National parks are a great gateway when you want to spend a day surrounded by nature, with unique landscapes, relaxing with your partner, or exercising with friends. The most well-known national parks are Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Zion and Great Smoky Mountains, but there are 63 throughout the United States. Some of them are just as attractive as those already mentioned but, for some reason, don’t generate as much buzz. We’ll reveal these hidden national parks where you won’t find as many people and can enjoy wildlife and history while relaxing outdoors!
North Cascades National Park, Washington
When you learn that North Cascades National Park has more glaciers than any other national park in the United States outside of Alaska, it’s surprising that it isn’t visited by more people. In that area of Washington state, you can find towering peaks, turquoise lakes, alpine meadows, and wild snowscapes. Compared to Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks, North Cascades receives far fewer visitors. Those who visit it most are photographers because they feel that nature is alive there, undisturbed.
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
In Nevada, near the Utah border, lies Great Basin National Park, where ancient bristlecone pine forest meet mountains and limestone caves. Visitors exploring Great Basin can enjoy the tranquility of the area, which is far removed from urban life, and at night, they can revel in clear skies free from light pollution.
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Isle Royale National Park is only accessible by seaplane or ferry, which explains why its difficult access to limits the number of visitors. If you do manage to reach the island, you’ll encounter wolves and moose, outnumbering them by the number of people. You can enjoy hiking and kayaking there, but despite all its appeal, it remains one of the least-visited experiences in the United States.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park, Colorado
Near Black Canyon in Gunnison National Park in Colorado are the Rocky Mountains, which is perhaps why people choose to visit other areas. This less-visited national park features canyon walls 2,000 feet high, creating a vertical landscape that not everyone can bear to behold. Photographers love this region because the scenery is breathtaking and it’s relatively uncrowded. However, it’s surprising that it doesn’t attract more tourists.
Congaree National Park, South Carolina
Congaree National Park boasts impressively tall trees, elevated boardwalks, canoe trails, and a level of biodiversity rarely found in other national parks. It also contains one of the largest remaining old-growth bottomland hardwood forests in the United States. One aspect that makes this region less attractive is that it lack mountains or striking rock formations, but it offers a peaceful atmosphere, and fireflies appear seasonally, displaying their beauty among the park’s plants.
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Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
In Theodore Roosevelt National Park, you’ll find a wide variety of wildlife, including wild horses, bisons, and prairie dogs, all set against a dramatic landscape. Some visitors mention that it resembles South Dakota’s Badlands National Park, though it’s quieter and less crowded.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
The appeal of Lassen Volcanic National Park lies in its fascinating geothermal features, which give it its name. From bubbling mud pots and steaming fumaroles to alpine lakes and volcanic landscapes, there’s something for everyone, but these features aren’t enough to draw many visitors. People still tend to choose other nearby national parks like Yosemite, Sequoia, and Joshua Tree. Those who do visit Lassen Volcanic say the experience is similar to Yellowstone, but it’s not included in most road trip itineraries.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
Guadalupe Mountains National Park boasts the highest peak in all of Texas, the Guadalupe Peak of 8,751 feet, nestled amidst a wild, desert landscape ideal for hiking. However, due to its remote location, the region sees few visitors, allowing you to enjoy nature without the crowds. The panorama offers Permian fossil reefs and a desert landscape. In turn, McKittrick Canyon is known for its autumn foliage and contrasts with the surrounding Chihuahuan desert.
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Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Beyond the well-known “Mighty Five” national parks un Utah, Capitol Reef isn’t nearly as popular as Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon and Canyonlands in terms of visitor numbers. However, Capitol Reef boasts colorful cliffs, canyons, orchards, geological formations, and breathtaking scenery. It might be worth a visit if you prefer to avoid crowds.
Channel Islands National Park, California
A chain of islands makes up the so-called “Galapagos Americans”, which together form Channel Islands National Park. Unique wildlife, underwater caves, and opportunities for kayaking, snorkeling and hiking make this national park a true attraction, but it struggles to draw enough visitors. This lack of travelers is due to the difficulty of reaching the islands, which requires traveling by boat, making it easier to visit other national parks in California and also transform it in one of many hidden national parks.
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Again, the way you reach a national park is what determines the low number of visitors it receives. To get to Dry Tortugas National Park, you must travel to a remote region by ferry, seaplane, or private boat. But after the 70-mile journey west of Key West, you’ll find one of these hidden national parks surrounding Fort Jefferson, where you can admire crystal-clear water, coral reefs, snorkel or observe birds unique to the area.
Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
In Minnesota, along the Canadian border, Voyageurs National Park is more appealing for its interconnected waterways than for its roads or trails. The lakes, islands and forest teem with wildlife. Those who visit the park, though few in number, can enjoy boating, canoeing, fishing, or simply taking in the unique scenery in relative peace and quiet.
New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia
New River Gorge National Park is the newest national park in the United States, which is why many people are still unaware of its existence and remains as one of the hidden national parks. It has gained popularity for its scenery, hiking, climbing and whitewater rafting opportunities, as well as for visiting one of the nation’s most famous bridges, which shares the park’s name. New River Gorge also showcases a portion of the Appalachian Mountains, among many other outdoor recreational activities.
Pinnacles National Park, California
The rock formations in Pinnacles National Park are unique, and visitors can also explore caves, hike, and spot the area’s endangered Californian condors. The landscape of Pinnacles National Park is so attractive that people can’t understand why it hasn’t held this designation long ago, since 2013 that has been established.
Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska
Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska is one of the hidden national parks in the country, but it boasts some of the nation’s most unique landscapes. The sand dunes you’ll see are enormous and lie well north of the Arctic Circle. The park’s remote location discourages many visitors, but those who venture there are never disappointed and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Why These Parks Deserve More Attention
National parks have built such a strong reputation that visitor numbers keep increasing, with reservation systems, traffic, and competition for camping spots creating a truly chaotic scene. However, these hidden national parks benefit from their location, even though getting families there presents logistical challenges. Another positive aspect is that the scenery is wilder due to fewer people, offering a unique experience unlike anything found in other parks. ¿Are you visiting any of these hidden national parks any time soon?
