Ten Uncrowded National Parks

Ten Uncrowded National Parks

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By: Kraig Becker
Updated:
7

Forbes Traveler is back again today with another great list for those of us planning an adventure getaway soon. This time it’s their 10 Uncrowded National Park Gems.

As the name implies, every one of the places on the list is a U.S. National Park, and they make the list because they are amongst the least visited of all the parks. A place like Yellowstone, perhaps the most iconic of National Parks in the United States, gets over 3.1 million visitors each year, and the traffic jams can be legendary. That won’t be the case with these ten parks however, as you’re likely to have the place mostly to yourself.

Amongst the places on the list are Siuslaw National Forest in Oregon, which offers hikers the chance to wander from the Oregon Dunes to the hilly forests of hemlock with fir and spruce trees. Looking for something a bit more challenging? Then check out Black Canyon at the Gunnison National Monument in Colorado. The canyon was carved by the Gunnison River, which drops at a rate of 95 feet per mile, offering up amazing white water, while the rock walls beacon to climbers. Heading to Alaska but want an alternative to Denali National Park? Then check out Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve. The highlight of the trip will be a six mile wide collapsed cinder cone left over from the volcanic activity that war prevalent here 3500 years ago. Best way to get their? By float plane that will land on nearby Surprise Lake.

There are some great suggestions on the list, and most regions of the U.S. are represented with something that is within a day or two driving distance. One other suggestion I’d add to the list would be Big Bend National Park, located here in Texas. It’s huge with more than 800,000 acres of remote backcountry, and seldom visited except for a few peak times throughout the year. Chances are, you’ll find a lot of seclusion in Big Bend.

Kraig Becker
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7 thoughts on “Ten Uncrowded National Parks”

  1. Big Bend is EXCELLENT! I went there for a weeklong backpack trip in the desert years ago and had an amazing time. What a huge sky! I’ll never forget. It’s definitely out of the way, and that’s a good thing – keeps the crowds at bay.

  2. Yep! Most definitely out of the way, and little heard of. Considering the size, it makes for a huge park with hardly any crowds. And you can explore desert, mountains, and forest all in one area. Pretty cool stuff.

  3. This is a great list. I’d love to go to some less touristy national parks. Being from California, I’ve of course been to Yosemite and while I don’t doubt the geologic uniqueness of it, I was highly disappointed when visiting as it was too crowded to enjoy much of anything when I was there. Sad really.

  4. Yep! Yosemite is legendary for it’s crowds as well. I’ve heard stories about how awful it can be in the high season. Not so bad in winter, but summer brings major crowds.

    I like to have the trail to myself as much as possible when I’m out in the backcountry. Too big of a crowd really does detract from the pleasure of it all.

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