Visitation to national parks around the country continues to reach new highs every year as more and more folks are in search of adventure and seeing some of the greatest sights this country has to offer.
But a visit to a national park doesn’t have to mean waiting in lines, entering permit lotteries, or fighting for that last parking spot to go stand in a crowd to watch a geyser spray water in the air.
This country is filled with parks that are still hidden gems and offer up amazing landscapes and adventures for those who are willing to travel a little off the beaten path.
Here are ten national parks that you should add to your list today before the crowds show up.
Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park, located along the eastern edge of Nevada, comes in as the 10th least visited national park in all of the United States. And this includes five remote national parks in Alaska!
Because of its proximity to the popular Utah national parks, this spot tends to fly under the radar. But that just means that you’ll have more space to spread out and enjoy caves, 13,000+ foot peaks, and incredibly dark night skies that are perfect for looking to the cosmos above.
Congaree National Park
One of the newest national parks in the country, Congaree National Park tends to fly under the radar for folks looking for an immersive low-country experience. The park is filled with one of the largest remaining hardwood forests in the southeast and offers world-class wildlife watching and kayaking experiences.
Isle Royale National Park
Taking the crown as the least visited national park in the continental United States, Isle Royale National Park sits along the northern reaches of Lake Superior. Because of its remote location and icy cold winters, the park shuts down during the cold, dark months.
During the summer, this island park is the perfect place to get away from it all and explore the lakes, trails, and boundless views that make up this underrated gem.
Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles National Park is the newest park in the national park system and has become an under-the-radar favorite for nearby Bay Area residents. This is a great place to spread out and enjoy some solitude without having to make the trek to the far more popular parks that sit on the western edge of the Sierras.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers up access to the highest point in this otherwise relatively flat state. At 8,700 feet this peak wouldn’t stand out in most western states but here in Texas it presents quite the stark departure from the deserts below.
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park, with its breathtaking beauty, should be a far more popular place than it is. However, with only 40,000 visitors a year, it is the second-least visited park in the continental United States.
Use that to your advantage and enjoy backcountry adventures where it will be just you and wildlife for days on end. It may not be long before you’re sharing these trails with a grizzly bear or two as talks are underway to reintroduce these magnificent creatures to the park.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
If you’ve ever wanted to immerse yourself among active volcanic features but don’t want to fight the crowds at Yellowstone then pay a visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park instead. Here you can walk amongst steaming fumaroles, bubbling mud pots, and valleys that look like they are on fire with steam rising up from the ground.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Outside of the Rocky Mountain area, this national park tends to fly furthest under the radar. But for those in the know, they will be treated to a stunningly deep and narrow canyon that is perfect for exploration.
Bring your fly fishing gear for one of the most beautiful fishing settings you’ll ever find.
Channel Islands National Park
Located off the coast of the metropolis of Los Angeles, these islands offer a stark difference from the urban sprawl right next door. Here, you’ll find islands that give you a glimpse into what the California coastline looked like before human development took over.
Bring all the gear and supplies you’ll need, as once you’re on the islands, you’re on your own.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
The largest national park (Wrangell-St. Elias is as large as six Yellowstones combined!) is also one of the least accessible. With only a couple of remote roads leading to the park’s edge and hardly any trails, this is a choose-your-own adventure-type place. But those who do take on this adventure will be treated to one of the purest wilderness experiences in the world.
