The Future of America’s National Parks Amid Changing Policies

Thousands of elk traverse the Jackson Hole area in Wyoming each year, moving towards their summer habitats beneath the towering, rugged peaks of Grand Teton National Park in one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife migrations.

This spectacular migration is safeguarded through decades of conservation efforts that have expanded Grand Teton to encompass 485 square miles. As spring warms the region, visitors arriving by car and van line the park’s roads, eager to observe and photograph elk and other wildlife such as wolves, bears, moose, deer, bison, and pronghorn antelope.

With over 3.6 million visitors in the previous year, Grand Teton ranks among the nation’s most frequented parks. The $738 million these tourists spent in nearby hotels, eateries, and shops supported more than 9,300 local jobs, demonstrating the significant economic impact generated by a park operating on an annual budget of roughly $15 million.

This pattern extends nationwide: in the most recent year with available data, U.S. national parks, monuments, and historic sites attracted 325 million visitors who contributed an estimated $26.4 billion to surrounding communities. Park visitation surged to a new high of nearly 332 million last year, underscoring the growing public interest in these natural and cultural treasures.