Differences between national parks, national forests
According to NPS, visitors spent $14.5 billion in communities within 60 miles of a national park in 2020.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – U.S. national parks and national forests and different sets of rules that apply to visitors, and knowing the difference between the two will help when you know what to expect when you visit either type of national treasure.
National Parks
A national park is a property the government preserves and barely alters, if it alters it, so that citizens may enjoy historical or environmental attributes. National parks in the United States tend to protect land and wildlife.
The United States' first national park was created when U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed legislation in 1872, making Yellowstone National Park one of the first National Parks in the world.
But one national park technically predates the formation of other national parks. It's called Hot Springs National Park, and it was declared the nation's first federal preservation in 1832. Hot Springs National Park is often described as the first national park in the United States because the park's formation predates that of Yellowstone, which became the first to bear the actual name of National Park.
The Department of the Interior heads national parks, focusing on protecting natural and historic resources for future generations. Camping is allowed at most national parks. Around 237 million people visited national parks in the United States in 2020. To understand that figure, the population of the United States is approximately 332 million.
National parks are considered treasures, and you cannot gather items you find at these parks. So it's essential to leave that beautiful rock behind for future generations.
And there are 84 million acres of national parklands in the United States, so have at it. You've got plenty of places you can explore.
National Forests
National forests are managed properties that produce goods such as lumber, cattle, minerals, and recreation. National forests fall under the U.S. Forest Service.
Camping in national parks and on national forest lands is allowed at campsites and through dispersed camping. Dispersed camping is a primitive experience where you're away from developed campgrounds, and camping in such cases is usually free. You will not have trash removal, fire pits, tables, toilets, or shower facilities. But you may camp primitively to your heart's content for 16 days. After that, you must move your camp at least five miles away.
Because national forests produce commercial goods, most national forests will allow you to take that pretty rock you find. And some national forests will even allow you to pan for gold, hunt, or even graze your cattle. There is not always an attempt to keep the native landscape's natural attributes in a national forest, so be sure to check with officials at the national forest you plan to visit and ask about the rules you must follow.
In Louisiana, Kisatchie National Forest comprises more than 604,000 acres, much of which is timberland. Kisatchie National Forest timber was devastated in 2019 when a tornado wiped out 2500 acres of timber. Then hurricanes Laura and Delta damaged 200,000 acres of forest. But hundreds of thousands of acres are at your disposal, and the azalea trail is a beautiful weekend hike when the flowers are in bloom.
National Monuments
Another aspect of the NPS system that's easy to confuse with others is the concept of the national monument.
National monuments are landscapes or historic sites protected through the passage of Congressional legislation or by the President of the United States using the Antiquities Act. They are typically smaller than national parks.
No two national monuments are precisely alike. From select canyons, coasts, and mountains to the Statue of Liberty, our National Monuments are managed by (depending on the site) either the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Bureau of Land Management.
Some national monument sites allow camping, while others do not, so check with the site before you load up the car and pitch your tent at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. National Park visitation rules vary from site to site.
One of the closest national monuments to the junction of the Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana state lines is the Poverty Point National Monument in northeast Louisiana. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These ancient mounds offer insight into pre-Columbian life in the Mississippi Delta region. National park preservation has a particularly strong emphasis at locations that involve our nation's history.
State Parks
With hundreds of millions of visitors on tens of millions of acres, state parks are public lands established by individual states to protect watersheds, conserve forests, preserve habitats for wildlife, or create recreational areas for humans. By becoming allies with state tourism directors and focusing on eco- and heritage tourism, state parks have seen increased visitation in recent years despite budget difficulties in many regions.
Adirondack Park in New York is the largest state park in the nation, covering more than 6 million acres.
And though the largest state park may not be near Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, or Texas, the largest cypress forest in the world is undoubtedly nearby. Just head over to Caddo Lake State Park in Karnack, Texas and to see one of the most beautiful lakes in the nation. Eco-tourism is growing into a sustainable business for the towns along the shores of the park. And there are Ozark Giraffes in the area, too, as the Civilian Conservation Corps built many historic structures in the state park in the architectural style.
From rock collectors to fishermen, hikers and bikers to biologists, national parks and national forests have something to offer everyone. Just check the rules for the park or forest that you're visiting before you go and be careful to leave no trace behind.
These parks are meant to be enjoyed by this generation and by the grandchildren of babies that haven't even been born yet.