Iconic locations like Yosemite and Yellowstone attract visitors from all over the world, but our public lands are so much more than just the big 61 national parks. They're also scenic rivers, national marine monuments, national battlefields and wildernesses.

Yes, National Monuments in the United States are almost always situated on public land and are managed by federal agencies such as the National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), or the U.S. Forest Service. They are established under the Antiquities Act of 1906, which gives the President the authority to protect "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest." While they are public land, the rules for their use are often stricter than those for general Bureau of Land Management "multi-use" land. For example, while you can often hike and camp, activities like mining, logging, or motorized vehicle use are frequently restricted to protect the specific features for which the monument was created. In 2026, the management of these lands often involves collaboration with Indigenous tribes, particularly for monuments like Bears Ears, ensuring that while the land remains "public" in the sense of federal ownership, it is treated with a level of cultural and environmental sensitivity that reflects its unique status.