The National Park System of the United States is administered by the National Park Service, a bureau of the Department of the Interior. Started with the establishment of Yellowstone National Park on March 1, 1872, the system includes not only the most extraordinary and spectacular scenic exhibits in the United States, but also a large number of sites distinguished for their historic or prehistoric importance, scientific interest, or superior recreational assets. The National Park System is made up of 388 areas covering more than 84 million acres in every state except Delaware. It also includes areas in the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. A list of the areas follows, excluding those without “national” status.

The following are the top ten wildlife viewing National Parks:

Channel Islands National Park, California	Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
Denali National Park, Alaska	Glacier National Park, Montana
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming	Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota	Big Bend National Park, Texas
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan	Everglades National Park, Florida

These parks represent a cross section of the North American habitats that once spread continuously across the continent. Some of these parks, like Rocky Mountain National Park, make great viewing spots because they are rich, wild environments where wildlife thrives on abundant resources. Others, like Big Bend, are harsher habitats, where animals have had to adapt in unique ways to scarcity. Whichever park you choose, encounters with animals in the wild are bound to be a thrill. You will be entranced with their beauty and grace, and their ability to survive, against all odds, in the modern world. Want to know how to get to all these parks? Check out our section on the US Interstate Highway System .