1987 National Park Visitors

1987: Approximately 283 million visitors.

In 1987, America's national parks, always a source of immense natural beauty and wonder, saw particular popularity in a handful of iconic destinations, with Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite consistently drawing millions of visitors. Of these, **Great Smoky Mountains National Park**, straddling the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, frequently topped the charts for attendance, a testament to its unique blend of accessibility and profound natural splendor. Nestled within the ancient Appalachian Mountains, the park in 1987 offered a verdant tapestry of dense hardwood forests, cascading waterfalls, and clear, cool streams, renowned for its incredible biodiversity, boasting more species of trees than all of Europe and a thriving population of black bears, elk, and countless bird species. The park's namesake, the characteristic blue haze that often blankets its peaks and valleys, contributed to a mystical and serene atmosphere, inviting visitors to explore hundreds of miles of hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and historic log cabins, providing a truly immersive experience in a breathtaking, untamed wilderness.

Data Source: National Park Service Stats