Every Type of US National Park, Explained

This is every National Park Designation, explained.
After the New River Gorge designation change, I became really interested in the different units of the National Park Service and what each designation meant. So, I looked into it. And started an entire KZbin channel to help people learn about it.
In this video, I explain each of the 19 different designations in the National Park System, what they protect, and how they are managed.
If you'd like to delve into each of these even deeper, this report from the Congressional Research Service is an excellent resource: www.everycrsreport.com/report....
National Park Diaries is now on PATREON. You can support the channel here: / nationalparkdiaries

[@AbouttheJourney]

Great video. Thanks for helping to keep people informed!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you! The idea for this video was actually one of the main inspirations for the channel and I'm really glad people are finding them and learning about parks with me. More to come!

[@robertwidger6888]

As a retired NPS ranger I worked at historic sites and parks in New England and New York state. I remember the quizzical looks I got ring the subway or walking through downtown Boston in uniform. I often had to remind visitors that "Yes, we're the folks that also bring you Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone."

[@NationalParkDiaries]

It's such a diverse system! I love that I can go to a National Park in a big city then turn around and escape to the wilderness. Just a fantastic breadth of experiences.

[@kenj0418]

Laughing in St. Louis as I hear: "National Parks are generally larger areas..." We are definitely the exception here. Though, it is true there is no mining or hunting going on in the 90 acre "Gateway Arch National Park" in downtown St. Louis.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Hahaha, very true!

[@rilyncrouch4115]

It’s crazy that there’s this many designations without even touching on the other federal land managed by the National Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. One of my pet peeves is when people refer to National Forests as National Parks because they’re so different.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Indeed they are. I actually have another video about the other main land management agencies as well, if you're interested in that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuUqoirlL-CbNU

[@jonathantitus2629]

WE love the national parks in all their iterations. Thanks for an informative video with some scenes from both well known sites and lesser known ones.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

You're very welcome, thanks for watching!

[@mikel9567]

I work for Island County and I was surprised to see the logo in your video 😃 It's pretty nice to live and work in a county that has several parks not only in it, but around it as well. North Cascades is so underrated. Those lakes need to be seen.

[@oleopathic]

Is your county in western WA state ?

[@CassandraHouse]

Yay you opened with New River!! So happy my home state has a national park now! I knew we’ve had preserves, monuments, and battlefields but to have a national park is awesome

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Congratulations to West Virginia!

[@jimc.goodfellas226]

West Virginians up in here!

[@matthewgough9533]

If you haven't been to City of rocks national reserve in Idaho yet, it is a sublime landscape with exquisite rock climbing, mostly well bolted sport climbing on grippy granite.

[@MatthewChenault]

If you want to see a truly weird-looking National Park, look at the Fort Harrison National Battlefield Park in Henrico, Virginia (outside of Richmond). The park isn’t a uniform block of land, but follows the Battlefield park road and only widens to protect a few of the different batteries in the area.

[@ForestSchweitzer022097]

your videos are so awesome!! thanks for putting the effort into making them

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching them!

[@noahtakestheworld]

I am a National Park Vlogger, and just want to say this was super helpful! Def gonna subscribe

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you and welcome to the community!

[@Roadtosomethingnew1]

Thanks for sharing. This gave me alot of info I never knew before.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Glad I could help, thanks for watching!

[@kosycat1]

I used to live within 6 rivers national Forrest. So beautiful there miss it every day

[@Wildstag]

There's a fun exception to all this: Great Falls in Virginia is simply designated a "Park". It's not a National Park, it's just a "Park" administered by the National Park Service.

[@frostbitemansion9610]

Yeah I was curious about this designation too

[@eklectiktoni]

WOW! This was very informative. I never knew there were so many designations. It's nice to see a breakdown of what the differences are. Anyone who's planning to visit a NP should probably watch this so they can figure out what type fits their interest. In my case, for example, I'd probably skip the National Battlefields and Historic Sites/Parks because I'm not a huge history buff. But the Recreational sites and Scenic Trails are right up my alley. Great video. 👍🏾‍

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching!

[@20RODENT]

I have always wondered why the Gateway Arch (St. Louis, Missouri) is a national park. I have not been there but the park area seems man-made. Why is it a national park instead of a national monument/memorial?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

The short version is it was political. It used to be a National Memorial until 2018 when it was redesignated. That could (and probably will) be an entire video on its own

[@20RODENT]

@@NationalParkDiaries Interesting. I am looking forward to that video.

[@Eserr7856]

@@NationalParkDiaries very interesting! Please make a video.

[@bruceharvey6428]

Excellent job, and very helpful! So far, I've written (or in the process of writing) administrative histories of a recreational river, national historic sites, national monuments (now a national historical park), and a national preserve. I hope one day to write about an actual national park!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Good luck! There are a ton of great resources for administrative histories online. I find this website particularly helpful: npshistory.com/

[@lisacable1392]

Excellent information!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@lukebonagurio4503]

Thanks that cleared up some questions I had

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Glad I could help!

[@baaaaark]

Question: Do you happen to know what type of park the Ozark National Scenic Riverways is considered? It doesn't seem to be under the National River or Wild and Scenic River designation and I'm not sure what it would be considered if not that (or maybe it is and I'm mistaken). I've tried figuring this out on my own and can't.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Good question! Yes, Ozark is designated as a National River: www.nps.gov/ozar/index.htm. You can find it listed here: www.nps.gov/aboutus/national-park-system.htm It can be kind of confusing since there are two different river designations in the park system. Hope this helps!

[@a.team_adventures]

Sometimes rivers can be designated scenic but not wild. Not sure on this one but just a thought

[@benmcreynolds8581]

I live right by the Siuslaw National Forest and I utterly love the ecosystem of this Mossy, fern covered, fungi, Lichen, dense Trees, creek's throughout type of vast wilderness. It's just awesome to explore and get lost in this region and other places near it, since I live in Benton County Oregon in the Willamette Valley.

[@gfrancisco8870]

Don’t go missing. Lots of people strangely disappearing in these National parks/forests always keep a gps

[@t.e.1189]

Wow, I had no idea there that many different types. I thought there were only half a dozen. I learned a lot. Thank you for posting that.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@jjb2244]

I am very lucky to live close to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It's a nice escape from the city life to head out and explore it. Be that on the railroad, paddle crafts, on foot or on bike.

[@DougGrinbergs]

2:53 crazy obscure! USFS Rocky Mountain Regional Aviation Office has hangar with direct runway access, and is a short distance from the USFS Jeffco Airtanker Base (ATB), from which Boulder, Estes Park area wildfire aviation operates

[@valsunshine4742]

Awesome video

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks!

[@justinaerne904]

Shout out to the National Forests, underrated and some of them are way better than the over-advertised National Parks.

[@yordanpopov]

There are also National forests in WA.

[@nedmacallen]

New river gorge is so amazing! Use to drive from Ohio all the time!

[@joannabell9294]

Thank You!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@charlottegoldman3580]

You said "these are the 19 types" and I was just shocked as hell

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Yeah, quite the system!

[@kosjeyr]

As a USAF Veteran, I cannot like this video enough!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@noahlipsky8005]

I know it’s an older video, but the North Country Trail is now officially completely a National Scenic Trail to make it four.

[@owenjahn]

Great video. I have a lifetime goal of going to every single U.S National Park, and when I say that I only mean the 63 true national parks only. When I mention this goal to friends and family it often isn't very clear to them the differences as sometimes they'll say "oh I've been to alot when I went to Washington D.C, or "oh I went to Gettysburg"! lol

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Yeah, it can get confusing. Now you can just show them this video lol. Thanks for watching!

[@crocman2cool]

Could you do a video on the national forest service?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Planning on it!

[@ahome3406]

Can you explain some of the big state parks? The Adirondack is huge, rivalling a national park.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Definitely want to do Adirondacks at some point.

[@uremailingalex]

I'd be interested in knowing more about National Natural Landmarks, such as Steptoe Butte, or Drumheller Channels.

[@geogypsytraveler]

What a greedy bunch we are. What will the native people do after 30 years of escalated income that leaves behind scared land with less to no wildlife. Great explanation. Thank you once again for your clear interpretation.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you for watching!

[@GarryReyom]

Nice

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks!

[@devinchiari3573]

Question: you mentioned there only being 2 National Reserves in the NPS -- does that mean that Pinelands National Reserve (in NJ) is not part of the National Park Service? Thanks 😊

[@NationalParkDiaries]

The Park Service technically classifies Pinelands as an "affiliated area" of the National Park System, but not quite an official unit. That means they likely provide technical or financial assistance, but don't manage the Reserve itself. From what I can tell, management of the Pinelands mostly falls to the Pinelands Commission: www.nj.gov/pinelands/reserve/

[@the25thbam24]

Boy, you make the National Parkways sound so glamorous, and hey, maybe the Blue Ridge Parkway is. But around here, all I know is the GW memorial parkway and it's a little piece of hell on earth. It's used as a regular DC commuter highway, but funded by the NPS instead of under the usual interstate system, so it is constantly in disrepair with potholes to crash your car. Or you know, falling into literal sinkholes every couple years. But sure, I guess the view of the Potomac is nice. Or not, when Maryland swamp weather makes the plants into a solid green wall. I'll take your word for it that the other three parkways are in fact enjoyable and not always clogged with rush hour traffic they were never designed for.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

That would be an interesting video on it's own actually...

[@jamesb7502]

Please do a video of the NPS’s management of DC parks in general. It’s mindboggling to me that NPS “manages” all of the little disconnected triangle parks and traffic circles around the city.

[@terrortalks3037]

What are the different ecosystems of the national parks? Are there broad types they can be categorized in? I'd be interested in hearing about that!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

There are so many! The US has National Park Units in every state and cover a wide range of ecosystems, from the swampy Everglades to the Alaskan Tundra to the Great Plains and so much more!

[@terrortalks3037]

@@NationalParkDiaries thanks, I had no idea that there is one in every state!

[@servantofgod5642]

Man that's fantastic, is there anywhere in the US. not a national Park ?

[@jimgreen5788]

I just made a document on my computer, and find that you left off several that are actual places, and I'm wondering why they weren't included: National Military Park, National Trail, National Monument & Historic Shrine, Scenic and Recreational River, Monument Park, and National Monument & Preserve. Thanks. By the way, great video!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

This video actually did cover National Military Parks, National Scenic Trails, National Monuments, both National Rivers and National Wild and Scenic Rivers, and National Preserves. The other categories you've listed (Historic Shrine, Monument Park) aren't actually classified as separate designations under the National Park System. You can find the full list, organized by designation, here: www.nps.gov/aboutus/national-park-system.htm

[@Swaeklee]

@3:37 lmao the cameraman caught that

[@TerrinX]

I camped at New River last August

[@EvilMonkey350]

Great video! What about Red Rock Canyon in Nevada? I don't believe you covered National Conservation Area

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you! Red Rock Canyon isn't actually part of the National Park System. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management under their National Conservation Areas System. I have a video about the other land management agencies here if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuUqoirlL-CbNU

[@EvilMonkey350]

@@NationalParkDiaries Thanks for the clarification!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

You bet!

[@atlaskinzel6560]

Where is the scene at 5:03 filmed? The lake view from the road.

[@Absaroka]

Agreed. What is it? It's very beautiful

[@atlaskinzel6560]

@@Absaroka It doesn't seem like the BRP, that's for sure, I've been all up and down it. And I don't think it could be the other scenic roads, because they have even less elevation than the BRP. So it must be stock footage from some other place. (To be clear, the road does kind of look like the BRP, but the lake and mountains do not).

[@DMX-PAT]

Could you do a video about people who go missing in National Parks every year and why there are no records kept of any of people who do go missing. Great videos!!

[@sendthis9480]

What do you mean? There are records kept on each and every person that “goes missing” in a National Park. I volunteer with JOSAR. I’ve seen them from all different parks. We use them to determine future problem areas.

[@ChannelMan434]

I’m so glad you pronounced “Appalachian” correctly

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Haha, I better have! I went to college in the Blue Ridge and the Appalachians are one of my favorite places on Earth.

[@ChannelMan434]

@@NationalParkDiaries I’m from NC, and both sets of grandparents were in the mountains, so they hold a special place in my heart too!

[@dynamoterror18]

What about the national forests and national grasslands?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Good question! National Forests and Grasslands are not actually managed by the National Park Service. They are managed by the US Forest Service, part of the Department of Agriculture.

[@dynamoterror18]

@@NationalParkDiaries Oh really? That I didn't know.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

@@dynamoterror18 Yep! And then you've got National Wildlife Refuges, managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management has a ton of land as well.

[@brianzimmerman1050]

What about National Forests? Tonto National Forest in AZ, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF in Washington, etc

[@NationalParkDiaries]

National Forest are not part of the National Park System. They are a separate system managed by the US Forest Service. I've got a video about the 4 main land management agencies here if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuUqoirlL-CbNU

[@brianzimmerman1050]

@@NationalParkDiaries makes sense, thank you!

[@cashbrooks9190]

It's the military vehicles bone Yard grave yard and put military vehicles at every Park in America they don't know to keep applying for them it's like an ahead of the food storey

[@theformerrepublicofyugosla9844]

6:41 nice voice crack

[@NationalParkDiaries]

thank you thank you

[@bobsemple2524]

I have a question reguarding catoctin mountain park in maryland as its administrative type has never been apparent?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Catoctin is kind of an outlier. The NPS puts it in a category simply called "other designations," which encompasses a few parks in and around the DC area. www.nps.gov/aboutus/national-park-system.htm

[@alexandramcginnis8872]

What upsets me about national parks is that if it can’t be designated a national park if it have too much private land. So national wonders can’t be put into the park system just due too much private land. For example, the loess hills is a unique hilly landmass build up by loess. While loess is common like on river shores, the loess hills are so unique with its height. The Loess hills are in Iowa and have the second highest hills in the world with China having the greatest hills. In Iowa, there been attempts to change the loess hills to a national park. It been able to check all their require boxes but one. There is too much of the land own by private property. Thus, it can not have the secruity of a national park. Have you ever made a video about how the National Park service dedicates land? Like what are the requirements. I know this video dove into it a little bit, but was more describing the characteristics.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I'm planning to a deep dive on the NPS at some point and I'll get into that for sure. You're right about the private property aspect of park creation though. In areas with high private ownership, a delicate balance has to be struck. There are no easy solutions for that issue. But there are also other things the Park Service considers, like national significance and whether or not the type of resource in question is already protected by the NPS. I'll touch on it all in a future video - thanks for your input!

[@glitchinthesystem4798]

What about the National Millennium Trails?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I wasn't initially familiar with these, but I did look into it. These trails are not part of the National Park System, but are part of an initiative around the turn of the Millennium to highlight trails that preserve US culture and history. Some, like the Appalachian Trail, are under NPS jurisdiction, but not all, and the designation has no correlation with the National Scenic Trails that are part of the National Park System. Hope this helps!

[@SequoiaElisabeth]

Can you say Bureaucracy? Thanks for attempting to clear things up about USA Parks! I feel like it is way more complicated than it should be and this is not even including State, City, and Local parks.

[@sendthis9480]

Bureaucracy protects these things for the long-term…not the instant gratification. Without bureaucracy, none of these parks would still be here. The public typically doesn’t know best. These are complicated areas, and deserve to be treated as such. You can’t just responsibly run around and do whatever you want anymore. The rules help everything involved.

[@SequoiaElisabeth]

@@sendthis9480 "The public typically doesn’t know best." This belief is precisely the problem. People will rise to our expectations. Or fall whichever the case. I am all for protecting the lands and our natural treasures, though I believe it starts at home by teaching and practicing (modeling) respect for Gaia and all her creatures and creations. Again, I thank you for clarifying a complicated topic.

[@MatthewChenault]

It’s done this way for a reason. Different parks have different needs and different requirements to function. A national battlefield park is going to need different resources than a National Seashore or a National monument.

[@sendthis9480]

@@SequoiaElisabeth Yeah…I’m sorry but I disagree. I would like the give “people” the benefit of the doubt, but they have proven time and time again that they only care about the here and now. “People” want wants best for them…now. “People” will destroy things for the furniture…so they can have it now. They have done this many many many times. A perfect example is Hetch Hetchy. Bears Ears. Grand Staircase Escalante. Carrizo Plains. Etc etc etc etc etc Look at the Bozo at Cerro Gordo right now. He has a “look at me” KZbin channel and everything. A big mining company wants to come and clean the ENTIRE area of 150 years of toxic waste. Country bumpkin won’t let them. He wants to keep making his “poor me” KZbin videos and keep all the waste so he can open a bed and breakfast!!!! Let’s see…clean environment with 100% efficiency….or ….some Billy Bob makes a KZbin video. The “Public” went with the Billy Bob. NOT the environment.

[@rilyncrouch4115]

And this doesn’t even cover all the federally protected land. The National Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have a bunch of their own unique designations too

[@Machead92]

I didn't realize how many national parks I had been to till I watched this

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Yeah, it's quite the system!

[@sickkicks9523]

What about national forests?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

National Forests are actually not part of the National Park System. They are maintained by the US Forest Service, a part of the Department of Agriculture. I've got a whole video on the different agencies if you'd like to learn more about that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuUqoirlL-CbNU

[@WebkinzWor1d]

One of the most beautiful national rivers is Buffalo national river in Arkansas

[@NationalParkDiaries]

The very first National River!

[@grant.siebert7187]

At 2:10 you can hear him swish spit in his mouth

[@Jer0da0sniper]

What about national forests? What category does this fall under

[@NationalParkDiaries]

National Forests are managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. I have a video about the different agencies here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuUqoirlL-CbNU

[@whyme953]

Why is Gateway Arch a National Park, not a National Monument or something else?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

That could be an entire video on its own lol. The short version is that it used to be a National Memorial, but was "upgraded" because of politics basically.

[@Andy-Mesa]

Money. Visitation doubled when it was turned into a NP.

[@CC-rw1yn]

I know I'm late on this video but what about National Volcanic Monuments?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I'm not familiar with that designation, but if you're referring to the Newberry National Volcanic National Monument (that's what comes up first on a search), that is managed by the US Forest Service: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159

[@CC-rw1yn]

@@NationalParkDiaries Okay, that makes sense. I was originally thinking of Mt. St. Helens but it is managed by US FS too. I think I've watched all your videos in the last three days, great work!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

@@CC-rw1yn Thank you, glad you're enjoying them!

[@cashbrooks9190]

There's social security living in a car traveling America that would stop at any gas station hotel restaurant

[@Lucas.Dunn24]

National Forests?

[@Kreenick]

Congaree National Swamp?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Congaree is actually a National Park!

[@wyattturner2724]

what is a national forest classified as?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

National Forests are a separate designation, managed by the US Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture. I have a video about the main land management agencies here if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuUqoirlL-CbNU

[@ahwhite1398]

I was fixing to come in here and point out how you missed Wolf Trap and whatever odd convoluted category that falls in to, but then you squeezed it in after all.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Haha, yeah. It basically falls into the catch-all "other designations" category

[@joshualebaron1473]

So national forests aren't part of the national parks system?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Nope, they are managed by the US Forest Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. I have a video on the different land management agencies if you're interested in learning more about them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuUqoirlL-CbNU

[@Ic3maninfection]

Mammoth Cave

[@gtgodbear6320]

I was born in Homestead. Its part of the Everglades. I hope to return there some day. To retire and die. Get buried somewhere deep in the Everglades. It's too cold here in Ohio. I don't want my ashes shivering.

[@peppermintd862]

OHIO GANG WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OHIO I LOVE OHIO!

[@MCAndrew360]

ok

[@odddraken3929]

Engagement

[@b4rtek]

You missed national forests

[@NationalParkDiaries]

National Forests are not part of the National Park System. They are a separate system managed by the US Forest Service, under the Department of Agriculture.

[@b4rtek]

@@NationalParkDiaries learn something new everyday! Thanks for the videos!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

@@b4rtek You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@SikConVicTioN]

They are all overcrowded, how about y'all just forget they exist? That would be great, thanks

[@enderboy6491]

praise our LORD 🍜 thank you for being our savior jesus Christ

[@holminionzempelkle8914]

Drink some water before recording your videos

[@patrickcoyne1292]

app-a-latch-un? app-a-lay-shun.

[@brown22sugar25]

People from Appalachia say the first one while most others say the second one

[@patrickcoyne1292]

@@brown22sugar25 take a guess where i live.

[@the25thbam24]

Potato pohtahto, we all know that we're still talking about the once-tallest mountain range in the world (many millions of years ago, the Appalachians we're taller than the Himalayas are today, but obviously they've eroded)

[@JCSchaefer82]

What about national forests?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

National Forests are managed by the US Forest Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. I have a video on the "Big 4" land management agencies if you're interested in learning more about that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKuUqoirlL-CbNU