National parks are incredible places to explore, but often, we think of visiting only the most popular ones. However, the National Park Service maintains and protects hundreds of parks, national lakeshores, recreation areas, hiking trails, and more, all for you to enjoy.
National parks are incredible places to explore, but often, we think of visiting only the most popular ones. However, the National Park Service maintains and protects hundreds of parks, national lakeshores, recreation areas, hiking trails, and more, all for you to enjoy.
So, before you visit a crowded park, check out our list of lesser-known national parks worth visiting. They have many advantages: fewer crowds, unique experiences, and untouched natural beauty. Use a map with national parks to mark the visited places.
Benefits of Visiting Underrated National Parks
An underrated national park that you visit or walk in would come with several advantages. Above all, it is not highly populated with tourists but is known for its awesome natural wonders, such as hidden waterfalls, desolate and deserted places, or virgin forests. On the wood national park map you can choose and mark the park you want to visit.
You can enjoy the invaluable experience of a few human observers when one gets a chance to visit an empty park. It leads to deep thinking and a better correlation with nature. Additionally, underrated parks provide rare opportunities for activities like backcountry hiking, stargazing, and wildlife watching, offering a sense of discovery and adventure often lost in more popular parks.
Top National Parks to Add to Your 2025 Travel List
Here is a top list of parks you can visit and mark them on the map with national parks:
- Congaree National Park (South Carolina). Floodwaters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers regularly engulf the park’s old-growth lower hardwood forest, while the upland pine forest is affected by wildfires that destroy competing vegetation. Canoeing and kayaking are popular ways to explore the park, and there’s a 15-mile marked canoe trail.
- Great Basin National Park (Nevada) is a place where mountain peaks meet hot desert valleys. It is home to 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak, ancient bristlecone pines, nearly 40 caves, and a wide variety of plants and animals. Elevations range from 5,000 to 13,000 feet, and hiking trails cater to all skill levels. Add it to your national parks map and enjoy the trip.
- North Cascades National Park (Washington). Peaks topped by more than 300 glaciers tower over this alpine landscape. More than 1,600 plant species have been found in this land, which ranges from temperate rainforest to dry ponderosa pine ecosystems. There are more than 400 miles of trails.
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado) is a great park to visit with kids. Watch for eagles, hawks, and even bighorn sheep (with large horns) grazing on the rocky slopes along the canyon’s edges.
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas) is home to the four highest peaks in Texas and the world’s largest Permian fossil reef. It has more than 80 miles of trails, including a hike to the Salt Basin Dunes, which rise 100 feet above the desert floor.
- Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida) is mostly open water with seven small islands. Garden Key is home to Fort Jefferson, one of the country’s largest 19th-century forts. The park is accessible by boat or plane and is home to about 300 species of birds.
- Lassen Volcanic National Park (California) is unique in that it contains 100 volcanoes in a relatively small area. The park has over 150 miles of hiking trails that take you to its most interesting attractions, including hydrothermal areas, volcanic peaks, alpine lakes, and mountain meadows. You should definitely add it your list in a map of national parks.
Practical Tips for Visiting Underrated National Parks
Visit the underrated national parks during off-peak seasons. Traveling at this time of year will help you avoid crowds and usually allow for a more peaceful visit. Obviously, one should prepare for limited amenities since such a place typically has fewer facilities and services than a mainstream park.
Use a wooden National Park map to mark the places you have visited.
Conclusion
Some of the most unloved national parks have unique scenery, wildlife, and seclusion from other people. Trip the spaces that lie before you to discover the hidden treasures. A national park wooden map can help you navigate these natural wonders on your journey.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.