You’ll find every imaginable landscape awaiting exploration amongst the 63 national parks of the United States. While many know the icy monoliths of Alaska’s Denali, the sweeping coastline of Maine’s Acadia and the giant sequoias of California’s Yosemite, there are many lesser visited parks that are just as extraordinary and unique. Here, we round up 8 underrated national parks that are worth savouring.
USA National Parks
View BookBlack Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado
One of Colorado’s best kept secrets, the Black Canyon cuts a startlingly precise chasm through the landscape. It is one of the sheerest, narrowest gorges on the continent and its tallest cliff, the Painted Wall, is taller than New York City’s Empire State Building. So deep is the chasm, sunlight scarcely reaches the Gunnison river flowing at the bottom, hence the name ‘Black Canyon.’
Aside from the dizzying, jaw-dropping views, this park is a great place for hiking, kayaking and rock climbing. It was also certified an International Dark Sky Park in 2015, with the lack of light pollution making it an ideal spot for stargazing.
Aside from the dizzying, jaw-dropping views, this park is a great place for hiking, kayaking and rock climbing. It was also certified an International Dark Sky Park in 2015, with the lack of light pollution making it an ideal spot for stargazing.
Theodore Roosevelt, North Dakota
The Theodore Roosevelt National Park is one of the best kept secrets in the national park system. Like a scene from a painting, the Little Missouri River weaves through this colourful rolling landscape which is roamed by herds of wild horses with windswept manes.
The park’s South Unit is the most widely visited and accessible, thanks to a scenic loop drive which overlooks the iconic sites like the Painted Canyon. The North Unit offers picturesque views of the Little Missouri, great camping and backcountry trails, as well as Cannonball Concretions which are geologic formations that look like cannonballs. Elkhorn Ranch, built by Theodore Roosevelt, makes up the third unit.
The park’s South Unit is the most widely visited and accessible, thanks to a scenic loop drive which overlooks the iconic sites like the Painted Canyon. The North Unit offers picturesque views of the Little Missouri, great camping and backcountry trails, as well as Cannonball Concretions which are geologic formations that look like cannonballs. Elkhorn Ranch, built by Theodore Roosevelt, makes up the third unit.
Isle Royale, Michigan
Forged by volcanoes and carved by ancient glaciers, Isle Royale sits in the middle of Lake Superior. Shrouded in mystique, Isle Royale offers hidden lagoons and protected bays, underwater shipwrecks and untouched wilderness where wolves and moose have made their homes.
Though one of the least visited of the national parks in the contiguous US, it is the most revisited. Maybe it's the lack of communications signals offering solitude, the abundance of hiking trails in this landscape of 99 percent protected wilderness or the outstanding diving opportunities that keep adventurers coming back.
Though one of the least visited of the national parks in the contiguous US, it is the most revisited. Maybe it's the lack of communications signals offering solitude, the abundance of hiking trails in this landscape of 99 percent protected wilderness or the outstanding diving opportunities that keep adventurers coming back.
North Cascades, Washington
Home to more biodiverse plant life than any other national park and the most glaciers outside of Alaska, the North Cascades National Park is an untamed wilderness. Little breaks the silence here apart from the thundering waterfalls, the unspoiled meadows and lakes so sparsely visited you may as well have them to yourself.
This is the perfect place to escape the modern world, with rugged backcountry hikes, awesome scenery and primitive camping in remote places allowing an unmediated experience of nature.
This is the perfect place to escape the modern world, with rugged backcountry hikes, awesome scenery and primitive camping in remote places allowing an unmediated experience of nature.
Great Basin, Nevada
Nevada’s wild jewel, Great Basin National Park presents a side of the state that many wouldn’t recognize – a stark contrast to the bright lights of Vegas and Reno. Here, the world’s oldest tree species survives in a vital ecosystem rarely seen elsewhere on the continent.
The ancient bristlecone pine trees, characterised by their thick, twisted trunks, are a particular highlight of the park. Another prized feature are the Lehman Caves with their dramatic limestone formations, which began forming around 600 million years ago.
The ancient bristlecone pine trees, characterised by their thick, twisted trunks, are a particular highlight of the park. Another prized feature are the Lehman Caves with their dramatic limestone formations, which began forming around 600 million years ago.
Voyageurs, Minnesota
The Voyageurs is made up of a network of glassy lakes and reflective waterways weaving amongst 900 islands. Unsurprisingly, the waters are a great place for fishing, while the islands are perfect for hiking and exploring. You can also trace the historic route of the fur trading Voyageurs who travelled by canoe.
This is also one of the few national parks where you can hold rocks half the age of Earth in the palm of your hand. Part of the Canadian Shield, the rocks cradling the Voyageurs formed two billion years before the dinosaurs appeared.
This is also one of the few national parks where you can hold rocks half the age of Earth in the palm of your hand. Part of the Canadian Shield, the rocks cradling the Voyageurs formed two billion years before the dinosaurs appeared.
Congaree, South Carolina
A stunning natural world unfolds at Congaree, where Spanish moss drips from cypress trees, leaves carpet the boardwalk trails and the humid air thrums with birdsong. The park was named for the Congaree American Indians, who lived on the Congaree River until European settlers arrived in the 18th century.
Cedar Creek is a particularly scenic spot which you can paddle around on a ranger-guided outing. If you’d rather stay on dry land, there are numerous trails through ancient floodplains and forest, including the Boardwalk Loop Trail which passes myriad tree species.
Cedar Creek is a particularly scenic spot which you can paddle around on a ranger-guided outing. If you’d rather stay on dry land, there are numerous trails through ancient floodplains and forest, including the Boardwalk Loop Trail which passes myriad tree species.
Dry Tortugas, Florida
This clutch of islands off the Florida coast are accessible only by boat or seaplane but the pristine coral reefs and dazzling array of wildlife make it well worth the effort it takes to reach them. The waters are home to several turtle species, technicolour fish and the remains of ship-wrecks.
On land, you’ll find the park’s most famous landmark, the imposing Fort Jefferson, WIth more than 16 million bricks, it’s one of the largest brick buildings in the world, although it remains unfinished.
On land, you’ll find the park’s most famous landmark, the imposing Fort Jefferson, WIth more than 16 million bricks, it’s one of the largest brick buildings in the world, although it remains unfinished.
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