American Samoa National Park

Year Established: 1988
Annual Visitors: 8,500
Size: 8,256 Acres

Best Time to Visit American Samoa National Park

June to September

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks here.

Best Experiences in American Samoa National Park

• Mount Alava Trail
• Experience the steep switchback road to Rainmaker Pass
• Stop and take in the view of Pola Island from the cliffs above Vatia
• Snorkel the waters off the shore of Ofu

A Brief History

Tutuila, Ta’u, and Ofu are three volcanic islands 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii. This is the most remote national park and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. It has beautiful coral reefs, including a reef that was just found off Tau that is the largest ever found.

This park also has five rain forests, and the island of Ta’u has the highest sea cliffs in the world, with a terrifying drop of 3,000 feet. The waters at its base, which have been named a National Marine Sanctuary, are home to nearly 1,000 different kinds of fish, as well as humpback seals and sea turtles.

The islands are home to more than 350 types of birds, such as the exotic red-headed cardinal honeyeater. However, other than three types of bats, the islands don’t have any native mammals.

Throughout the area, archeologists have found star mounds, adze quarries, and graves that were part of the ancient Polynesian culture.

About American Samoa National Park

In the island chain of American Samoa, you’ll find American Samoa National Park, which is almost as far away from New Zealand as Hawaii is from the United States. Although American Samoa, a US territory located far from the mainland, is home to a national park managed by the National Parks Service, it receives fewer visitors than most other US national parks. However, those who do make the trip will be greeted by friendly locals and given a welcome as warm as the island’s molten center.

Exploring Pago Pago

Three of the five inhabited islands in the archipelago are protected as part of the national park, covering about one sixth of the total landmass. Pago Pago, the capital of the American Samoa, is located on the largest island, Tutuila, and has a population of 3,500.

The real fun starts at the base of Mount Alava, so pick up a map of the park’s trails and roads at the visitor center.

With the help of ropes and ladders, visitors can ascend over 1,600 feet to the peak of Alava, where they will be rewarded with a verdant panorama across the entire island.

The Islands of Ta’u and Ofu

In addition to their isolation, the islands of Ta’u and Ofu are also far from any major landmass. To reach the top of Lata Mountain, one of the world’s highest sea cliffs at 3,170 ft, Ta’u requires both a forest trek and a coastline ascent. Keep your eyes out for Samoan flying foxes as they soar between the leaves of the rainforest’s canopy.

Meanwhile, Ofu is home to a stunningly beautiful stretch of beach that extends for about four miles (about six and a half kilometers). The park’s coral reefs are as important as the park’s rainforests and beaches, and the best place to see them is from the water with a snorkel. More than a third of the park is submerged, and its colorful coral has somehow avoided the bleaching that has plagued the Great Barrier Reef and the Indian Ocean.

Visitor Information

Fees

No fees or reservations are required to visit the national park.

Visitor Centers

National Park of American Samoa Visitor Center

You won’t find the usual things you’d find in most national parks. Instead, if you have a little bit of the spirit of an explorer, you’ll find hidden villages, rare plants and animals, coral-sand beaches, and views of both land and sea. Parts of the islands Tutuila, Ta’u, and Ofu are in the national park. Almost the whole land area of these volcanic islands is covered by rainforest, from the mountains to the coast. Off the coasts of all three islands, about 4,000 acres of the national park are under water.

The NPS Visitor Center and exhibit are in Pago Pago, right next to the yellow gas station on Pago Pago Way. There are people called “Park Rangers” who can help you plan your trip to the National Park. The natural and cultural resources of American Samoa are shown in exhibits. A small bookstore sells books and gifts that can help people learn.