Question

In the US, what is the difference between a national park and a national forest?

Answer 1

Area within national forests can be used for grazing, timber, and other uses whereas area within national parks are not used in this manner at all.

Explanation:

One of the major differences between national parks and national forests in the US is that the area within the park remains undisturbed whereas the area within the national forest is managed for purposes such as timber and recreation. There is no natural resource management in national parks, such as Yellowstone National Park and Acadia National Park.

National parks are under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and national forests are under the Department of Agriculture.

The map below shows National Parks in the US:

This map shows National Forests in the US: