Under-the-Radar National Parks in the US

With under 150,000 annual visitors, Nevada’sGreat Basin National Park is one of the Lower 48’s best spots to go off grid. But don’t picture wandering in the desert here—instead, picture stalactite-rich caves, ancient groves of bristlecone pine, and 13,000-foot (3,962-meter) mountains.

Even with these varied landscapes to explore, Great Basin National Park’s main claim to fame is its dark skies. The park is an International Dark Sky Park with some of the country’s starriest views, and any spot here is a good spot for communing with the cosmos. For a short trip, you can visit from Las Vegas on an overnight tour to check this million-star adventure off your list.

Outside of Alaska and American Samoa, Isle Royale National Park is routinely the least-visited national park in the US (just 25,000 visitors per year!). As far as underrated national park destinations go, Isle Royale—pronounced “royal”—is king. This forested, volcanic island rising out of Lake Superior is open from April to October, and you can reach it by hopping on a seaplane or a ferry from Grand Marais or Grand Portage, Minnesota, or from Copper Harbor or Houghton, Michigan. From there, it’s all hiking trails, secluded campsites, and kayaking routes—plus the Rock Harbor Lodge, for those who prefer warm meals, a cozy bed, and sightseeing tours.

Insider Tip: Don’t have days to explore Isle Royale? Try a helicopter tour over Lake Superior to witness the wild islands and forests of the nation’s deepest lake.

It’s hard to believe Washington’sNorth Cascades National Park, located just 2 hours from Seattle, gets only 30,000 annual visitors. But there are two reasons for this statistic: weather and topography. The park has over 300 glaciers, precipitous mountain slopes, and only one road (which can close during winter, typically October to May), so those who come here come ready for serious hiking and backpacking—and seriously vertical views.

If you don’t have time for a long adventure, you could simply drive up Highway 20 (the road through the park) and pop across the overlooks—a worthy endeavor, with views like this. But if you want more and you’re not an avid hiker or backpacker, there is one other way to explore the park: via kayak. Diablo Lake and Ross Lake, which look like mini fjords, are about as scenic as it gets.

Maybe you’ve seen photos of brown bears catching salmon from the lip of a waterfall—those are taken in Katmai National Park. Accessible only via floatplane or boat, this national park is almost entirely wilderness with only six miles of designated trails across its 4 million acres (16,187-square kilometers). That’s not a bad thing here, however, because most people really just come to watch the brown bears. If you’re one of them, it’s far easier to get to and around the park via a tour —which will also increase your chances of seeing Katmai’s famous mascots, thanks to the guides’ expertise and understanding of their habits.

While volcanoes aren’t as common in California as in Washington and Oregon, the active peaks of the Cascades do flow south into the Golden State in spots like at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Here, you’ll get to explore landscapes that are similar to Yellowstone and Glacier, all in the same place—think steaming fumaroles, wildflower meadows, subalpine lakes, and numerous volcanoes, all in this one spot. A great weekend trip from Reno or Sacramento, this diverse national park is suitable for all ages and abilities—you only have to climb up a cinder cone or take long hikes if you want to.

US President Theodore Roosevelt (he hated being called “Teddy”) fell in love with this slice of North Dakota during his cowboy days, and millions of other admirers have followed in his wake. Here, streams headed to the Missouri River flow between painted canyons and dry badlands, and bison and pronghorn are often seen navigating the slopes. Both verdant and dry, stark and gentle, there’s nowhere quite like Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

When you’re done scouting for wild horses and tackling the 36-mile Scenic Loop Drive, don’t miss Roosevelt’s actual cabin, located outside the Medora visitor center. The high-falutin’ New Yorker lived simply here, surrounded by North Dakota’s quiet beauty.

Very few national parks offer the chance to gaze into a pool of lava. At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you sometimes can—if spots like the Halemaumau crater are active. And even when the lava isn’t glowing orange, you’ll still be able to trek atop volcanic craters, climb along lava tubes, walk across fields of craggy volcanic rock, and more.

Just 45 minutes from Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, the slopes of this active volcano offer numerous activities. You can drive the epic Chain of Craters Road, trek across the Kilauea Iki Crater, and grab dinner on the crater’s rim at Volcano House. If you stay for nightfall, you might even catch the sky glow orange. This volcanic landscape is young and still forming—come here twice, and you’ll experience two different places.

Insider Tip: With the right tour, you can make this a day trip from the island of Oahu.

Just a few hundred years ago, the American Southeast was almost entirely forested. Today, the largest remnant of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest can be found in South Carolina’s Congaree National Park. Some call it a swamp—but if it is, it's a swamp that delights with owls, bobcats, foxes, and even glowing mushrooms. (Bring your blacklight.)

Congaree is just 20 minutes from Columbia, the state capital. Spend your time here walking floating boardwalks between bald cypress trees, watching for river otters and endangered woodpeckers, and floating on the maze-like waters in a canoe or kayak.

Canyonlands could be considered the poster child for “hidden gem” national parks, since this Utah spot is often overshadowed by nearby Zion, Arches, and Bryce Canyon. This is a little ironic, however, because Canyonlands offers all the same landscapes as its neighbors—packed into one place.

That being said, Canyonlands is harder to get to than its famous neighbors, and, of its four districts, only Island in the Sky can be called easily accessible (and the districts aren’t even connected!). If you do make it here, you’ll be rewarded with views that rival even the Grand Canyon with snaking rivers, hoodoos, and red-rock wonders around every turn.

Insider Tip: Plenty of tours depart from Moab. If you’re considering a visit to Arches National Park, know that Canyonlands is an easy addition.