Yellowstone is now the sixth most visited national park in the U.S. But in 1872, it became the first and only national park. Today there are more than 383 national parks in the U.S. In 1999, more than 287 million people wandered through these wild places. Here are the parks that attracted the most visitors:

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC & TN)
    10.25 million visitors

2. Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
    4.5 million visitors

3. Yosemite National Park (CA)
    3.5 million visitors

4. Olympic National Park (WA)
    3.25 million visitors

5. Rocky Mountain National Park (CO)
    3 million visitors

Source: National Park Service

Daily News from TIME for Kids

January 19, 2001 World Report