National parks with citizen science
Bright dots offer citizen science. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Quietest picks for citizen science
- 1North Cascades National Park46,925 visits
- 2Congaree National Park287,833 visits
- 3Petrified Forest National Park315,951 visits
By 2025 recreation visits (NPS).
Most parks for citizen science
- Washington 3
- California 2
- Utah 2
- Arizona 1
- Florida 1
- Maine 1
- Montana 1
- North Carolina 1
16 parks
Where to go for citizen science
Photo: NPS Photo by Kent MillerAcadia National Park
Maine
4,079,318 visits in 2025Quietest: February$35 / 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: NPSCongaree National Park
South Carolina
287,833 visits in 2025Quietest: AugustFree 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: NPS Photo by Miguel SalasEverglades National Park
Florida
778,198 visits in 2025Quietest: October$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS PhotoGlacier National Park
Montana
3,136,557 visits in 2025Quietest: February$35 / vehicle
Photo: NPS / Bob CarrGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
North Carolina, Tennessee
11,527,939 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo / E. BrouwerMount Rainier National Park
Washington
1,635,342 visits in 2025Quietest: February$30 / vehicle
Photo: NPS Photo/D.DixonNorth Cascades National Park
Washington
46,925 visits in 2025Quietest: DecemberFree 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/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
FAQ
Citizen Science, quickly
- Which national parks offer citizen science?
- 17 of the 63 national parks list citizen science as an activity, according to the National Park Service: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Congaree, Crater Lake, Cuyahoga Valley, Everglades, Glacier, Great Smoky Mountains, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Olympic, Petrified Forest, Pinnacles, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Shenandoah.
- What's the least crowded national park for citizen science?
- By 2025 recreation visits, North Cascades National Park (46,925 visits), then Congaree (287,833). The busiest park on this list is Great Smoky Mountains, with 11,527,939.
- Which state has the most national parks for citizen science?
- Washington, with 3, followed by California (2).
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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