 Pacific
The Pacific region's 31 parks are studies in contrasts and extremes. Only 100 miles separate the lowest point in the United States (Death Valley) from the highest point in the lower 48 (Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park). Its stark desert environments contain as much mystery and beauty as its underwater kelp forests and coral reefs. Known best for its natural resource parks, the Pacific is also rich in historic resources.
Featured Parks in the Region
- American Samoa is home to pristine coral reefs, tropical rainforests, and white sand beaches.
- Channel Islands National Park, comprised of five of the eight California Channel Islands, is rich in natural, historical, and cultural resources.
- Death Valley National Park, the hottest spot in North America, is largely below sea level. Its breathtaking desert scenery is a back-drop to some of the harshest living conditions on earth.
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area includes the Presidio, a living representation of U.S. military history from the Civil War up to the present.
- Haleakala is located on the mountain tops of Maui and is home to many rare and endangered species.
- Hawaii Volcanoes has borne witness to spectacular evolutionary and volcanic processes. The park ranges from sea level to the peak of the most massive volcano on earth.
- Joshua Tree National Park is a unique desert ecosystem, home to a variety of specialized wildlife.
- Mojave National Preserve boasts one of the most diverse desert environments on earth.
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks boasts the General Sherman Tree (a giant sequoia), the world’s largest organism.
- Redwoods National Park protects the world’s tallest tree, the coast redwood.
- Yosemite is famed for its spectacular waterfalls and massive monoliths that have inspired artists and photographers the world over.
See a list of national parks in the Pacific Region >>
Pacific Region Announces New Nevada Field Office
NPCA announces its latest field office in Nevada. The new field office, located in Las Vegas, champions Great Basin National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area and supports conservation efforts in California's nearby desert parks.
Air quality and water conservation--particularly as it regards rapidly increasing growth in Southern Nevada and several proposals that threaten area national parks--are the paramount responsibility of the new field office. Recently, NPCA released a report that included Great Basin in a top-ten list of national parks in peril.
For Kids: Make Your Own Park Journal!
 NPCA's Pacific Regional Office has developed a National Park Journal for children ages Kindergarten though sixth grade. The journal is a creative tool to teach children about the national parks, conservation practices, and safety tips when visiting the parks. Read More > >
Threats
- The air pollution in the Pacific region is not limited to Los Angeles, but is having a serious impact on our national parks.
- Development and water usage threaten the fragile ecosystems of Joshua Tree, Death Valley, and Mojave.
- Traffic congestion plagues Pacific regional national parks during peak visitation.
- Damage to the region's coral reefs is occurring at an alarming rate.
- Chronic underfunding is having a profound impact on the parks.
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