23. Death Valley, California and Nevada
> Recreational visits, 2021: 1,146,551 (or 1.24% of all NP visits)
> Known for: Record summer heat and being located below sea level
22. Badlands, South Dakota
> Recreational visits, 2021: 1,224,226 (or 1.33% of all NP visits)
> Known for: Layered rock formations, steep canyons, and towering spires
21. Hawaii Volcanoes, Hawaii
> Recreational visits, 2021: 1,262,747 (or 1.52% of all NP visits)
> Known for: KÄ«lauea and Mauna Loa – two of the world’s most active volcanoes
20. Capitol Reef, Utah
> Recreational visits, 2021: 1,405,353 (or 0.015% of all NP visits)
> Known for: Waterpocket Fold, a geologic wrinkle on earth, and very clear dark night skies
19. Shenandoah, Virginia
> Recreational visits, 2021: 1,592,312 (or 1.73% of all NP visits)
> Known for: Cascading waterfalls, spectacular views, and fields of wildflowers
18. Mount Rainier, Washington
> Recreational visits, 2021: 1,670,063 (or 1.81% of all NP visits)
> Known for: Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier is an active volcano and the most glaciated peak in the contiguous US
17. New River Gorge, West Virginia
> Recreational visits, 2021: 1,682,720 (or 1.82% of all NP visits)
> Known for: New River is among the oldest rivers on the continent
16. Arches, Utah
> Recreational visits, 2021: 1,806,865 (or 1.96% of all NP visits)
> Known for: Having over 2,000 natural stone arches and stunning sunsets
15. Bryce Canyon, Utah
> Recreational visits, 2021: 2,104,600 (or 2.28% of all NP visits)
> Known for: Having the greatest number of hoodoos – irregular columns of rock – on Earth
14. Hot Springs, Arkansas
> Recreational visits, 2021: 2,162,884 (or 2.34% of all NP visits)
> Known for: Ancient thermal springs and historic bathhouses
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