What’s your idea of a dream vacation? Do you see yourself doing something high intensity — mountain climbing, skiing, white-water rafting? Or does your taste run toward something more relaxed — canoeing, sightseeing, or just lying on the beach? You can do all these and a lot more in the U.S. national parks.

In 1872, when Ulysses S Grant was president, the U.S. government set aside 2 million acres of land in Wyoming and Montana as “a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” This area, Yellowstone National Park, was the first in the country. In 1912, Congress created the national park system, the first in the world. Today, almost 125,000 square miles have been designated as national parks. These include national monuments, preserves, scenic trails, seashores, memorials, historic sites, battlefields, and recreation areas. National forests, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas add another 443,000 acres. No other nation on earth has set aside such a large portion of its land for public use and enjoyment.

The national park system is dominated by 50 national parks, found mostly in the West. They are often sites of great geological beauty (the Grand Canyon) and biological diversity (the Everglades). Often described as America’s crown jewels, they are supplemented by numerous state parks.

What Can You Do There?

Like most federal lands, the national parks are managed for more than one use. Their primary function is the preservation of unique natural landscapes and the protection of wildlife habitats. Coinciding with this goal is public education. Nature walks, guided tours, video presentations, and other educational services provide Americans with a better understanding of nature.

The national parks also provide recreational activities that don’t drastically alter the habitat, including hiking, fishing, and camping. Motor vehicles are allowed on roads only, and no off-road vehicles are permitted.

There are sharp distinctions among national parks and land designated as national forests, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuges. Forests are managed according to the principles of sustainable yield and multiple use. This means forests are used for many commercial purposes, including logging, trapping, mining, grazing, and recreation, all at the same time.

Wilderness areas are meant to be preserved exactly as they have evolved, wild and untouched. This is nearly impossible in today’s world, but human interference is kept to a minimum in wilderness areas. You can hike, fish, camp (tents only), and boat, as long as you supply the boat’s power (no motors).

Wildlife refuges are usually set up to protect habitats for waterfowl and game animals, providing an annual harvestable supply for hunters. Hunting, logging, livestock grazing, and other activities are permitted here, unless they conflict with habitat protection. A few refuges have been established to save a specific endangered species. A refuge in southern Mississippi, for example, was established to save sandhill cranes. Refuges aren’t designed for recreation. You can hike and birdwatch in some, though.

Hard Times for Our Parks

The national parks (and other federal lands) are currently facing severe problems. Ironically, these problems stem from the parks’ spectacular success. As the U.S. population continues to grow, more roads are built, more cars use these roads, and more people vacation in the parks. Visits to national parks increased 12 times between 1950 and 1990 and are expected to continue to increase. This will put even more strain on an already overburdened, often underfunded system.

As a result, many parks are over-crowded with people and vehicles. Traffic jams, noise, and litter take an increasing amount of Park Service rangers’ time. And the high use takes its toll as aquatic areas become polluted and nature trails deteriorate.

In most parks, populations of large predators, such as bears, wolves, and cougars, have dropped sharply or disappeared altogether. This decline has allowed their remaining prey, such as deer, to overpopulate. They, in turn, destroy vegetation and crowd out other native animal species.

By far, the strongest threat to our parks is from human activities in nearby areas. Mining, timber harvesting, water diversion, and grazing directly affect neighboring parks. The Everglades National Park in Florida, so devastated by last August’s Hurricane Andrew, was already drying up as water was diverted to Florida’s mushrooming population. Human-generated air pollution is another problem. It impairs the visibility of scenic views more than 90 percent of the time!

When you’re planning a vacation, consider the area you want to visit and the activities you want available. After you’ve decided on the area, contact the National Park Service. They will send you a little book packed with information about our park system. It lists all the parks in the country by state. It tells you how big each park is, its history, and what recreational activities are available. You will also receive a map of the United States, showing the location of each park and how to get there. On the other side of the map is a chart of the parks and their facilities.

Now you’re ready to choose a destination. If you’re traveling during a busy vacation season, give the park office a call to inquire about reservations. These may be required for campsites, back-country camping, and motels. If you’ll be fishing or hunting, the usual state and federal license requirements apply to parks. Be prepared to pay an entrance fee in some parks. Then pack your bags and enjoy the biggest and one of the best park systems in the world.