The National Parks dataset is frequently updated by the National Park Service (NPS) and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). This dataset depicts National Park Service boundary data that was created by the Land Resources Division. NPS Director's Order #25 states: "Land status maps will be prepared to identify the ownership of the lands within the authorized boundaries of the park unit. These maps, showing ownership and acreage, are the 'official record' of the acreage of Federal and non-federal lands within the park boundaries. While these maps are the official record of the lands and acreage within the unit's authorized boundaries, they are not of survey quality and not intended to be used for survey purposes." As such this data is intended for use as a tool for GIS analysis. It is in no way intended for engineering or legal purposes. For the full data description, please go to https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545?lnv=True. A data dictionary, or other source of attribute information, is accessible at https://doi.org/10.21949/1529046

The administrative boundaries of national park authorities in England as provided by the ONS for the purposes of producing statistics.

National Parks are run by National Park Authorities for the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and to provide opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the Park by the public. Alterations: Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Park (Designation) boundaries modified 1st August 2016. South Downs National Park (Designation) modified on 2nd June 2010.Full metadata can be viewed on data.gov.uk.

Context

The National Park Service publishes a database of animal and plant species identified in individual national parks and verified by evidence — observations, vouchers, or reports that document the presence of a species in a park. All park species records are available to the public on the National Park Species portal; exceptions are made for sensitive, threatened, or endangered species when widespread distribution of information could pose a risk to the species in the park.

Content

Geography: USA

Time period: Present

Unit of analysis: National Park Species Dataset

National Park species lists provide information on the presence and status of species in our national parks. These species lists are works in progress and the absence of a species from a list does not necessarily mean the species is absent from a park. The time and effort spent on species inventories varies from park to park, which may result in data gaps. Species taxonomy changes over time and reflects regional variations or preferences; therefore, records may be listed under a different species name.

Each park species record includes a species ID, park name, taxonomic information, scientific name, one or more common names, record status, occurrence (verification of species presence in park), nativeness (species native or foreign to park), abundance (presence and visibility of species in park), seasonality (season and nature of presence in park), and conservation status (species classification according to US Fish & Wildlife Service). Taxonomic classes have been translated from Latin to English for species categorization; order, family, and scientific name (genus, species, subspecies) are in Latin.

The dataset we're exploring, the species at the most visited National Parks in the USA! NPSpecies contains species listed by National Parks maintained by National Parks Service (NPS). Given the size of the dataset, we're focusing on the 15 most visited parks. The data comes from NPS

Variables

The National Parks and National Park Reserves of Canada Legislative Boundaries web service includes the following lands: 1) National Parks of Canada as defined in Schedule 1 of the Canada National Parks Act, 2) National Park Reserves of Canada as defined in Schedule 2 of the Canada National Parks Act, 3) Rouge National Urban Park as defined in the Rouge National Urban Park Act and 4) Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park as defined in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park Act. The Data available for download is the former National Framework Canada Lands Administrative Boundaries Level 1 product. There are some attribute differences between the data available for download and the web service; however both contain the same underlying data. Please refer to the Supporting Documents for additional information on the National Framework Canada Lands Administrative Boundaries Level 1 dataset. Work is under way to align these two data products. As well, the Comprehensive Claims Settlement Areas have been removed from this dataset, but can be obtained from the Post-1975 Treaties (Modern Treaties) dataset produced by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.

National Park Service unit boundaries.

Administrative Boundaries of National Park System Units This National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) dataset, shared as a U.S. National Park Service (NPS) feature layer, displays National Park Service tract and boundary data that was created by the Land Resources Division. Per NPS, “Boundary polygons have been created by the Lands Resources Program according to the procedures defined in the Lands Acquisition Procedures Manual. Boundaries were created with data provided by Parks, Region, and Program offices. This data includes but is not limited to deeds, legal descriptions, legislation, survey plats, change orders, segment maps, and the ownership databases of the Land Resources Program.”Frederick Douglass and National Capital Parks Data currency: current Federal service (NPS Land Resources Division Boundary and Tract Data Service)NGDAID: 16 (Administrative Boundaries of National Park System Units - National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) NPS National Parks Dataset)For more information: Administrative Boundaries of National Park System Units - National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) NPS National Parks DatasetFor feedback please contact: Esri_US_Federal_Data@esri.com NGDA Theme Community This data set is part of the NGDA Cadastre Theme Community. Per the Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC), Cadastre is defined as the "past, current, and future rights and interests in real property including the spatial information necessary to describe geographic extents. Rights and interests are benefits or enjoyment in real property that can be conveyed, transferred, or otherwise allocated to another for economic remuneration. Rights and interests are recorded in land record documents. The spatial information necessary to describe geographic extents includes surveys and legal description frameworks such as the Public Land Survey System, as well as parcel-by-parcel surveys and descriptions. Does not include federal government or military facilities." For other NGDA Content: Esri Federal Datasets

In 2023, the market size of national parks and other nature institutions in the United States reached 1.4 billion U.S. dollars. This showed a growth of 6.2 percent over the previous year's market size.

1. Administrative Boundaries of National Park System Units 9/30/2019 - National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) NPS National Parks Dataset. NPS - Land Resources Division

This layer is a component of 2007_NAIP_COVERAGE_3.mxd.

Digital version of the National Park Service Map A, indicating Park Service properties and other government-owned land.

In 2024, the number of visitors to national parks and sites in the United States varied by type. There were approximately 94.3 million visitors to National Parks in the U.S. in 2024.

Retirement Notice: This item is in mature support as of October 2024 and will retire in December 2026. A new version of this item is available for your use. Esri recommends updating your maps and apps to use the new version. This layer presents National and State parks and forests, along with County, Regional and Local parks within the United States. It provides thousands of named parks and forests at many levels.This layer uses TomTom source from March 2023.

Comprehensive dataset containing 96 verified National park businesses in United States with complete contact information, ratings, reviews, and location data.

ResourcesMapTeacher guide Student worksheetGet startedOpen the map.Use the teacher guide to explore the map with your class or have students work through it on their own with the worksheet.New to GeoInquiriesTM? See Getting to Know GeoInquiries.StandardsC3: D2.Geo.2.3-5 – Use maps to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions and their environmental characteristics.CCSS: ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.7 – Interpret information presented visually and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.Learning outcomesStudents will investigate and analyze the importance of conserving and preserving the natural environment through the creation the National Park Service in the United States.

The past year has proved turbulent for the US national parks and nature institutions industry, marked by soaring visitor numbers but mounting operational distress. A visitation record was set in 2024; over 331.0 million people flocked to national parks, driven by both pent-up domestic demand and a notable surge in international tourists. Yet even as public interest in outdoor recreation hits never-before-seen highs, the institutions tasked with maintaining and protecting these resources have been thrown into turmoil. Widespread layoffs, a persistent hiring freeze and deepening budget cuts have severely disrupted core services, forcing closures, curtailment of programming and reduced emergency response capacity at many parks. Financial constraints, intensified by a February 2025 spending freeze, directly fuel everything from trail maintenance to the most basic facility upkeep, exposing the stark mismatch between record demand and shrinking resources. Revenue stagnated over the last few years, rising 2.1% in 2025 and reaching $1.0 billion that year. Parks have gradually eroded federal support, punctuated by sharp staff reductions and the rollback of climate and environmental policies. Extreme weather events, including wildfires, hurricanes and flooding, have only exacerbated these operational hurdles, forcing many parks into costly disaster recovery and further backlog in conservation projects. Although parks benefited from record tourism and mounting profit, the strain on aging and underfunded infrastructure has become unmistakable. The outlook for US national parks and nature institutions is fraught with uncertainty and sizable risk. If enacted, proposed federal budget cuts for 2026 would represent the most significant reduction in the National Park Service’s history. Accompanying policy shifts favor expanded resource extraction near or on parkland, raising a serious alarm among conservationists. Legal battles mounted by nonprofit groups and state governments will intensify as federal protections are challenged, signaling a future where the courts will increasingly determine the fate of these natural treasures. Without a reversal in funding and policy trends, experts warn of escalating ecosystem degradation, diminished visitor experiences and economic fallout for gateway communities. Shrinking staff and scaled-back conservation programs will threaten public access during peak seasons. Without significant legislative and administrative support, sustainability and resilience will become challenging. Revenue is forecast to climb at a CAGR of 1.8% over the years to 2030, reaching an estimated $1.1 billion.

A 2022 survey found that ************** of respondents viewed the National Park Service in the United States favorably, with ** percent saying they found the service very favorable and ** percent saying they found it somewhat favorable. Conversely, *** percent of respondents viewed the National Park Service very unfavorably.

Comprehensive dataset containing 20 verified National park businesses in RS with complete contact information, ratings, reviews, and location data.

A 2022 survey found that ** percent of respondents from the United States would visit a national park in their home country in order to see nature, making it the main reason to visit a national park. Other leading motivations for visiting a national park include seeing new places, taking scenic drives, and vacationing. Meanwhile, mountain climbing was the least common reason to go to a national park, with only ** percent of respondents saying so.