(Images) 63 National Park Entrance Signs – Iconic Symbols, Colors, and Fonts

What better way to memorialize your National Parks trip than to take a picture in front of the iconic entrance sign?

Each National Park has a unique entrance sign that is a hot spot for tourists wanting to prove their presence. If you’ve ever wondered about the history of National Park signage we’ve got you covered!

In this article we’re going to tell you about some of the fonts, colors, and history of the National Park Service signs; plus we’ll share pictures of them all!

National Park Arrowhead Icon History

One thing you’ll quickly notice at every park entrance is the iconic National Park arrowhead.

The famous emblem features a sequoia tree, mountains, and bison. The patch was designed by Dr. Aubrey Neasham in 1951. Since then, it has been displayed on park entrance signs and publications.

The logo has gone through a few iterations over the years. The current arrowhead logo was re-iterated in 2000 by the Dennis-Konetzka Design Group (DKDG) out of Washington, DC.

What Fonts Are Used In National Park Signs?

In the year 2000, the National Park Service hired Don Meeker & Associates to create an official style guide for the park service. The group was selected to standardize the park signage and visitor information including typefaces.

Designer James Montalbano was ultimately chosen to select fonts which would be easier to read. Currently, the two official National Park fonts are Rawlinson (serif) and Frutiger (sans serif).

Prior to 1990, the official National Park Service font was Clarendon (serif). And before 1968, the parks were free to choose whichever fonts and colors they wanted!

National Park Service Colors

The NPS Pantone colors used on the Arrowhead artwork displayed across park signage are:

• Dark Green (grass and trees) PMS 553C
• Dark Rust (mountain) PMS 1615C
• Medium Rust (sky) PMS 1605C
• White (bison, lake, snowfield, and type)

Why Are National Park Entrance Signs Different?

Park entrance signs have always been a source of debate within the National Park Service. Some believe that all signage should have a consistent look to symbolize the National Park System.

Others argue that modern materials would take away from each park’s unique personality.

Entrance Signs For Each US National Park

Ultimately, the NPS decided that each park entrance sign would include the Arrowhead logo and Rawlinson and Frutiger typefaces. Support panels and structures should be sourced from local materials.

However as you’ll see below, not all National Parks have adapted their entrance signs to meet these standards.

Acadia National Park Entrance Sign

The entrance sign to Acadia National Park is a great example of the current NPS style-guide. It uses the standard fonts (Rawlinson and Frutiger) as well as the official Arrowhead design.

Arches National Park Entrance Sign

Some parks like Arches have sourced local materials to provide structure to their signage. This one is built into stone to compliment the landscape.

Badlands National Park Entrance Sign

Badlands National Park has yet to update their fonts to reflect the current park service style guide. Prior to 1968, parks were free to choose their own fonts and colors!

Big Bend National Park Entrance Sign

Biscayne National Park Entrance Sign

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Entrance Sign

Black Canyon of the Gunnison is another example of parks not following the updated typefaces set forth by the National Park System.

The sign does however use local materials for the structure and includes a cool graphic representing the park’s famous “Painted Wall.”

Bryce Canyon National Park Entrance Sign

Canyonlands National Park Entrance Sign

Capitol Reef National Park Entrance Sign

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Entrance Sign

Channel Islands National Park Entrance Sign

Congaree National Park Entrance Sign

Crater Lake National Park Entrance Sign

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Entrance Sign

Death Valley National Park Entrance Sign

The entrance to Death Valley National Park reflects the mountains, valley, and even gives you a glimpse of Badwater Basin.

The signage does not use the current park typefaces. Instead, it uses Helvetica which was first used in 1977 by park service designer Massimo Vignelli.

Denali National Park Entrance Sign

Dry Tortugas National Park Entrance Sign

Everglades National Park Entrance Sign

Gates of the Arctic National Park Entrance Sign – (not pictured)

Glacier National Park Entrance Sign

The entrance to Glacier National Park uses an older typeface which is not longer in use.

Glacier Bay National Park Entrance Sign

Grand Canyon National Park Entrance Sign

Grand Teton National Park Entrance Sign

Great Basin National Park Entrance Sign

Great Sand Dunes National Park Entrance Sign

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Sign

Guadalupe Mountains National Park Entrance Sign

Haleakala National Park Entrance Sign

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Entrance Sign

Hot Springs National Park Entrance Sign

Isle Royale National Park Entrance Sign

Joshua Tree National Park Entrance Sign

Katmai National Park Entrance Sign

Kenai Fjords National Park Entrance Sign

Kings Canyon National Park Entrance Sign

The entrance sign to King’s Canyon National Park is one of our personal favorites. It uses natural materials to represent the deep canyon which drops 8,200 feet from its highest point.

Kobuk Valley National Park Entrance Sign – (not pictured)

Lake Clark National Park Entrance Sign

Lassen Volcanic National Park Entrance Sign

Mammoth Cave National Park Entrance Sign

Mesa Verde National Park Entrance Sign

Mount Rainier National Park Entrance Sign

North Cascades National Park Entrance Sign

Olympic National Park Entrance Sign

Petrified Forest National Park Entrance Sign

Redwood National Park Entrance Sign

Rocky Mountain National Park Entrance Sign

Saguaro National Park Entrance Sign

Saguaro National Park has a distinctive entrance sourced from local materials.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Entrance Sign

When driving into Sequoia National Park, you are greeted by historic signage which is unlike that of any other park. It does not include the iconic arrowhead or official typefaces.

This sign was designed in 1935 by Civilian Conservation Corps craftsman George Muno. It features the same Native American profile found on the “buffalo” nickel from 1913.

It was meant to honor a Cherokee scholar named Sequoyah who invented the alphabet for his language. Many speculated that the Sequoia trees were named after Sequoyah himself.

Shenandoah National Park Entrance Sign

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Entrance Sign

Voyageurs National Park Entrance Sign

Wind Cave National Park Entrance Sign

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Entrance Sign

Yellowstone National Park Entrance Sign

Yosemite National Park Entrance Sign

The Yosemite National Park entrance displays the dramatic rockfaces throughout the park including waterfalls and and the famous half-dome hike.

Zion National Park Entrance Sign

The entrance to Zion National Park is another example of older signage that uses natural materials and retired typefaces.