15 United States National Parks to Visit Before They Get Too Crowded
America is famous for its natural parks, and many of them are considered to be the best in the whole world. These geographical features range from great mountain systems, deep canyons, forests, and large and small deserts; these areas have become safe havens for tourists and lovers of natural world.
However, many of these parks are becoming a cultural norm as their popularity rises, thus reducing the level of solitude in them. For those wishing to visit these gorgeous locations while there is no overwhelming stream of tourists yet, here are 15 of them.
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Perfect for the camping aficionados, this somewhat desolate park on the shore of Lake Superior delivers the unbeaten path. Visitors can access Isle Royale by boat or seaplane, which helps in keeping numbers reasonably low. The park has become a must visit for hikers, paddlers, and anyone interested in observing and photographing wildlife in largely untouched areas. Eventually, this beauty is bound to receive the attention it deserves.
North Cascades National Park, Washington
Less well-known than its neighbor, the Pacific North West, North Cascades is a largely untouched area of peaks, glaciers and forest. The park for which the glacier is named is famous for its stunning landscape and relatively low visitation; the park features over three hundred glaciers and more than four hundred miles of trails. However, given the current increasing attention to the Pacific Northwest region, North Cascades can hardly remain in the shadows indefinitely. Come see the park before it’s completely overrun by the crowds and tourists.
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
This is one of the least frequented National parks, and explorers should consider Great Basin. The known attractions of Great Basin National Park include very old bristlecone pines, opportunities for stargazing in very low light pollution areas, and the Lehman Caves. As it has already been mentioned, there are not many visitors at the park, probably due to the park’s location, but, who knows! It could be discovered by hordes of tourists on the look out for a quiet adventure so don’t miss your chance to discover one of the best kept secrets of Nevada.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
Lassen Volcanic has all sorts of geothermal activity including hot springs, mud, and one of the most powerful in the country-Lassen Peak. Yet, owing to its many attractions, it is still not as popular as other Californian parks could be. This may not last because those beautiful dramatic landscapes are yet to reach the level of discovery that will make it ‘UN-COOL’ to visit them. Hiking trails here can get very crowded with people, so try to visit before the news get out.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
Filled with the tallest mountain of Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is one of the most challenging but striking parks for hikers. These are preserved in deserts, fossilized reefs, and green canyons. The park itself is not too popular but is being mentioned for its beauty of views and difficult routes. Go before the crowd arrives to make it one of the most well-known spots for travelers.
Congaree National Park , South Carolina
Congaree is the largest park in the southeastern U.S protecting the old growth bottomland hardwood forest The park provides areas with tall trees and swampy paddle-able waters for the canoeist and for the hiker. However, it is receiving attention for its remarkable species and its appearance, and there are constantly increasing numbers of visitors. It is less crowded now, but will you come to enjoy the silence and calm of this beautiful hidden treasure.
Gunnison National Park, Colorado
This is a dramatic canyon that boasts of steep cliffs, sheer drops and relatively narrow slots. However, it has relatively fewer visitors even though the views for this park are absolutely stunning like most parks in Colorado tend to be. With this in mind this destination may receive more travelers in the near future due to increased publicity.
Dry Tortugas National Parks of US, Florida
Dry Tortugas is one of the most isolated National Parks in United States situated about 70 miles west of Key West. It is a distinct location with clear water, coral reefs, and historical Fort Jefferson. The park has relatively low traffic, although people have started discovering otherwise unbelievable snorkeling and diving opportunities here. Visit before this tropical island becomes a world tourist destination.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska
As its name suggests, the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park contains some of the wildest domain of Alaska boasting glaciers, volcanoes and mountains. One advantage is the location and area which provides travelers with the solitude and tranquility they seek. That being said, Alaska’s national parks are increasing in popularity and it’s probable that this gem won’t remain a secret for long. Enjoy the quiet moments before it gains enough attention.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
The President who initiated conservation was Theodore Roosevelt, and thus the National Park formed out of the Badlands is named in his honor with wide variety in the terrains it presents from prairielands to rolling hills and badlands besides the wildlife. Great for getting away for a bit of solitude and for taking scenic drives and even short hikes in the woods. Despite it’s beauty, the park has not been frequented as other traditional national parks have. Visiting now will help you enjoy its original serenity.
Channel Islands National Park, California
A mere forty-five mile trip from the southern coast of California, Channel Islands has the atmosphere of a completely different land. The park is made up of five separate islands all of which provide flora and fauna, cliffs and seascapes. Even though it is situated near Los Angeles, the park still receives comparatively few visitors. Nevertheless, this could pale off as more tourists realize the great beauty hidden in these offshore treasures.
Capitol Reef National Park, Colorado
Capitol Reef is not very popular, but it is no less beautiful than other Utah parks with red cliffs, secret canyons, and desert landscapes. It is a hiker/camper’s dream, but far less crowded than Zion or Arches. This may not last as others learn of the beauty that is originally nested in this tool. Visit now before it gets overcrowded with people and it turns into the next big tourist attraction.
Katmai National Park, Alaska
Known for the brown bears you can see catching fish by its lakesides, Katmai presents a truly wild experience. Due to rich and beautiful terrains including volcanic formation, wild rivers and wide variety of fauna and flora the park has become popular with tourists. It has limited the number of visitors it accepts due to the rising demand for bear viewing. This may change in the near future. Visit Katmai before others do because it is still yet to be discovered as one of the best locations to watch wildlife.
Pinnacles National Park, California
Rich in attractions such as massive rocks, caves, and perhaps the only place in the world where endangered California condors can be photographed October-March, Pinnacles is one of California’s best-kept secrets. Nonetheless, it remains one of the best places for hiking, rock climbing, and bird watching, but few tourists make it there. Due to the increasing popularity of outdoor activities it will probably get even more crowded in future. Stop by here soon and spend your time alone amid the pinnacle and cliffs.
Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs is a water-themed park, the main role in which is played by lakes, rivers, and channels of waterways interconnected with one another. This is a quiet park and is suitable for; kayaking, boating, fishing and other water activities as compared to other busy parks. But the park may become more popular as more people look for water entertainment. It is recommended to visit this relaxing oasis before it gets more populated.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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