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100 Years of Our Stunning National Parks

It's the centennial of the magnificent U.S. National Park Service. What better time to pack a map and get hiking? Here are some of the most extraordinary places to explore.

TMI/Alamy

By Brigette SupernovaAug 25, 2016

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-tease_m3wxdb — August 25 marks the 100-year anniversary of the United State’s National Park Service. Under President Woodrow Wilson, the Organic Act was passed in 1916, creating a bureau within the Department of Interior to protect and preserve the scenery, wildlife, and historic landmarks of designated areas around the country and U.S. territories. There are now more than 400 nationally protected areas within the system.

With so many parks and monuments to visit, there are destinations to fulfill the wanderlust and curiosities of every kind of road tripper, explorer, and casual tourist. Some emphasize environmental advocacy, or promote vibrant wildlife education and preservation, others offer adrenaline-fueled recreation. There are locations of notable national cultural and historic heritage, and awe-inspiring sites of pilgrimage. Some are places to simply unplug from the modern world and reconnect with Earth’s tranquility. All are glorious and special in their own unique ways.

Grab your Rand McNally atlas (because smartphone GPS won’t always work in remote locales), pick a travel buddy, and plot your next adventure. And, as the saying goes, “leave only footprints, take only photos” as you pass through these precious locales designated not only for our enrichment but for generations to come.

To celebrate the National Park Services centennial, here are some of the most breathtaking, unexpected, hisotrically significant, and bucket-list worthy locations.

TMI/Alamy

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-yukon_qxrhdq — Yukon-Charley Rivers National Park, Alaska

National Park Service

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-selma_evgdzf — Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Alabama

Everett Collection/Library of Congress

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-sequoia_rccpfp — Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California

Robert Harding/Alamy

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-gila_nlarhz — Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico

Alamy

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-stonewall_sgnll5 — Stonewall National Monument, New York

Alamy

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-smoky_ps62w8 — Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina

Ken Canning/istockphoto

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-lafitte_zuayly — Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana

National Park Service via Instagram

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-puertorico_eripeh — San Juan National Historic Site, Puerto Rico

Dennis van de Water/Shutterstock

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-hawaiivolcanoes_ngqr91 — Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Alamy

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-dc_mw9dd2 — National Mall and Memorial Parks, District of Columbia

istockphoto

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-roosevelt_fr9e5f — Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

The Crowley Company/Library of Congress

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-samoa_cmsmqj — National Park of American Samoa

Robert Harding/Alamy

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-santamonica_msmhzo — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California

National Park Service

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-valor_zsagco — World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, Hawaii

National Park Service

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-rainier_y3vpkh — Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

National Park Service

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-grandcanyon_c9nzeg — Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

istockphoto

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-everglades_bb0fac — Everglades National Park, Florida

Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-kenai_s1gmgc — Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

National Park Service

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-mammoth_clkiff — Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

National Park Service

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-dayton_wxkq9y — Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Ohio

Library of Congress

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-acadia_oj5sjk — Acadia National Park, Maine

istockphoto

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-indiana_rpoiu4 — Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana

National Park Service

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-yosemite_xdbcaf — Yosemite National Park, California

Alamy Stock

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-organpipe_o0vo5e — Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona

Ike Waits/Alamy

galleries/2016/08/25/national-parks-service/160825-supernova-natl-parks-service-arches_coicfk — Arches National Park, Utah

TMI/Alamy

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