The 63 National Park Challenge

Have you ever stood in a National Park and thought, How could anything be this beautiful? That’s how our journey began. With a deep love for hiking, nature, and adventure, we decided to challenge ourselves to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks and hike in each one.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or planning your first park visit, we hope our stories inspire you to launch your own National Park Challenge. Because once you get a taste of what’s out there, it’s hard to stop!

We’re inviting you along for the journey. We’ll share what we’ve learned, what we’ve loved, and what has surprised us most. Most importantly, we hope our stories inspire you to take on your own adventure, whether it’s one national park or all 63!

WHAT Are The 63 National Parks

The 63 U.S. National Parks are federally protected areas designated by Congress and managed by the National Park Service (NPS). These parks are chosen for their natural beauty, unique geological features, diverse ecosystems, recreational opportunities, and cultural or historical significance.

Key Characteristics of National Parks:

• Established by Congress:
  Unlike other NPS units, National Parks are officially designated through legislation passed by the U.S. Congress.
• Highest Protection Level:
  They receive the highest level of conservation and environmental protection to preserve their landscapes, ecosystems, and wildlife.
• Public Enjoyment:
  National Parks are open to the public for activities like hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, and photography, often featuring extensive visitor infrastructure like trails, ranger programs, and educational exhibits.
• Natural and Cultural Significance:
  They often preserve iconic American landscapes (like the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone) or important historical and cultural sites (like Mesa Verde or Hot Springs).
• Part of the Larger NPS System:
  While there are over 400 NPS units (including monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and seashores), only 63 carry the formal title of “National Park.”

WHERE Are the 63 National Parks?

The 63 U.S. National Parks span across 30 states and 2 U.S. territories, offering a rich tapestry of landscapes, from mountain peaks and desert canyons to volcanic islands and open prairies.

To make this challenge easier to navigate, and hopefully inspire your own travel planning, we’ve organized the parks by state. Each state is listed in alphabetical order, followed by the two U.S. Territories at the end.

Each national park is listed under its respective state with a placeholder link to its individual story. As we visit and explore each park, we’ll update the list with live links that take you directly to our detailed stories. In each story, you’ll find our favorite hikes, what we learned along the way, mindset reflections inspired by the experience, and the unique features we loved most about that particular national park.

🌲 National Parks by State (Alphabetical)

Alaska (8 National Parks)

FUN FACT! Alaska is home to the largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias, which is six times the size of Yellowstone.

Denali National Park

Gates of The Arctic National Park

Glacier Bay National Park

Katmai National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park

Kobuk Valley National Park

Lake Park National Park

Wrangell – St. Elias National Park

Arizona (3 National Parks)

FUN FACT! The Grand Canyon is so massive it creates its own weather systems within the park.

Grand Canyon National Park

Petrified Forest National Park

Saguaro National Park

Arkansas (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Hot Springs National Park is nicknamed “The American Spa” and is the only national park with a brewery that uses thermal spring water.

Hot Springs National Park

California (9 National Parks)

FUN FACT! California leads in numbers, with more national parks (9) than any other state, offering everything from desert valleys to redwood forests.

Channel Islands National Park

Death Valley National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

Kings Canyon National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Pinnacle National Park

Redwood National Park

Sequoia National Park

Yosemite National Park

Colorado (4 National Parks)

FUN FACT! Rocky Mountain National Park contains more than 60 mountain peaks over 12,000 feet, including the iconic Longs Peak.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Mesa Verde National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

Florida (3 National Parks)

FUN FACT! Everglades National Park is the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles coexist in the wild.

Biscayne National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park

Everglades National Park

Hawaii (2 National Parks)

FUN FACT! Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park features one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kīlauea.

Haleakala National Park

Volcano National Park

Indiana (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Indiana Dunes National Park boasts more plant species per acre than any other national park, thanks to its unique location on Lake Michigan.

Indiana Dunes National Park

Kentucky (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system in the world, with over 426 miles explored and counting.

Mammoth Cave National Park

Maine (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Acadia National Park was the first national park established east of the Mississippi River.

Acadia National Park

Michigan (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Isle Royale is the most remote U.S. national park in the Lower 48 and is only accessible by boat or seaplane.

Isle Royale National Park

Minnesota (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Voyageurs National Park is more water than land, making it perfect for exploring by kayak or houseboat.

Voyageurs National Park

Missouri (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Gateway Arch National Park is the smallest national park by land area, yet it holds the tallest manmade monument in the U.S.

Gateway Arch National Park

Montana (2 National Parks – See Yellowstone)

FUN FACT! Glacier National Park is part of the first international peace park, shared with Canada’s Waterton Lakes.

Glacier National Park

Nevada (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Great Basin National Park is home to some of the world’s oldest living organisms—bristlecone pines over 4,000 years old.

Great Basin National Park

New Mexico (2 National Parks)

FUN FACT! Carlsbad Caverns contains a chamber so large it’s called the Big Room, and it’s big enough to fit six football fields.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

White Sands National Park

North Dakota (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Theodore Roosevelt National Park is the only park named after a U.S. president and helped inspire Roosevelt’s conservation legacy.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Ohio (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Cuyahoga Valley National Park once had a polluted river that caught fire and now it’s a thriving example of environmental restoration.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Oregon (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Crater Lake National Park features the deepest lake in the U.S., formed from the collapse of Mount Mazama 7,700 years ago.

Crater Lake National Park

South Carolina (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Congaree National Park protects the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern U.S.

Congaree National Park

South Dakota (2 National Parks)

FUN FACT! Badlands National Park has one of the richest fossil beds in the world, preserving the remains of ancient horses and rhinos.

Badlands National Park

Wind Cave National Park

Tennessee (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the U.S., drawing over 12 million people annually.

Great Smoky Mountains (Shared with North Carolina)

Texas (2 National Parks)

FUN FACT! Big Bend is one of the darkest night sky parks in the U.S., making it a haven for stargazing and astrophotography.

Big Bend National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Utah (5 National Parks)

FUN FACT! Utah’s “Mighty 5” national parks are all within a day’s drive of each other, forming one of the most scenic road trips in the country.

Arches National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Capitol Reef National Park

Zion National Park

Virginia (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Shenandoah National Park offers over 500 miles of hiking trails, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail.

Shenandoah National Park

Washington (3 National Parks)

FUN FACT! North Cascades National Park contains more glaciers than Glacier National Park, earning it the nickname “American Alps.”

Mount Rainier National Park

North Cascades National Park

Olympic National Park

West Virginia (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! New River Gorge is one of the newest national parks, designated in 2020, and is world-famous for whitewater rafting.

New River Gorge National Park

Wyoming (2 National Parks)

FUN FACT! Yellowstone, the first national park in the world, sits on top of a super volcano with over 10,000 geothermal features.

Grand Teton National Park

Yellowstone National Park (Shared with Montana and Idaho)

American Samoa (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! National Park of American Samoa is the only U.S. national park south of the equator and features tropical rainforest and Samoan culture.

American Samoa National Park

U.S. Virgin Islands (1 National Park)

FUN FACT! Virgin Islands National Park protects over 60% of the island of St. John, including pristine beaches, coral reefs, and historical ruins.

Virgin Islands National Park

HOW We Will Do the National Park Challenge

We didn’t just want to visit each park, we wanted to hike and experience the park firsthand. For us, hiking adds depth, perspective, and a sense of accomplishment to every stop.

We set some personal rules:

Hike in Every Park

Each visit includes at least one hike. Whether it’s 2 miles or 12. We aim to experience the land on foot, not just from the parking lot.

Document Each Visit

Every park will get its own story with photos, trail insights, and reflections. These stories will be linked to this page.

Travel Ethically

We follow Leave No Trace principles, respect wildlife, and honor the land.

No Time Limit, But Full Intention

This is a marathon, not a sprint. We’re in it for the experience, not the speed.

🥾 Featured Hiking Resource: AllTrails

Looking for the best way to stay on track while hiking in National Parks?
AllTrails is our go-to app for discovering, downloading, and navigating hiking trails across the U.S.

📱 Why We Love It:

• Offline Access: Download specific trails before entering the park. Perfect for areas with no cell service.
• Real-Time GPS Navigation: Works seamlessly with our Apple Watches, keeping us on course even deep in the backcountry.
• Curated Trail Lists: Easy to find the best hikes based on distance, elevation, and user reviews.

🧭 Whether we’re climbing mountains, trekking through forests, or strolling scenic overlooks, AllTrails helps us stay safe and prepared and makes every hike more enjoyable.

🔗 Check it out here: AllTrails Website

For a full list of the resources we use in our travels, please visit our Travel Resources page.

Mind Set On Travel Disclaimer

Mind Set On Travel contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of our links, we may receive compensation from the company at no additional cost to you. Read our disclaimer here.

Creating the Right Mindset for the Challenge

Let’s be honest: 63 parks is a big challenge. We’re approaching this challenge with:

• Curiosity
• Gratitude
• Flexibility
• Mindfulness

We’re not trying to rush through these parks, we’re walking with intention, one trail at a time.

Some parks are remote. Some trails are tough. Some weather is…not ideal. But mindset changes everything.

WHY We are Sharing this Challenge

We’re sharing our National Parks Challenge because we believe in the power of inspiration, connection, and shared knowledge.

This journey isn’t just about checking places off a list, it’s about discovering the beauty of nature, learning from each experience, and growing through adventure.

By documenting our hikes, reflections, and favorite moments in each park, we hope to inspire others to explore more intentionally, embrace a mindset of curiosity and wonder, and maybe even take on a challenge of their own.

Final Thoughts: A Challenge Worth Taking

Whether you’re a weekend hiker, a road tripper, or someone just curious about the outdoors, there’s a place for you in the National Parks. You don’t have to do all 63 to experience the magic. Just choose one and get started!

So here we go! 63 parks. 63 stories. 63 opportunities to explore with purpose, hike with presence, and celebrate every step along the way. Through Mind Set On Travel and the Celebrate All Wins mindset, this challenge isn’t just about checking off parks, it’s about deepening our connection to nature, honoring the journey, and finding joy in every experience, big or small!

🥾 Ready to Begin Your Own National Park Adventure?

Feeling inspired to hit the trails? We’ve rounded up our go-to gear, planning tools, and favorite apps to help you explore all 63 National Parks with confidence.

✈️ Visit our TRAVEL RESOURCES page to see the trusted essentials we use to make every park visit smooth, safe, and unforgettable!

We’ll see you on the trail!

🗺️ Tip: Bookmark this page so you can return as new stories are added and new parks are explored!

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