10 Most Underrated National Parks You’ll Want to Visit Before They’re Famous
Don’t want to elbow your way through crowds to see Old Faithful erupting or snapping a photo of Half Dome without a dozen tourists photobombing your shot? The good news is that the US has over 400 preserves in the national park system, with 63 designated as national parks. Some of the most incredible ones are still flying under the radar.
As someone who’s road tripped to over 30 national parks, some surprising parks have become firm favorites. I’ve already returned to North Cascades three times!
These are the 10 most underrated national parks in the US that should be on your must-go list before they inevitably hit the mainstream travel radar.
1. North Cascades National Park, Washington
Total Recreation Visits (2023): 40,352
Ever heard of the “American Alps”? That’s North Cascades National Park, right here in Washington. With over 300 glaciers and peaks that scrape the sky, I truly wonder why more people don’t visit this beautiful national park.
This park is wild in the best way. Barely anyone goes there, and only real adventurers explore beyond the only road that bisects the park. Ross Lake and Diablo Lake are two shimmering turquoise jewels you have to brave the cold for. Hike the Cascade Pass Trail for switchbacks of jaw-dropping vistas.
2. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
Total Recreation Visits (2023): 418,978
In California’s most geothermal area, many of Earth’s volcano types are neighbors. With 4 types of volcanoes (cinder cone, shield volcano, plug dome, and stratovolcano) you can see a wide variety of volcanic features at Lassen Volcanic National Park.
The centerpiece is Lassen Peak, which last blew its top in 1915. Bumpass Hell (yes, that’s the real name) has hydrothermal features that rival Yellowstone with boiling springs and steaming fumaroles.
3. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
Total Recreation Visits (2023): 357,069
The gorge in Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a massive dark crack in the Earth that falls 2,700 feet deep. The canyon walls drop so steeply, the Gunnison River spent millions of years carving out this dramatic landscape.
The Painted Wall is the tallest cliff in Colorado. At 2,250 feet, it’s about 1.5 Empire State Buildings stacked on top of each other. The views are already dizzying, but adventurers can descend the Gunnison Route to enter down into the canyon.
4. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska
Total Recreation Visits (2023): 78,305
Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest national park in the US, and it’s so big that Switzerland could fit inside—twice! If you’re into tall peaks, this park is home to nine of North America’s sixteen highest mountains, including Mount St. Elias at 18,008 feet.
Go glacier kayaking in the Icy Bay or take a scenic flight over the park for views you’d normally see on a screensaver. The park’s remote nature means it’s not exactly swarming with tourists.
5. Big Bend National Park, Texas
Total Recreation Visits (2023): 509,129
Placed along the Texas-Mexico border, Big Bend is remote. So remote that there are signs warning you to fill up on gas before entering the park.
Big Bend is where the desert meets the mountains and the Rio Grande River. The Rio Grande carves its way through the park, creating the tall walls of Santa Elena Canyon. You can whitewater raft through it or choose to hike around the Chisos Mountains instead.
One of my most fun experiences was walking across the Boquillas Del Carmen border crossing simply to have lunch in Mexico.
6. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Total Recreation Visits (2023): 84,285
If we compare the beautiful Florida National Park’s recreation numbers, the Everglades and even Biscayne see 7 to 10 times more visitors than Dry Tortugas National Park. Yet this park holds a 19th-century fort, Fort Jefferson, and some of the clearest waters in Florida.
70 miles off the coast of Key West, it’s only accessible by boat or seaplane, so it’s no surprise that less people make the trek to visit. Snorkel or dive around the coral reefs off Garden Key for marine life that seems straight out of a documentary.
7. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Total Recreation Visits (2023): 387,525
Kenai Fjords is where icy blue meets forest green. You can almost hear the glaciers calving as they crash into the water at places like Exit Glacier.
Take a boat tour through the fjords, and you might spot humpback whales, sea otters, and puffins. If you’re more of a land explorer, the Harding Icefield is a frozen expanse of 700 square miles and a challenging national park hike.
8. Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Total Recreation Visits (2023): 143,265
Many who visit Nevada never leave the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip. Sitting pretty in East Nevada, Great Basin National Park is home to Wheeler Peak, Lehman Caves, and Bristlecone Pines, the oldest living tree on Earth. Some of these gnarly twisted trunks are over 4,000 years old!
And when the sun goes down, the park’s night skies are next-level, with more stars than you’ve probably ever seen.
9. Channel Islands National Park, California
Total Recreation Visits (2023): 328,746
The Channel Islands are often called the Galapagos of North America, but without a long flight. Floating just off the coast of Santa Barbara, this group of five islands is home to over a thousand sea creatures, 145 of which are endemic to these waters.
It’s hard to choose between the five islands, but Anacapa and Santa Cruz are great options for exploring sea caves by kayaking along the coastlines.
10. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Total Recreation Visits (2023): 28,965
Isle Royale is where you go to really get away from it all. Situated in Lake Superior, this Michigan gem is a backcountry wonderland and one of the least visited national parks of them all. It’s another place that is only accessible by boat or seaplane.
The island is famous for its moose and wolves. Hike the Greenstone Ridge Trail for sweeping views that’ll make you forget all about the mainland. Scuba divers can see the remains of well-preserved shipwrecks.
Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.
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