2006 National Park Visitors

2006: Nearly 273 million visits to U.S. national parks.

In 2006, the United States' most popular national parks continued to draw millions with their unparalleled natural beauty, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park leading the pack, followed closely by iconic destinations like Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Zion National Parks. Among these, **Great Smoky Mountains National Park**, straddling the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, reigned as the most visited, attracting millions of visitors who sought its unique blend of Appalachian culture and breathtaking natural grandeur. Renowned for its ancient, diverse forests and misty, blue-hued mountains—which inspired its name—the park is a global hotspot for biodiversity, home to over 1,500 species of flowering plants and a staggering variety of salamanders. Visitors in 2006 could explore its vast network of trails, including sections of the Appalachian Trail, drive scenic routes like Newfound Gap Road offering panoramic vistas, and immerse themselves in the preserved history of early Appalachian settlers, all while spotting abundant wildlife, including black bears, in an environment celebrated for its accessible, year-round beauty and free entry.

Data Source: National Park Service Stats