National parks with birdwatching
Bright dots offer birdwatching. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Quietest picks for birdwatching
- 1Lake Clark National Park & Preserve19,778 visits
- 2Isle Royale National Park29,091 visits
- 3National Park of American Samoa43,258 visits
By 2025 recreation visits (NPS).
Most parks for birdwatching
- California 8
- Alaska 4
- Colorado 3
- Florida 3
- Utah 3
- Arizona 2
- Nevada 2
- South Dakota 2
47 parks
Where to go for birdwatching
Photo: NPS Photo by Kent MillerAcadia National Park
Maine
4,079,318 visits in 2025Quietest: February$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoBadlands National Park
South Dakota
1,139,361 visits in 2025Quietest: December$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPSBig Bend National Park
Texas
568,104 visits in 2025Quietest: August$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS photoBiscayne National Park
Florida
486,567 visits in 2025Quietest: OctoberFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo/LynchBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Colorado
250,086 visits in 2025Quietest: February$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Peter DensmoreBryce Canyon National Park
Utah
1,967,367 visits in 2025Quietest: January$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoCapitol Reef National Park
Utah
1,388,476 visits in 2025Quietest: January$20 / vehicle
Photo: NPS / Michael LarsonCarlsbad Caverns National Park
New Mexico
410,778 visits in 2025Quietest: January$15 / person
Photo: NPS/Brett SeymourChannel Islands National Park
California
227,186 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
Photo: NPS PhotoCrater Lake National Park
Oregon
632,242 visits in 2025Quietest: January$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / D.J. ReiserCuyahoga Valley National Park
Ohio
3,025,325 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
Photo: NPSDeath Valley National Park
California, Nevada
1,320,134 visits in 2025Quietest: September$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Brett SeymourDry Tortugas National Park
Florida
89,355 visits in 2025Quietest: October$15 / person
Photo: NPS Photo by Miguel SalasEverglades National Park
Florida
778,198 visits in 2025Quietest: October$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS / T. VandenBergGlacier Bay National Park & Preserve
Alaska
740,044 visits in 2025Quietest: FebruaryFree entry
Photo: NPS/M. QuinnGrand Canyon National Park
Arizona
4,430,653 visits in 2025Quietest: January$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo/TobiasonGrand Teton National Park
Wyoming
3,800,648 visits in 2025Quietest: December$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoGreat Basin National Park
Nevada
161,210 visits in 2025Quietest: DecemberFree entry
Photo: NPS/Patrick MyersGreat Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Colorado
432,498 visits in 2025Quietest: January$25 / vehicle
Photo: NPS / Bob CarrGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
North Carolina, Tennessee
11,527,939 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
Photo: NPS/BieriGuadalupe Mountains National Park
Texas
206,423 visits in 2025Quietest: August$10 / person
Photo: NPS PhotoHawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii
1,877,854 visits in 2025Quietest: April$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS photoHot Springs National Park
Arkansas
2,494,611 visits in 2025Quietest: SeptemberFree entry
Photo: NPS PhotoIndiana Dunes National Park
Indiana
2,629,497 visits in 2025Quietest: January$25 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Paul BrownIsle Royale National Park
Michigan
29,091 visits in 2025Quietest: January$7 / person
Photo: NPS / Emily HassellJoshua Tree National Park
California
2,932,644 visits in 2025Quietest: July$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo, S. RainoneKenai Fjords National Park
Alaska
425,369 visits in 2025Quietest: NovemberFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo / James KramerLake Clark National Park & Preserve
Alaska
19,778 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo / Scott ArnazLassen Volcanic National Park
California
504,777 visits in 2025Quietest: December$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoMesa Verde National Park
Colorado
463,130 visits in 2025Quietest: January$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / E. BrouwerMount Rainier National Park
Washington
1,635,342 visits in 2025Quietest: February$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Michael LarsonNational Park of American Samoa
American Samoa
43,258 visits in 2025Quietest: JuneFree entry
Photo: NPS photo/Louise McLaughlinNew River Gorge National Park & Preserve
West Virginia
1,958,440 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo/Jon PrestonOlympic National Park
Washington
3,584,187 visits in 2025Quietest: January$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoPetrified Forest National Park
Arizona
315,951 visits in 2025Quietest: February$25 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo/ Katherine FieldingPinnacles National Park
California
343,208 visits in 2025Quietest: September$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Steve OlsonRedwood National and State Parks
California
1,202,480 visits in 2025Quietest: DecemberFree entry
Photo: NPS/Rick CainSequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
California
2,158,128 visits in 2025Quietest: February$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Neal LewisShenandoah National Park
Virginia
1,682,152 visits in 2025Quietest: January$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Mark MeyersTheodore Roosevelt National Park
North Dakota
729,893 visits in 2025Quietest: December$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoVirgin Islands National Park
US Virgin Islands
471,074 visits in 2025Quietest: SeptemberFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo / Daniel DendlerVoyageurs National Park
Minnesota
206,326 visits in 2025Quietest: AprilFree entry
Photo: NPS PhotoWind Cave National Park
South Dakota
606,258 visits in 2025Quietest: FebruaryFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo/ Neal HerbertWrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve
Alaska
108,840 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
Photo: NPS / Jacob W. FrankYellowstone National Park
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming
4,762,988 visits in 2025Quietest: November$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoYosemite National Park
California
4,278,413 visits in 2025Quietest: January$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo / Shane CarteZion National Park
Utah
4,984,525 visits in 2025Quietest: January$35 / vehicle
Ideas from the National Park Service
Birdwatching ideas, park by park
- Birding "with" the Champlain SocietySpring, Summer, Fall
In the early 1880's members if the Champlain Society documented bird species breeding on Mount Desert Island. Follow along the same trails they took and observe what birds we find in those places. Are they the same, or…
Pets OK - Birding at Otter PointAll year
Enjoy Acadia's rugged coastline along Otter Point and search for passing seabirds and listen for songbirds in the nearby forest.
Pets OK - Birding at the PrecipiceSpring, Summer
View the cliff for nesting peregrine falcons (mid-April through early August) and for other raptors passing by and explore the wetland across the street.
Pets OK
- Birdwatch at Cottonwood Campground15-60 Minutes · All year
Situated near the Rio Grande, under the shade of numerous large cottonwood trees, Cottonwood Campground is a great place to look for birds and other wildlife.
Pets OK - Birdwatch at Rio Grande Village Nature Trail15-45 Minutes · All year
Rio Grande Village is consistently one of the best places to find a large number of birds in Big Bend National Park. The principal area to search is the Nature Trail, located in the southeastern corner of the campground.
- Birding at Boca Chita1-3 Hours
Along with incredible array of marine life, Biscayne National Park is also home to significant populations of birds including protected species. Natural habitats for migratory stopover, feeding, and nesting make the…
- Birding at Convoy Point1-2 Hours
Along with incredible array of marine life, Biscayne National Park is also home to significant populations of birds including protected species. Natural habitats for migratory stopover, feeding, and nesting make the…
Pets OK - Birding at Elliott Key1-3 Hours
Along with incredible array of marine life, Biscayne National Park is also home to significant populations of birds including protected species. Natural habitats for migratory stopover, feeding, and nesting make the…
Pets OK
- BirdwatchingAll year
175 different species of birds have been documented to frequent Bryce Canyon National Park. Some are just passing through. Others stay for an entire season. Fewer still make this their year-round home, but those that do…
FeePets OK
Birding is a popular activity at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Thanks to the park’s wide variety of habitats, it is possible to observe more than 200 bird species throughout the year. Grab a field guide and a pair of…
Pets OK
- Bird WatchingAll year
Roadrunners and ravens and hummingbirds- oh my! With many resident and migratory species, bird watching opportunities abound in Death Valley.
FeePets OK
- Birding Along the Anhinga Trail1-2 Hours · All year
The Anhinga Trail is a popular place to start your exploration at Everglades National Park, providing a ready sample of wetland wildlife including alligators, turtles, fish, plants, and birds, all along a short,…
- Birding at Flamingo1-4 Hours · All year
Flamingo offers ample birding opportunities along its many trail areas as well as around the visitor center and marina. The mix of mangrove and coastal prairie habitats host a bounty of wading birds, shorebirds and…
Pets OK - Birding Snake Bight Trail1-4 Hours · All year
Snake Bight Trail can be walked any time of year, but is easiest to walk in the winter when mosquitoes are not abundant. This trail offers the opportunity to see birds restricted to coastal habitats, including Reddish…
Look for birds in a unique area of biological diversity with rare and endangered species.
- Birdwatching in the ParkAll year
Birds are everywhere. They soar overhead, flit through branches, walk on the ground, and swim in the water. From the tiny calliope hummingbird to the gigantic California condor, a great diversity of birds finds a home…
Pets OK
Located at the southern tip of Lake Michigan, the national park is an important feeding and resting area for migrating birds. Lake Michigan influences the migration patterns of bird species. During the fall migration,…
FeePets OK
- Birding at Joshua TreeAll year
Joshua Tree National Park offers a wide range of birds for birders to discover.
Over 35 species of native birds fly in American Samoa’s skies. Each has its own story and place in our culture.
Pets OK
birds, birdwatching
Pets OK
- Go Birdwatching in ShenandoahAll year
Birdwatching is a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy, and Shenandoah provides the perfect habitat to spot a variety of different species, including those colorful, neotropical migratory birds!
Pets OK
The badlands of North Dakota are home to more than 180 species of birds. Take a moment and see which ones you can spot!
Pets OK
- Bird Watching in Wind Cave15-60 Minutes · All year
Wind Cave has many opportunities to view birds throughout the year. Although you can bird watch anywhere in the park, the Elk Mountain Campground and visitor center offer the best chances to see a diversity of species…
Pets OK
From the NPS Data API's things-to-do records, checked 2026-10-01.
FAQ
Birdwatching, quickly
- Which national parks offer birdwatching?
- 48 of the 63 national parks list birdwatching as an activity, according to the National Park Service: Acadia, Badlands, Big Bend, Biscayne, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Carlsbad Caverns, Channel Islands, Crater Lake, Cuyahoga Valley, Death Valley, Dry Tortugas, Everglades, Glacier Bay, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Great Basin, Great Sand Dunes, Great Smoky Mountains, Guadalupe Mountains, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Hot Springs, Indiana Dunes, Isle Royale, Joshua Tree, Kenai Fjords, Lake Clark, Lassen Volcanic, Mesa Verde, Mount Rainier, American Samoa, New River Gorge, Olympic, Petrified Forest, Pinnacles, Redwood, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Shenandoah, Theodore Roosevelt, Virgin Islands, Voyageurs, Wind Cave, Wrangell–St. Elias, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion.
- What's the least crowded national park for birdwatching?
- By 2025 recreation visits, Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (19,778 visits), then Isle Royale (29,091). The busiest park on this list is Great Smoky Mountains, with 11,527,939.
- Which state has the most national parks for birdwatching?
- California, with 8, followed by Alaska (4).
Sources · 2
- 1.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.NPS Visitor Use Statistics — monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (IRMA stats REST service) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) — Visitor Use Statistics Program
Activities are the ones each park lists in the NPS Data API. Check the park's own nps.gov page for current trail, water and permit conditions.
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