Though it was designated in 1968, North Cascades National Park embraces an incomplete landscape, one that could be made more robust and attractive to visitors with the addition of nearly 238,000 surrounding acres, according to a group pushing for park expansion.

While Olympic National Park is facing a multi-million-dollar lawsuit over the fatal goring of a hiker by a mountain goat and has implemented regulations designed to ward off future run-ins with the goats, at goat-rich Glacier National Park officials are not altering their regulations.

Winter can hold new opportunities for visits to Mesa Verde National Park, if the snowfall cooperates. The park plans to groom several trail systems in the park for snowshoeing and skiing, and parts of the Wetherill Road will also be available for ungroomed skiing.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, one of the world's largest urban-oriented parks, generates some impressive statistics. Take a look at these numbers.