Photo by Vara I at Shutterstock
With 63 national parks in the US, it’s hard to choose your next getaway spot, but our guide covers the most underrated of them. We have all heard of Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Everglades. But not everyone is familiar with all the magnificent parks on our list.
So it’s time to leave the masses behind and get remote in a place where you’re more likely to have your life endangered by a wild animal rather than being accidentally pushed off a cliff by a child with his head in the phone.
Of all the national parks, these 11 should move to the top of your list if you’re looking to maximize the “nature” in your next wilderness experience.
North Dakota is a misunderstood state, especially when it comes to its geography. This vast, sprawling National Park is the opposite of the flat, rolling grassland you expect when you think of the state. Here is where the Badlands start cutting into the landscape, carving sharp rock faces into the countryside. It’s where the night sky alternates between panoramic star shows and fierce thunderstorms.
One notable activity that this ND landmark offers is horseback riding through the hills and lands across the Little Missouri River. Buffalo and wild horses roam free among its river valleys and painted hills. The rangers still say “you betcha” though, because some things about North Dakota are correctly understood.
The park has been dedicated to Teddy Roosevelt, who magnified and admired the US national parks. The ND national park is home to many wildlife. Bison, pronghorns, elk, white-tailed and black-tailed deer, bighorns, wild horses, and other small amphibians, mammals, and reptiles. When there is heavy rainfall in the spring, wild plants bloom across the plains and river banks. The park isn’t crowded, so you can enjoy the solitude just as Teddy Roosevelt once did.
Next, who says a park has to be above ground…..
What makes this US national park unique is that 95% of it is located underwater! Biscayne National Park is 173,000 acres of Caribbean-like crystal-clear water that is swept by the shallow seagrass of Biscayne Bay. This area and down towards the Florida Keys is the third largest coral reef in the world! The vibrant park is at Miami’s doorstep and consists of 30 islets and deep forests of mangroves.
The park is also home to some of the most incredible snorkeling and scuba diving in the United States. You can even swim with manatees and 200 other fish species, like coral bites and silver tooth barracuda!
Be aware that you will often find rain in the afternoons at the Florida national park during summer and autumn. In fall, you can expect the possibility of tropical storms and hurricanes. So your best bet is to visit in spring.
This next park looks like it’s out of a movie…..
Yes, this may be the park where Aron Ralston (James Franco in the movie) amputated his arm while trapped! But don’t let 127 Hours scare you. There are plenty of epic scenes you can take in without having to remove appendages. We suggest taking a buddy or two and your 4×4 (or you can rent one in Moab) and drive down White Rim Road, a 100-mile trip around and below the mesa top. You’ll take in tremendous Mars-like desert panoramas while the crowds over at nearby Arches National Park are stuck in traffic.
This park’s unique geography makes it a magnificent destination for hiking, mountain biking, and backpacking. The White Rim Road allows visitors to have free access to various park sections, including the Island in the sky. Keep in mind that for driving or biking across The White Rim Road, day permits are necessary. Enjoy the natural wonder of Canyonlands National Park. However, do your best to decrease your influence on the area and wildlife.
Most visitors join groups to the Island in the sky, but others head over to the Needles and Maze. If you are a kayaking or rafting fan, the Colorado River and the Green River await you. Leap into the heart of adventuring and explore the inexperienced.
Next, when bad is actually good…..
Badlands National Park has something for everyone. If you have a family, you can attend a Junior Ranger Program and hike Fossil Exhibit Trail, an excellent place for kids to explore. For the more experienced hikers, Check out a social trail and camp for the night in the backcountry. Or, if you’re looking for some relaxation, drive the Badlands Loop Road and keep an eye out for some wildlife.
The wildlife thrives in the park’s 244,000 acres and can usually be seen while hiking, camping, and traveling the Badlands Scenic Byway. The striking South Dakota landscape possesses a maze of canyons, pinnacles, and spires. Skeletons of saber-toothed cats and three-toed horses are among the many fossilized species found.
The rugged terrain was formed through soil erosion. Badlands National Park is unique in that the soil there has somehow managed to grow green grass and populate these newly formed lands with various inhabitants. It is a must-see for any traveler!
You’ll want to gorge yourself on this next park…..
A rocky, whitewater river flowing northward through deep canyons, the New River Gorge sits in the dense Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia. The river is one of the earliest in North America. This new national park is a whitewater rafting paradise and THE place for rock climbers! But The US National park has only been designated as this in 2020, making it the 63rd national park.
It covers over 70,000 acres of land down the New River, is full of cultural and natural history, and offers many scenic and recreational opportunities. The National Park & Preserve encompasses more than 70,000 acres of land and is merely a one-hour drive from Charleston, the state capital. It also contains several fantastic hiking trails.
You’ll feel superior after you visit this next park…..
Visits to Isle Royale National Park start by crossing the cold waters of Lake Superior. Once there, explore the wild Northwoods forest, discover scenic, rugged shores, and create memories that will last a lifetime. IR is one of Michigan’s five national parks. This island is full of wildlife and outdoor adventure.
Even though it is a national park, you won’t find crowds of people. Isle Royale is one of the least examined national parks in the country, but not for lack of beauty. Convenience is the problem. It is accessible only by boat and closed in winter. A five-hour boat ride from the Upper Peninsula is the easiest way to get here. Isle Royale tallies such a low visitor count that more folks visit Yellowstone in a single day than Isle Royale may see in a year. That alone makes it incredible, but there are many other reasons why you should go on a backpacking trip here.
You’ve got camping, boat rides, scuba diving, kayaking, and also, um, wolves! Over the past decade, the island’s honored pack of wild wolves had decreased to just two, but in 2018 the National Park decided to fix this issue, and as of spring 2019, the pack was up to 15. Its private environment makes it the perfect location for visitors to connect with the nature around it. So pack up your bags, lace up your hiking boots, and don’t forget to bring the binoculars!
You can bend the next park to your will…..
There is a place in West Texas where rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. Big Bend National Park is the main attraction of the entire region. It is an 1100 square mile playground and classroom. The 800,000-acre national park has three primary habitats: river, desert, and mountains.
Here, hundreds of birds take shelter in a solitary mountain range surrounded by desert. Robust cactus bloom in the southwestern sun, and the diversity of species is the best in the country. Big Bend National Park encompasses the Rio Grande River, and Mexico is just a stone’s throw away. If you’re going, backpack through the Chisos Mountains, the only mountain range that’s completely within the borders of a National Park.
Spend the day kayaking to your heart’s content. Once night falls, you’ll witness one of the most remarkable celestial panoramas you’ll likely ever see. Big Bend’s far-flung location gives it some of the darkest skies in the States.
This next park will blow you away…..
Oregon is just overflowing with beautiful places. The region of Crater Lake National Park is over 181,000 acres and was formed in 1902 around Blue Lake. It is one of the most incredible weekend trips from Portland. Many things make Crater Lake a US park worth visiting, from its surrounding mountains to Wizard Island and more. Most visitors venture to the Oregon national park in summer, but it is worth a winter visit to experience the snow.
The local attraction is “Lake Wanderer,” a log that’s been floating vertically for over a hundred years. The wood hasn’t deteriorated despite the cold water temperatures. A gigantic, charming basin ringed by towering cliffs, Crater Lake’s crazy-deep water sets a scene stunning enough to be one of the earliest National Parks picked in 1902. That dark blue but clear is like nothing else you’ll ever see or jump into. Due to the remote location, Crater Lake historically has never pulled in too many people, but lately, word seems to be going around.
Visitor numbers have risen nearly 25% in past years. So head out there before it becomes too in demand. Avoid the weekends of July and August, and you’re sure to find privacy, whether you do so while exploring the remarkably named Wizard Island cinder cone in the middle of the lake or snowshoeing the border of the stunning water.
You’ll get peak enjoyment out of the next park…..
Every inch of Colorado is hiding something legendary. The Great Sand Dunes National Park offers you thirty square miles of towering dunes, the tallest in North America, peaking at around 700 feet. Wind through the San Luis Valley Floor, providing a sweet spot to shred, snow-free. Sandboards and sand sleds are available for rental at a few nearby shops.
One disclaimer: there are no lifts, of course, so you’ll have to trek to the top. But here’s an insider tip: once finished, soothe your bare feet in the glacial water of nearby Zapata Falls. Begin your day at The Great Sand Dunes visitor center to see exhibits showing the interesting way the great sand dunes were formed and get an idea of the land from the local park rangers.
We recommend viewing the dune field from the central Dunes Parking Area, where you can check out Medano Creek, sand sled down the dunes, or begin planning a 4WD tour through the dunes. An excellent hiking trip includes the Mosca Pass, where you can get great views and hear the wildlife all around you.
This next park isn’t remotely bad at all…..
North Cascades National Park is situated just 3 hours away from Seattle, even though it continues to be one of the least visited national parks in the country. True, it is located in a somewhat remote location, but it is so picturesque that it is one of the most glorious locations in the US, hands-down.
This park deserves a lot more recognition, given its breathtaking mountain peaks, glaciers, deep lakes, forested valleys, and endless opportunities for adventure! More than 300 glaciers grace NC National Park, thus more than any other national park outside Alaska. It is one of the frostiest places in the US, and while most of it shuts during the winter months, adventurers will love that it offers a magical wonderland like no other!
For those unable to climb a mountain themselves, lookouts such as Artist Point, by the northwest part of the park, and Washington Pass Overlook, by the southeast part of the park, provide beautiful vistas.
You can channel your love of nature with this last park…..
Channel Islands National Park gives you a wide variety of recreational chances and a great break from the chaos of urban life. However, since the park consists of five islands and surrounds one mile of the ocean, deciding where you should go or what to do can be challenging. Even though you can see them from the mainland, just north of LA, the Channel Islands seem like a different world. There are no cars or phone lines, and the diversity of wildlife is unmatched. Almost 150 species of plants and animals can be found here that aren’t anywhere else on earth. After a short ferry ride to get there, enjoy the wildest Island views via a series of shallow-water, sea lion-filled scuba dives, or paddle the coastline to see some of the world’s biggest sea caves in a sea kayak.
Speaking of Islands, here are some great ones you may want to visit!
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I found all this information and wonderful photography absolutely fascinating!! There are so many fabulous places in this country that I will never see -- Thank you SOO muh for bringing them to me!