When people journey to America’s national parks, they tend to pick places like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon. But tucked away in remote areas are incredible parks that receive only a tiny fraction of the visitors the most popular parks host each year. Many are tough to get to, requiring long boat rides or planes to reach. Others are simply far from typically traveled areas. If you’re looking for stunning scenery without the crowds, check into these least-visited national parks in the United States.
Gates of the Arctic National Park (Alaska)
With no roads, trails, or visitor facilities, Gates of the Arctic is true wilderness. Visitors get there by bush plane before exploring mountains, tundra, rivers, and valleys that have remained mostly untouched for thousands of years. The park is massive, extending across an area larger than Switzerland. It is home to grizzly bears, wolves, moose, and migrating caribou herds. Its extreme remoteness keeps annual visitation low despite its breathtaking scenery.
Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska)
People don’t expect to find towering sand dunes above the Arctic Circle, but that’s exactly what makes Kobuk Valley so special. The park’s Great Kobuk Sand Dunes are nearly 100 feet high. They are surrounded by mountains and tundra. Each year, hundreds of thousands of caribou migrate through the valley, resulting in one of the continent’s greatest wildlife events. The park is so remote that there are no roads into it, ensuring only a small number of travelers ever experience it.
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (Alaska)
Lake Clark manages to combine many landscapes into one gorgeous park. Snow-capped mountains, active volcanoes, turquoise lakes, glaciers, and coastal areas can all be found is this spectacular park. It’s also one of the best places in Alaska to watch grizzlies fish for salmon. Visitors tend to kayak, fish, or hike through wilderness that feels completely untouched.
Isle Royale National Park (Michigan)
Located in the middle of Lake Superior, Isle Royale can only be reached by ferry or seaplane. Once visitors arrive, they can explore hundreds of islands, forests, and rocky shorelines. Isle Royale is one of the most peaceful hiking destinations in the entire country. Moose and wolves inhabit the islands. With no cars and limited access, it feels disconnected from modern times in a glorious way.
North Cascades National Park (Washington)
Although it’s only a few hours from Seattle, North Cascades is one of the least-visited national parks in the lower 48 states. Many say the park looks like the Swiss Alps, featuring jagged mountain peaks, more than 300 glaciers, alpine lakes, and waterfalls. Backpackers are fond of the park’s rugged nature, and photographers are drawn to the dramatic views. The terrain is challenging to navigate, naturally limiting visitor numbers.
Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida)
About 70 miles west of Key West is one of America’s most unusual national parks. Almost the entire park is water, with only a handful of small islands. In the center is Fort Jefferson, a massive brick fort built in the 19th century. Visitors can only come by ferry, seaplane, or private boat. Once there, the experience is highly unique. Common activities include snorkeling coral reefs, swimming in crystal-clear water, and exploring the historic fort. The effort needed to get there helps keep the park uncrowded.
Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve (Alaska)
America’s largest national park is also ironically one of its least visited. Wrangell–St. Elias spans more than 13 million acres. The area is larger than nine Yellowstone National Parks combined! With so much land comes plenty of options. Visitors can explore massive glaciers, towering peaks, and abandoned mining towns. The endless wilderness offers plenty of opportunities for hiking, rafting, and mountain climbing. Even during the busiest summer months, it’s easy to spend an entire day here without seeing another human.
National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa)
The National Park of American Samoa is the only U.S. national park below the equator. It protects tropical rainforests, volcanic coastlines, coral reefs, and some of the world’s largest fruit bats. Tourists can experience spectacular natural beauty. You can hike through dense jungle, snorkel colorful reefs, and experience Polynesian culture. Its location in the South Pacific makes it particularly difficult for Americans to reach, which also makes it one of the least visited national parks. For those willing to make the journey, it’s unlike any other park in the National Park System.