There are national parks located in around 100 countries throughout the world. So which ones are the oldest? These five national parks have been around for hundreds of years.
Bogod Khan Uul, Mongolia 1783
First established in 1778, this national park boldly claims the title of the oldest national park in the world. It’s located in the southern part of Mongolia and is surrounded by many cultural sites like Zaisan Memorial and Manzushir Monstery. Since 1996 it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. If you plan on visiting this park, you can hike it in around four hours.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana 1872
The is the oldest national park in the United States. President Grant established it in 1872 and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of the mere size of the park at close to 3,500 square miles, Yellowstone is actually located in three states. The park has a lot of different features including the largest collection of geysers in the world including Old Faithful, waterfalls, hot springs, mountain ranges and the Yellowstone River. This park is also home to nearly 60 different species of mammals including bears and elks.
Royal National Park, Australia 1879
Located south of Sydney, this is Australia’s oldest national park. At over 16,000 hectares, the park has a lot for visitors to do. There are numerous hiking trails, waterfalls, beaches and lagoons. The Coast Track is fairly popular and takes about 2 days to hike. From this trail visitors can go snorkeling or kayaking. They may even be able to see whales in the distance. Because there is just so much to do at this park, it’s impossible to do everything in one day. There are camp sites available for those that want to spend the night.
Banff National Park, Canada 1885
This is Canada’s oldest national park. It is part of UNESCO’S Canadian Rocky Mountain World Heritage Site. Located in the Alberta Rocky Mountains, this park is known for its diverse landscape. It has everything from glaciers and ice fields to forests and valleys. Around the park there are several natural sites like Lake Louise, Legacy Trail and Castleguard Caves, which is the largest cave system in Canada. Visitors to Banff tend to enjoy hiking and biking.
Yoho National Park, Canada 1886
Part of the Rocky Mountains, Yolo is also part of the Canadian Rocky Mountains Parks World Heritage Site. Banff National Park is on the eastern side of it. Some of the features of this park are the exquisite waterfalls and rock walls. Sights include Takakkaw Falls, Village of Field and Spiral Tunnels railway.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest national park in the world?
Yellowstone, established in the United States in 1872, is widely recognized as the world’s first national park. Some point to Mongolia’s Bogd Khan Uul, protected as early as 1783, as an even earlier example of a formally protected area.
What was the first national park outside the United States?
Australia’s Royal National Park near Sydney, established in 1879, is generally considered the first national park outside the US, followed by Canada’s Banff in 1885 and New Zealand’s Tongariro in 1887.
How many national parks are there in the world?
There are several thousand national parks across more than 100 countries, plus tens of thousands of other protected areas. The exact count depends on how a national park is defined, but the number has grown steadily since Yellowstone in 1872.
