2009 National Park Visitors

Slight drop in visitor numbers.

The year 2009 saw millions flock to America's most iconic national parks, with perennial favorites like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite drawing massive crowds, but none more so than the **Great Smoky Mountains National Park**. Located on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, this sprawling wilderness was by far the most visited national park in 2009, welcoming over 9 million visitors. Its immense popularity stems from a captivating blend of accessible natural beauty and diverse ecosystems. Encompassing some of the oldest mountains on Earth, its ancient, mist-shrouded peaks and verdant valleys are home to unparalleled biodiversity, earning it recognition as an International Biosphere Reserve. Visitors in 2009 experienced its rich tapestry of life, from black bears roaming dense forests to over 1,500 species of flowering plants and the highest diversity of salamanders in the world. The park offered endless opportunities for scenic drives, including the famous Newfound Gap Road, historic homesteads in Cades Cove, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails leading to stunning waterfalls and panoramic vistas, all contributing to its status as America's most cherished natural sanctuary, uniquely remaining free to enter.

Data Source: National Park Service Stats