Photo: Local Adventurer
This 77,000 recreation acre spot contains an abundance of activities one can enjoy, including exploring the marble caverns and limestone arches. Because this national park is one of the darkest places in the United States come nightfall, stargazing is definitely the thing to do when evening rolls around.
Photo: National Park Service
Congaree National Park was established for the purpose of preserving the largest US concentration of old-growth bottomland hardwood. This national park has one of the country's most serious forests, and is one of the world's tallest natural canopies.
Photo: Visit Montrose
As seen from the picture, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has some of the tallest and steepest canyon walls in the world. Even an Empire State Building stacked on top of a Willis Tower would be shorter in comparison. This captivating picture is enough to get one eager to visit the beautiful park.
Photo: Mapquest Travel
Isle Royale National Park is one of the least visited parks in the country. It is located in the Upper Peninsula and surrounded by Lake Superior. The seclusion of its remote location has given this natural wonderland the ability to preserve many ecosystems in their pre-1800s states.
Photo: The Greatest American Roadtrip
Containing over 300 glaciers, North Cascades National Park is home to over half of all glaciers found in the lower 48 states. This beautiful park also has many of the nation's tallest waterfalls.
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Photo: Dry Tortugas
Dry Tortugas National Park is made up of seven small islands, making this 100-square mile park one of the world's most unique eco-attractions. There are so many activities for everyone, including exploring the historic Fort Jefferson, magnificent coral reefs and marine life, and snorkeling the crystal clear waters.
Photo: National Park
This park, which is the northernmost national park in the US, protects areas of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska.
Photo: National Park
Located in the Chihuahuan Desert of western Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is known for its Salt Basin Dunes, fossilized reef mountains, and wildlife-rosh grassland. If you travel to this park, be sure to hike the Guadalupe Peak Trail, which leads you through a conifer forest to the state's highest summit. You will be captivated by the views of the rocky El Capitan peak to the south. The McKittrick Canyon Trail, which is famous for its colorful fall foliage, can be seen in the north.
Photo: National Park
Katmai National Park is located on a peninsula in southern Alaska. This park is known for its many brown bears has a vast array of tundra, forests, lakes and mountains. Be sure to visit the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, where you will see lava flows and ash formed by a huge volcanic eruption.
Photo: Wikipedia
Lake Clark National Park was established in 1980 to protect rare volcanic landscapes, waterfalls, fish, and glaciers. Located 150 miles southwest of Anchorage, this park is accessible only by foot or air. Lake Clark provides a true backcountry experience all hikers will be sure to appreciate.
Photo: The Greatest Road Trip
Kobuk Valley National Park is made up of almost two million acres of undisturbed wilderness. It is one of America's most secluded parks, with half million caribou migrating across the Kobuk River, sand dunes, and Onion Portage.
Photo: National Park Service
Located in southern Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is known for huge dunes like the towering Star Dune, and for the seasonal Medano Creek and beach created at the base of the dunes. The backcountry Medano Pass Primitive Road winds through a canyon toward the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Trails lead to forests, wetlands and alpine lakes like Medano Lake, which is home to trout and tundra wildlife.
Photo: The Trailmaster
Lassen Volcanic National Park has many fascinating site to explore. Bumpass Hell contains acres of bubbling mud pots to marvel. If you summit Lassen Peak Volcano, you will enjoy views of the wilderness. Lava rocks can be found nearby at the Devastated Area. There are many trails for hikers to explore through forests and around lakes, which connect with the Pacific Crest Trail.
Photo: Good Sam
Located in northeastern Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park is known for the Rainbow Forest and Rainbow Forest Museum. The forest contains colorful petrified wood, while the museum has paleontology exhibits and several trail access points. One can also explore the Painted Desert Inn, a museum with Hopi murals.
Photo: National Geographic
The National Park of American Samoa is a national park, distributed across three islands: Tutuila, Ofu, and Ta‘ū. The park preserves and protects coral reefs, tropical rainforests, fruit bats, and the Samoan culture. Hiking and snorkeling are the most popular activities enjoyed here.
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I love all of them.
My daughter and I went to Isle Royale a few years ago and saw only one person a day over the 3 days we were there! As for the Dry Tortugas, so much history! Nevada Barr, the novelist who specializes in NPS novels, has written a novel situated in the park.
The McKittrick Canyon Trail is best to see in the Autumn when the maples turn color I have hiked and backpacked in this park it will always be a favorite of mine.
Thank you for letting everyone know about these National Parks. We have visited many National Parks in the Lower 48 and Alaska but only one on this list. We moved to Montana just to be close to Glacier National Park. There are two on this list we must see, although we would like to hike all of them. At our age, we have to select carefully!
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Nancy
March 24, 2020
Thank you! We also loved these parks. I just checked out another person’s list and felt like we had been to totally different places as these were some that they rated as the worst. Well, everything has its beauty, but not everyone can see it.