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It’s hard to imagine Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon no longer being national parks, but, technically, it could happen. The government can demote national parks and reassign them to other land managers, and they’ve done it in the past. Many national parks and monuments have lost their elevated classification over the decades, for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes, after the fact, Congress decides the area isn’t important enough to merit a special designation. Other times, the sites just never receive visitors.
Even though these areas lost their special status, the public can still visit many of them and participate in a variety of outdoor activities. Here are some of the National Park Service (NPS) sites time forgot, and how to explore them today.
Former National Parks
Mackinac National Park
This island, located on Lake Huron in between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, became the country’s second-ever national park in 1875. It’s home to Fort Mackinac, the state’s oldest surviving military outpost, which served an important role in the War of 1812.
The NPS wasn’t created until 1916, so the Department of War managed the park. By the 1890s, the base had become militarily unnecessary, and the agency balked at the high cost of maintaining the park. Some in the department wanted to sell the land, but locals revolted, so in 1894 they handed it off to the state of Michigan, which created Mackinac Island State Park.
Visiting today: Mackinac Island has become a beloved summer tourist destination. Visitors flock to the island to enjoy its car-free atmosphere and lake views. The state owns around 80% of the island, preserving its historic character.
The 6.3-mile Tranquil Bluff Trail is one of the most scenic on the island, with clear vistas and excellent bird watching opportunities. The Island is known as the “fudge capital of the world,” and streets abound with vintage-style candy shops that can help fuel your hikes. To understand the island’s plant life, stroll the Botanical Trail, with signage that explains the unique flora here.
Platt National Park
The history of this part of Oklahoma dates back to 1902, when the government purchased 33 mineral springs from the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations to create the Sulphur Springs Reservation. In 1906, Congress designated it a national park, and spent decades building infrastructure and visitor services. The area was popular because the springs here were one of the few ways to find relief during hot, sweltering summers.
By the 1960s, the conservation movement supported leaving wild spaces natural, as opposed to the heavy development that had occurred in Platt. Since the area was small and not home to impressive natural features like mountains or rivers Congress combined it with the nearby Arbuckle Recreation Area in 1976 to create the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
Visiting today: Chickasaw National Recreation Area is still a popular destination, with over 1.8 million visitors in 2025. It can be crowded in the summer, so try visiting in the shoulder seasons (March to May, and September to October) instead. Entry is free.
Deciduous forests meet prairies to create a unique landscape. Hiking trails abound; the 1-mile Antelope Springs trail is perfect for a casual evening stroll by the water. Check out the 2-mile West Bison Pasture Loop for a chance to see the trail’s namesake animal.
There are six campgrounds throughout the park, which cost $20 to $30/night and can be reserved online. Fishing in the area’s creeks is a popular pastime; be sure to follow all Oklahoma state fishing regulations.
Hill National Park
Conservation icon Theodore Roosevelt created this national park in North Dakota in 1904. The area served as an important big-game preserve to save species like bison. Its importance in conservation eventually led President Herbert Hoover to make it a wildlife refuge and transfer it to the agency that would become the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). In 2019, it was renamed the White Horse Hill National Game Preserve.
Visiting today: The refuge is open daily to visitors. No overnight stays are allowed. Slowly drive along a designated 4.5-mile car route for the chance to view bison, elk, and deer. There’s also a large prairie dog town near the visitors’ center that is a short walk away. The area is home to over 210 species of birds, so be sure to bring along your binoculars.
General Grant National Park
In many cases, former NPS sites get transferred to other agencies, but in this case, one park got subsumed into another. In 1890, right after the creation of Sequoia National Park, President Benjamin Harrison created nearby General Grant National Park to protect its giant Sequoias from logging. In 1940, the government created the much larger Kings Canyon National Park, which surrounded General Grant. It didn’t make sense to have one park encircled by another, so Kings Canyon took over the smaller park.
Visiting today: The area, now known as General Grant’s Grove, is open to visitors to Kings Canyon. Park entry requires a $35 fee or an America the Beautiful Pass ($80).
The main highlight is the gigantic tree named after the Civil War hero. General Grant’s tree is the world’s second-largest tree by trunk volume. The larger area is home to many other impressive giant Sequoias, as well as meadows and a small waterfall. Combine the North Grove Loop and Dead Giant Trail for a 2.5-mile journey through the area that also provides views of Sequoia Lake.
Former National Monuments
Papago Saguaro National Monument
Before Saguaro National Park existed, there was Papago Saguaro National Monument. Under the 1906 Antiquities Act, a president can declare a national monument with a stroke of a pen, and President Woodrow Wilson did just that in 1914. The land, which the local Maricopa and Pima Tribes once held, was home to distinct red sandstone rock formations and fields of the namesake cacti. The monument, however, quickly fell into disarray, with inadequate funding for upkeep. By 1930, the government had had enough, and passed the land over to the state.
Visiting today: Papago Park has become a popular outdoor recreation destination for the residents of Phoenix and Tempe. It’s a great spot for a post-work hike; popular trails include the 2.3-mile Double Butte Loop and 2.7-mile Elliot Ramada Loop. Other must-visit attractions inside the park include the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden.
Lewis & Clark Caverns National Monument
Local deer hunters first noticed this series of caves in Jefferson County, Montana, in 1898. Then, in 1911, President Howard Taft declared the impressive caverns a national monument. During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps built much of the infrastructure and tunnels that allowed visitors to tour the caves. In 1937, Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior to hand over the land to the state, because the land did not possess enough “national significance.” It then became Montana’s first state park.
Visiting today: Located less than an hour from Bozeman, Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is a great add-on stop for folks visiting Yellowstone National Park. Be sure to book a guided tour in advance, since it’s the only way to tour the massive limestone caves. Above ground, other popular activities include hiking and biking trails, fishing and canoeing on the Jefferson River, and birdwatching. There’s also campsites and cabins available for reservation online. The best time to visit is May through September.
Father Millet Cross National Monument
The nation’s smallest national monument was also one of its most short-lived. In the late 1600s, a group of French colonists endured a harrowing winter at a fort near Niagara Falls, where many died of starvation. In 1688, Father Pierre Millet, a missionary, had a cross erected there to remember the dead. In 1925, President Coolidge ordered a new cross built on the same site, and declared the 18-square-foot portion of land a national monument.
In 1949, Congress declared the tiny plot “extraneous,” and handed it over to New York as part of Fort Niagara State Park and Old Fort Niagara State Historic Site.
Visiting today: The Father Millet Cross is just one of many pieces of history visitors to the state park can learn about. The French first established Fort Niagara in 1679, and it served as an important military outpost during the French & Indian War and the War of 1812. It served as an active military outpost until 1963, and visitors can tour the grounds and learn from historical interpreters and reenactors. Admission to the historic site costs $17 per adult, while admission to the larger state park costs $8 per vehicle.
Wheeler National Monument
Unique geology is sometimes the reason behind an area’s elevation to national monument status, and Wheeler National Monument is a prime example. Located in the San Juan Mountains in southern Colorado, eruptions from super volcanoes millions of years ago produced to unusual rock and tufa formations, spires, and needles. President Roosevelt signed its special status into law in 1908. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) managed it until 1933, when the NPS took over. In 1950, Congress demoted it, and passed it back to the USFS. The area was extremely remote and difficult to access, and thus attracted very few visitors.
Visiting today: Wheeler Geological Area is now part of the La Garita Wilderness in the Rio Grande National Forest. Getting there involves a 7-mile hike or a rough 14-mile off-road drive. The USFS advises visitors to devote a full, long day to the trip.
For those considering driving, be prepared. “The road is extremely rough with deep ruts, narrow turns, and some steep hills. High-clearance 4×4 vehicles or ATVs are recommended. This road is not recommended for travel during monsoonal storms,” USFS warns.
Camping is not allowed among the formations, but you can disperse camp nearby for free at Hansen Mill site and at the end of Wheeler Road #600. If you’re looking for a unique, remote weekend backpacking trip, Wheeler deserves to be on your list.
Holy Cross National Monument
Mount of the Holy Cross, a 14er located in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, got its name for the distinctive cross-shaped snowfield on its face. President Hoover made it a national monument in 1929 in order to protect it. Unsurprisingly, given its remote location and high elevation, it didn’t bring in many visitors. In 1950, Congress handed it over to the Forest Service, and in 1980, it became a designated wilderness area.
Visiting today: The climb up this 14,007-foot peak starts at the Half Moon Pass trailhead (10,320 feet). The 11.25-mile round-trip journey is strenuous, with over 8,000 feet of elevation gain. Weather can quickly turn for the worse, so be prepared with adequate layers and protection. The road to the trailhead is closed annually from May 1 to June 21, and its reopening date depends on when it’s cleared of snow.
Old Kasaan National Monument
National monuments often serve to protect important cultural or historic sites, and that was President Wilson’s intention when he created Old Kasaan National Monument in Alaska in 1916. The area on Prince of Wales Island was formerly a major settlement for the Haida, an Native American tribe in Alaska and Canada whose history there spanned thousands of years. Despite its monument status, Old Kasaan fell into neglect, with no resources spent on restoration.
In 1955, Congress transferred it to the USFS, which manages it as part of Tongass National Forest.
Visiting today: The Organized Village of Kasaan, run by the tribal government, offers guided tours of the Totem Pole Park and Náay I’waans Whale House. The village also owns and operates two cabins for rent located near the forest, with views of the ocean.
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