Channel Islands National Park Picture by NPS

Channel Islands National Park consists of five islands off southern California: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara. Nesting sea birds, sea lion rookeries, and unique plants inhabit the area. Anacapa, Santa Rosa, and Santa Barbara are administered by the National Park Service; Santa Cruz Island is administered by the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy; San Miguel, by the National Park Service and the U.S. Navy.

Channel Islands NP was proclaimed a national monument April 26, 1938 and redesignated March 5, 1980 as a National Park. Channel Islands NP was designated a Biosphere Reserve 1976.

Total Acreage:199,045, Federal: 198,250, Nonfederal:794, Wilderness area: 79,579.

Carlsbad Caverns, Temple of the Sun, NPS Photo

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a series of connected caverns with countless formations that decorate huge chambers including the easily accessible Big Room covering eight acres with a 250 foot high ceiling. The park contains at least 113 separate caves, including the nation’s deepest limestone cave, over 1,600 feet, and fourth longest.

Carlsbad Caverns was proclaimed Carlsbad Cave National Monument on October 25, 1923 and became Carlsbad Caverns National Park on May 14, 1930. Carlsbad Caverns was also designated a World Heritage Site on December 9, 1995.

Acreage-46,766 Federal: 46,427 Nonfederal: 339 Wilderness area: 33,125

Navajo Dome Capitol Reef NP photo by NPS

Capitol Reef National Park preserves the 100-mile-long Waterpocket Fold, an uplift of sandstone cliffs with highly colored sedimentary layers. Dome-shaped white-cap rock accounts for the name. Preserved is rock art of the Fremont Culture and a historic Mormon settlement.

Green River Overlook Canyonlands NP – NPS Photo

Canyonlands National Park is a geological wonderland of rocks, spires, and mesas that dominate the heart of the Colorado Plateau, cut by canyons of the Green and Colorado rivers. Prehistoric American Indian rock art and structures dot the redrock landscape.

Canyonlands was established as a National Park on September 12, 1964.

Acreage-337,597 Federal: 337,570 Nonfederal: 27

Black Canyon of the Gunnison NPS Photo

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park’s ancient Gunnison River was wedged here by volcanic deposits and committed to a course from which it could not escape. Monolithic rock walls rise 2,000 feet above the river.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison was made a National Monument March 2, 1933 and was designated as a National Park on October 21, 1999.

Acreage-32,950 Federal: 30,750 Nonfederal:2,200. Wilderness area: 15,599.