National parks with wildlife watching
Bright dots offer wildlife watching. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Quietest picks for wildlife watching
- 1Kobuk Valley National Park7,786 visits
- 2Lake Clark National Park & Preserve19,778 visits
- 3Isle Royale National Park29,091 visits
By 2025 recreation visits (NPS).
Most parks for wildlife watching
- California 8
- Alaska 7
- Colorado 4
- Florida 3
- Utah 3
- Arizona 2
- Nevada 2
- South Dakota 2
52 parks
Where to go for wildlife watching
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 / Nathan KostegianDenali National Park & Preserve
Alaska
543,300 visits in 2025Quietest: January$15 / person
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/David JacobKatmai National Park & Preserve
Alaska
34,479 visits in 2025Quietest: FebruaryFree entry
Photo: NPS Photo, S. RainoneKenai Fjords National Park
Alaska
425,369 visits in 2025Quietest: NovemberFree entry
Photo: NPS PhotoKobuk Valley National Park
Alaska
7,786 visits in 2025Quietest: FebruaryFree 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 Photo / J. CooperMammoth Cave National Park
Kentucky
660,734 visits in 2025Quietest: JanuaryFree entry
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/J.MarinoRocky Mountain National Park
Colorado
4,171,431 visits in 2025Quietest: February$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
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
Wildlife Watching ideas, park by park
- Tidepooling at Bar Island30-60 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall
Access the shore from downtown Bar Harbor for a unique tidepooling experience on a natural land bridge.
Pets OK - Tidepooling at Ship HarborSpring, Summer, Fall
Explore tidepooling opportunities on the rocky shoreline off this easy figure-8 coastal forest trail.
Pets OK - Tidepooling at the Schoodic PeninsulaSpring, Summer, Fall
Tidepooling locations at the Schoodic Peninsula.
Pets OK
Many animals call Badlands National Park home. Learn more about these critters and where you can find them on this page.
Pets OK
- View WildlifeAll year
The canyons and plateau of Bryce Canyon National Park are home to many animals. Park boundaries mean little to the migratory hummingbirds, nesting Peregrine Falcon, Rocky Mountain Elk and Pronghorn which daily cross…
FeePets OK
- Viewing Wildlife in Denali6-12 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall
Denali provides habitat for 39 species of mammals, 169 species of birds, 14 species of fish, and one species of amphibian The large animals that are often the most sought after can be surprisingly elusive. The so called…
Reservation/permit
Viewing wildlife in Dry Tortugas
Pets OK
- Oxbow Bend5-60 Minutes · All year
Visit Oxbow Bend for iconic views of the Teton Range.
Pets OK
- Watch Bears at Brooks CampSpring, Summer, Fall
Brooks Camp is renowned for its remarkable bear viewing opportunities.
- Watch the Katmai BearcamSummer, Fall
Follow the brown bears of Brooks River from anywhere with an internet connection with our live bearcam.
Pets OK
- Big Trees Trail Wildlife1-2 Hours · All year
Park wildlife are often seen along the Big Trees Trail, an easy and accessible path that starts at Giant Forest Museum and takes you around a meadow lined with mature sequoias.
- Crescent Meadow Wildlife1-3 Hours
Keep your eyes and ears open for wildlife as you hike along the Crescent Meadow in trail Sequoia's Giant Forest.
- Tokopah Falls Wildlife3-5 Hours
Keep your eyes and ears open for wildlife as you hike along the Tokopah Falls trail.
- Fly-In Bear Viewing Along the West Cook Inlet Coast1-14 Days · Summer
Learn where to go to see bears and become familiar with bear viewing best practices. Then watch the park's beautiful new 11 minute-long film, A Day on the Lake Clark National Park Coastline to get a feel for experience…
Reservation/permitPets OK
- Viewing Park WildlifeAll year
Mammoth Cave is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life ranging from rare exotic cave species to more common woodland creatures. While viewing wildlife can be a highlight of any park visit, it is important to…
Pets OK
Fruit bats are the only native mammals found in American Samoa. The two species of fruit bat and one insect-eating bat species are harmless to people. They have a wingspan close to three feet. As fruit eaters, fruit…
- Brooks Overlook5 Minutes · All year
Brooks Overlook is a favorite viewing spot for visitors and locals. There is a pair of Bald eagles that reside, year round, on Brooks Island and catching a glimpse of them is sure to spark delight.
Pets OK - Sandstone Falls Overlook10 Minutes · All year
Wildlife Observation Nature Observation
Pets OK - Grandview Main Overlook15 Minutes · All year
The Grandview Main Overlook is located about two football fields in distance from the parking area near the Grandview Visitor Center. There is a kiosk that is a triangular shaped structure with maps and information and…
Pets OK
- Watch for Salmon at Salmon Cascades15-45 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall
In the late summer and early fall, salmon can be seen leaping from Salmon Cascades on the Sol Duc River! Get a glimpse on a viewing platform located above the cascades.
- Tidepooling on the Olympic Coast30-180 Minutes · Summer
There are special places that allow you to see sea creatures up close without leaving the beach! Tidepools are home to fascinating creatures like sea stars, anemones, barnacles, nudibranchs, crabs, and more.
In the park, we humans are privileged to be visitors to wild animals' home. We can treat their home with respect and care.
Reservation/permitFeePets OK
- Watch Wildlife5-120 Minutes · All year
Watching wildlife is a seasonal activity, but just in that the species to watch change, particularly in birdwatching.
Pets OK
wildlife, wildlife viewing
Pets OK
- Go Tide Pooling at Enderts Beach60-120 Minutes · All year
Tidepooling at Enderts Beach will bring you experience some incredible coastlines and give you a glimpse into life at the edge of the ocean. For some, its like seeing science fiction come to life. Check the tides, and…
Watch Roosevelt elk at Redwood National and State Parks
Pets OK
During the months of September and October, elk herds are gathering in lower elevation areas for fall mating season. This time is also known as the elk rut! Bull elk can be very aggressive as they protect the cows and…
Reservation/permitWildlife Viewing Tips
FeePets OK
- Wildlife Viewing - North UnitAll year
Explore the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and see the wide variety of wildlife that lives there.
Pets OK - Wildlife Viewing - South UnitAll year
Explore the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and see the wide variety of wildlife that lives there.
Pets OK
In September and October, male elk can be heard as they bugle to challenge each other and attract females. This haunting sound is a sure sign that fall has arrived in the West. During this time of the year, visitors may…
Pets OKInformation about the Prairie Dog of Wind Cave National Park.
- Watch Wind Cave WildlifeAll year
View some of North America's most iconic wildlife while enjoying Black Hills scenery. Wind Cave's combination of prairie and forest ecosystems allows visitors to view a number of animals in their natural environment.
Yosemite National Park supports more than 400 species of vertebrates including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The high diversity of species is the result of diverse habitats in Yosemite that are largely…
From the NPS Data API's things-to-do records, checked 2026-10-01.
FAQ
Wildlife Watching, quickly
- Which national parks offer wildlife watching?
- 53 of the 63 national parks list wildlife watching 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, Denali, 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, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, Lassen Volcanic, Mammoth Cave, Mesa Verde, Mount Rainier, American Samoa, New River Gorge, Olympic, Petrified Forest, Pinnacles, Redwood, Rocky Mountain, 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 wildlife watching?
- By 2025 recreation visits, Kobuk Valley National Park (7,786 visits), then Lake Clark (19,778). The busiest park on this list is Great Smoky Mountains, with 11,527,939.
- Which state has the most national parks for wildlife watching?
- California, with 8, followed by Alaska (7).
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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