7.7%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 862,397 — 1.60% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 796,086 — 1.17% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 1,246,053 — 1.37% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 44.5% — the 16th smallest increase

Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

37. Theodore Roosevelt NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -7.5%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 595,734 — 1.10% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 551,303 — 0.81% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 691,658 — 0.76% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 16.1% — the 6th smallest increase

Source: con4tini / Flickr

36. Everglades NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -5.6%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 744,244 — 1.38% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 702,319 — 1.03% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 1,118,300 — 1.23% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 50.3% — the 18th smallest increase

Source: Cheri Alguire / iStock via Getty Images

35. Wind Cave NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -5.2%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 473,061 — 0.88% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 448,405 — 0.66% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 615,350 — 0.68% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 30.1% — the 12th smallest increase

Source: Philippe Gratton / Getty Images

34. Acadia NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -4.0%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 2,779,666 — 5.16% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 2,669,034 — 3.93% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 3,437,286 — 3.78% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 23.7% — the 9th smallest increase

Source: naturenps / Flickr

33. Badlands NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -3.7%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 952,652 — 1.77% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 916,932 — 1.35% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 970,998 — 1.07% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 1.9% — the smallest increase

Source: aparlette / Flickr

32. Shenandoah NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -1.9%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 1,699,228 — 3.15% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 1,666,265 — 2.45% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 1,425,507 — 1.57% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 -16.1% — the 3rd smallest decrease

Source: christinehawks / Flickr

31. Voyageurs NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: -1.4%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 266,935 — 0.50% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 263,091 — 0.39% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 232,974 — 0.26% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 -12.7% — the 2nd smallest decrease

Source: ssedov / Flickr

30. Pinnacles NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 1.3%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 163,626 — 0.30% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 165,740 — 0.24% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 177,224 — 0.19% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 8.3% — the 5th smallest increase

Source: naturenps / Flickr

29. Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 1.6%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 336,119 — 0.62% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 341,620 — 0.50% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 432,818 — 0.48% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 28.8% — the 11th smallest increase

Source: Dean_Fikar / Getty Images

28. Glacier NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 15.2%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 1,474,578 — 2.73% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 1,698,864 — 2.50% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 3,049,839 — 3.35% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 106.8% — the 19th largest increase

Source: 142289055@N04 / Flickr

27. Hot Springs NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 16.2%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 1,160,588 — 2.15% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 1,348,215 — 1.98% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 1,467,153 — 1.61% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 26.4% — the 10th smallest increase

Source: brian-m / Flickr

26. Olympic NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 23.0%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 2,032,418 — 3.77% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 2,499,177 — 3.68% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 3,245,806 — 3.57% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 59.7% — the 20th smallest increase

Source: snowpeak / Flickr

25. Saguaro NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 24.7%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 611,317 — 1.13% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 762,226 — 1.12% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 1,020,226 — 1.12% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 66.9% — the 22nd smallest increase

Source: swampt01 / Flickr

24. Rocky Mountain NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 25.1%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 2,641,937 — 4.90% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 3,305,199 — 4.87% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 4,670,053 — 5.13% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 76.8% — the 23rd largest increase

Source: grand_canyon_nps / Flickr

23. Grand Canyon NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 25.7%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 2,304,973 — 4.27% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 2,897,098 — 4.26% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 5,974,411 — 6.56% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 159.2% — the 18th largest increase

Source: Michael Morse / Getty Images

22. Grand Teton NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 28.7%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 2,555,627 — 4.74% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 3,289,638 — 4.84% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 3,405,614 — 3.74% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 33.3% — the 15th smallest increase

Source: giuseppemilo / Flickr

21. Death Valley NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 32.7%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 618,140 — 1.15% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 820,023 — 1.21% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 1,740,945 — 1.91% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 181.6% — the 15th largest increase

Source: RobertWaltman / iStock via Getty Images

20. Guadalupe Mountains NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 32.9%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 113,825 — 0.21% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 151,256 — 0.22% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 188,833 — 0.21% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 65.9% — the 21st smallest increase

Source: MBRubin / iStock via Getty Images

19. Lassen Volcanic NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 37.5%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 394,425 — 0.73% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 542,274 — 0.80% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 517,039 — 0.57% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 31.1% — the 13th smallest increase

Source: WerksMedia / iStock via Getty Images

18. Great Smoky Mountains NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 43.3%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 8,440,953 — 15.65% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 12,095,720 — 17.81% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 12,547,743 — 13.79% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 48.7% — the 17th smallest increase

Source: Dendron / Getty Images

17. Crater Lake NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 47.3%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 455,143 — 0.84% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 670,500 — 0.99% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 704,512 — 0.77% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 54.8% — the 19th smallest increase

Source: GaryKavanagh / iStock via Getty Images

16. Channel Islands NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 60.0%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 104,574 — 0.19% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 167,290 — 0.25% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 409,630 — 0.45% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 291.7% — the 11th largest increase

Source: jtstewartphoto / iStock via Getty Images

15. Biscayne NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 62.4%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 248,071 — 0.46% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 402,770 — 0.59% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 708,522 — 0.78% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 185.6% — the 14th largest increase

Source: Jon Lauriat / iStock via Getty Images

14. Indiana Dunes NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 87.5%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 1,222,874 — 2.27% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 2,293,106 — 3.38% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 2,134,285 — 2.35% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 74.5% — the 23rd smallest increase

Source: hesyifei / Flickr

13. Yellowstone NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 90.3%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 2,000,269 — 3.71% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 3,806,306 — 5.60% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 4,020,288 — 4.42% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 101.0% — the 20th largest increase

Source: Tim Speer / Getty Images

12. Big Bend NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 126.4%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 174,008 — 0.32% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 393,907 — 0.58% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 463,832 — 0.51% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 166.6% — the 17th largest increase

Source: LordRunar / E+ via Getty Images

11. Bryce Canyon NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 156.3%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 571,541 — 1.06% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 1,464,655 — 2.16% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 2,594,904 — 2.85% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 354.0% — the 7th largest increase

Source: dkm725 / iStock via Getty Images

10. Capitol Reef NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 186.2%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 342,788 — 0.64% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 981,038 — 1.44% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 1,226,519 — 1.35% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 257.8% — the 13th largest increase

Source: Joecho-16 / Getty Images

9. Zion NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 219.6%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 1,123,846 — 2.08% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 3,591,254 — 5.29% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 4,488,268 — 4.93% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 299.4% — the 8th largest increase

Source: collins_family / Flickr

8. Great Sand Dunes NP & PRES
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 224.0%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 142,427 — 0.26% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 461,532 — 0.68% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 527,546 — 0.58% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 270.4% — the 12th largest increase

Source: 4kodiak / iStock via Getty Images

7. Great Basin NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 260.2%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 33,383 — 0.06% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 120,248 — 0.18% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 131,802 — 0.14% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 294.8% — the 10th largest increase

Source: daveynin / Flickr

6. Arches NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 326.2%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 290,519 — 0.54% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 1,238,083 — 1.82% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 1,659,702 — 1.82% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 471.3% — the 5th largest increase

Source: Gfed / E+ via Getty Images

5. Katmai NP & PRES
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 335.6%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 11,824 — 0.02% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 51,511 — 0.08% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 84,167 — 0.09% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 611.8% — the 3rd largest increase

Source: pedrosz / Flickr

4. Joshua Tree NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 340.0%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 545,357 — 1.01% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 2,399,542 — 3.53% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 2,988,547 — 3.28% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 448.0% — the 6th largest increase

Source: dougtone / Flickr

3. Cuyahoga Valley NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 389.2%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 563,300 — 1.04% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 2,755,628 — 4.06% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 2,237,997 — 2.46% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 297.3% — the 9th largest increase

Source: Winand Deerenberg / iStock via Getty Images

2. Dry Tortugas NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 461.6%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 8,644 — 0.02% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 48,543 — 0.07% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 79,200 — 0.09% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 816.2% — the 2nd largest increase

Source: alaneng / Flickr

1. Canyonlands NP
> Change in visits, 1980-2020: 774.1%
> Recreation visits in 1980: 56,505 — 0.10% of all NP recreation visits in 1980
> Recreation visits in 2020: 493,914 — 0.73% of all NP recreation visits in 2020
> Recreation visits in 2019: 733,996 — 0.81% of all NP recreation visits in 2019
> Change in visits, 1980-2019 1,199.0% — the largest increase

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