Have a sensational and scenic run in these 9 national parks

Explore the wilderness.

National parks are special places set aside to protect natural and historical resources. They’re also some of the U.S.’s most beautiful areas. Since President Ulysses S. Grant designated Yellowstone as the first national park in 1872, the number of national parks has risen to 63. But the National Park Service oversees a total of 428 national park units. This number includes categories like national historic sites, national seashores, national monuments, and national scenic trails. Many of these are ideal places for runners to enjoy diverse landscapes in places with little or no auto traffic. Here are a few of the best national parks for runners.