AMERICA’S PUBLIC LANDS, EXPLAINED
Iconic destinations like Yosemite and Horseshoe Bend draw millions of visitors each year, all of whom travel with the sole intent of experiencing, in one way or another, a natural spectacle. Any road-tripper is bound to come across protected lands like these—most lie not too far from any of the States’ four million miles of public roads—but some travelers might not be aware of the significance of the land they’re standing on.
The Department of the Interior manages more than 300 million acres of land with titles ranging from national monument to battlefield to wildlife refuge, and knowing the difference between all of them is something that most of us probably can’t claim.
Some designations are obvious (like national seashores or national historic trails: they’re seashores and trails), but others aren’t so clear.
These designations are granted based on what needs protection and at what level, as well as what the site tells us about the country.
National parks
Perhaps the most storied and most photographed of all, the big 61 national parks include the crown jewels
