The United States has lots of national treasures, but the ones loved the most are the national parks. There are over 63 national parks in the U.S. and over 5000 national parks in the world.
National parks are popular because there are so many fun activities to do, such as hiking, fishing, rock climbing, camping, and bird watching while exploring the outdoors. And if you don’t want crowds, then you should know that not all these parks are usually crowded.
Below is a list of America’s best national parks you must visit if you want the full experience of the outdoors and an added ambiance of peace and tranquility.
10 Best National Parks in the USA (You Must Visit)
1. North Cascades National Park
Despite its towering peaks, glacier lakes, stunning beauty, and untouched wilderness, North Cascades National Park is not as popular as the other national parks, making it one of the best national parks in the U.S. It is one of the most breathtaking yet underrated destinations in the U.S.
If you love hiking, then you’ll appreciate the trails, which provide one for beginner to advanced hiking levels. You can go on the easy strolls, but if you want something more challenging, then try out the alpine climbs.
Beyond these, the North Cascades offers fun opportunities for everyone, including kayaking, camping, and mountaineering. This park has 300 glaciers, which is one of the best glacial systems in the country.
Unlike other best national parks, getting to this park is part of the adventure because there are no roads leading deep into the park. You can only get here by foot, boat, or a deaplane, making this park a place you can truly disconnect from the world.
If you’re planning a trip here, then you need to be really prepared. You’ll first need the camping permits, then start arranging your proper camping gear. The death rate in this national park is very high, so just be careful while exploring.
2. Chaco Culture National Historical Park
If you really want to explore the best national parks, then Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico should be added to your travel list. This is home to the most spectacular and well-preserved display of ancient Native American civilization. And the best part is that you can walk right up to the buildings.
Since it’s close to White Sands National Park and Carlsbad Caverns, you can plan a vacation trip to all three. Since it is an underrated national park, there are no seasonal tours that require advanced booking. You can walk up anytime to explore the massive stone structures; just be sure to reserve 2 days so you can really explore this historical site.
Chaco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Gold-tier Dark Sky Park, so spending a night here means seeing some of the best and clearest skies in the world. It is a national historical park, but the word out there is that it’s going to soon be given the full title of a national park with all the added benefits.
You would enjoy exploring the ancient civilization, including Pueblo Bonito, which had over 650 rooms and stood four stories tall. You can also go hiking on beautiful trails with untouched flora and fauna. During the sky programs held at the observatory, you will be able to see the Milky Way clearly.
The park is remote with few facilities, so bring food, water, sun protection, and your camping gear when planning your visit. Chaco is an important site to the Hopi and Pueblo people, so be mindful of where you step and respect the land.
3. Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is an underrated national park in the U.S., overshadowed by more famous spots like the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, and Arches. If you’re an adventurer who wants breathtaking landscapes but with fewer crowds, then Canyonlands might just be for you.
Canyonlands don’t get as many visitors as these other national parks, so you can go hiking and actually find solitude on your journey. Although it is one of Utah’s most popular national parks, surprisingly, it is the least visited, making it a hidden gem. It’s close enough to the Arches, so you can even plan a visit to both.
Reserve two days at this park so you can watch the sunrise because Canyonlands has the best sunrise views in Utah. Its rugged landscape is shaped by the same forces that created the Grand Canyon, so you’ll see towering mesas, deep ravines, and dramatic rock formations.
If you’re a hiker, then go on the Upheaval trail, which is a straightforward hike with spectacular views on the top. And, of course, you can’t plan a trip to Canyonlands without seeing Mesa Arch, one of the most iconic views in Utah.
This park might not be so popular, but if you want to start visiting the best national parks where you’ll get to experience the beauty of the American Southwest, then you should start here.
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4. Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park differs from other best national parks on this list with its various ecosystems where the contrasting coastlines, alpine peaks, and rainforest coexist. This park is a designated UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site.
You have never experienced hiking like the trails in this park, which pass through the forest and ocean areas. The most famous is the Ozette Loop, a 9-mile journey that winds through coastal cedar swamps before reaching the ocean. The remoteness of this park is what keeps the crowd away, but if you’re craving solitude, the time out here will do you good.
One of the park’s most famous viewpoints is Hurricane Ridge, which transforms into a snow playground during the winter, so you can go skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing. You can stop at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center to have picnics in their well-maintained areas.
If you prefer going on water-based adventures, Olympic National Park offers kayaking and boating in Lake Crescent, Ozette Lake, and Lake Quinault. You can also enjoy fishing in the Elwha and Hoh Rivers without a fishing license, but you must release any bull trout and Dolly Varden trout you catch.
At Olympic National Park, you’ll forget about the time because you’ll be too busy hiking, enjoying the water, or watching the sunset. Leaving this park will be one of the hardest things to do because it will be hard to find such wild beauty in the modern world.
5. Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park may be located in southwestern South Dakota, but stepping into here is like walking into another world. That’s why it’s hard to believe that it’s an underrated national park.
At first glance, you’ll think the park is bare wth its dramatic rock formations and ancient fossils, but in truth, you find the most resilient species here. You’ll find coyotes, pronghorns, bighorn sheep, black footed ferret, whooping cranes, and other endangered species here.
Unlike other best national parks, there are no designated trails here, so your adventurous spirit can truly roam. Just pack your proper camping gear because camping is permitted almost anywhere. You can stop at traditional campgrounds like Cedar Pass and Sage Creek for a comfortable stay if a night under the skies is not really for you.
The Ben Reifel Visitor Center offers exhibits, ranger-led programs, and a bookstore where you can learn about the park’s history and ecology. And if you’re a history buff, then you should visit the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site to learn about the Cold War era and the nuclear defense systems once hidden beneath the Great Plains.
If you came for the history or the wildlife, you should be ready to get lost in the Badlands National Park until you eventually find yourself. This land is also a sacred site to the Oglala Lakota Tribe, so be sure to pay your respects.
6. Crater Lake National Park
Located in the Cascade Mountains in Oregon, Crater Lake National Park is where history, geology, and natural beauty converge. Just like other best national parks on this list, when you visit, you’ll be captivated by its beauty, making you appreciate it.
The Crater Lake is a stunning clear water body and the deepest lake in the U.S., making it one of the deepest lakes in the world. With no rivers or streams flowing in or out, this lake is very pure because it relies solely on precipitation.
Though the lake is the main attraction, this park has so much more to offer. You can go hiking on any of its scenic routes or explore Mount Scott, which is the highest point in the park at 8,929 feet. If deserts are more your thing, then have fun exploring the Pumice Desert, which is covered in volcanic ash and pumice.
For water adventures, including fishing, kayaking, and swimming, take a boat tour to the nearby Wizard Island. You can also find various animals while camping here, like black bears, bobcats, elks, deer, and chipmunks or squirrels.
Visiting the Crater Lake National Park in the winter or summer season brings a different experience because this park transforms with the seasons. But if you want full access to the roads and trails, then it’s best you visit from July to October.
7. Redwood National Park
The Redwood National Park is over 130,000 acres and is home to some of the oldest and tallest trees on earth, the mighty redwoods. The redwoods in this park create a world of their own because they’re massive, with trunks wide enough for a car to drive through.
There are various fun activities for you to participate in and lots of ways to ensure you fully explore this park. You can go hiking, biking, and horse riding to get the best scenic views. If you prefer water activities, then have fun swimming, kayaking, or fishing.
Camping here gives a different experience, but there are traditional campgrounds if you want to be more comfortable. The backcountry sites will provide the solitude you came to the park for while you’re sleeping under these massive redwoods and staring at the night sky.
There’s no fee to enter this park, although you’ll have to pay a fee to go into some sites. However, you can stop at the visitor’s center to learn more about the history of the park. This park is a nature sanctuary, so keep to the no-litter policy.
No matter your experience, a visit to this underrated national park will show you there’s something bigger in life than you could ever imagine. These forests have stood for decades, watching the changes in the world, and this wonder will be with you even after you’ve left.
8. Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is an untouched wilderness with two mountain ranges and over 100 lakes, both named and unnamed, located in northwestern Montana. It is home to the Going to the Sun Road, one of the most scenic routes in the world.
At Glacier National Park, you’ll find different types of wildlife ranging from the big ones like the gray wolf to the small ones like the tiny but resilient butterfly species. If you explore deep into the park’s forest, you’ll find large western cedar and Douglas fir trees.
Glacier offers about 700 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy strolls along lakeshores to advanced treks over high mountain passes. This park is a paradise for campers because the campsites are tucked deep into nature so you can fully immerse yourself in the experience.
Even if you are not into hiking, there’s something in this park for everyone, including kayakers, climbers, and even history buffs. There are various historic lodges and chalets built in the early 1900s where you can stop by to learn about the city’s past.
Winter in Glacier comes with its own experience, including cross-country skiing and the entire park turning into picture-perfect postcards. A visit to this underrated national park will remind you of how beautiful, vast, and wild nature really is.
9. Mammoth Cave National Park
The US National Park System has various parks that preserve cave systems, but Mammoth Cave is the longest-known in the world. That’s why it’s surprising that this park is still on this list of America’s best national parks.
The cave’s name comes from the size of its passages, which are caverns and twisting corridors that seem to go on forever. While exploring, you’ll find some areas are massive, with ceilings stretching high above, while others will force you to twist and squeeze through narrow rock formations.
You can take the tours offered by the park services, which include easy walks to thrilling crawls in the undeveloped tunnels of the cave. You’ll love the formations of Frozen Niagara, and you won’t forget the experience of exploring in the dark with only a paraffin lamp anytime soon.
Though the cave is its main attraction, this park is also home to some unique and diverse wildlife, such as eyeless fish, various bat species, cave crickets, and cave shrimps. Mammoth Cave National Park also has fun activities such as hiking, camping, and kayaking.
It is an International Dark Sky Park, so spending a night here includes breathtaking views of the night skies. The underground world provided in this park leaves a sense of awe and experience that can’t fully be explained.
10. Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is one of the country’s hidden and underrated parks, perfect for those who love wide open spaces, stargazing, and adventures. It is named after the Great Basin, a vast desert region where rivers are absorbed by the sand or simply evaporate.
Here, you’ll explore the various ecosystems, meaning you can walk through a dry, sunbaked landscape, and the next, you’re standing beneath towering Ponderosa pines or wandering through high-altitude meadows bursting with wildflowers.
You can also explore Lehman Caves, a famous underground wonderland with its twisting tunnels and rock formations. With a guided tour of this largest cave system in Nevada, you’ll see history literally written on the walls by early settlers.
If you can make the hike, then the view from the top of Wheeler Peak is spectacular. If this trek is too tasking, then you can explore the other 12 trails, depending on your preference, such as the Bristlecone Pine Trail.
Camping here at night is a different view because the Great Basin is one of the darkest places in the country, so it’s a perfect spot for stargazing. You can even plan your visit to the annual astronomy festival hosted by the park.
Conclusion
The United States has lots of national parks, but these best national parks don’t get the attention and visitation that they deserve. When planning for your next camping trip, you shouldn’t plan to only visit the popular national parks because these are even more beautiful, and they deserve love too.
In fact, by visiting these best national parks in the USA, you get to enjoy the beauty of wild nature without the crowd. Visiting them will also help to keep them funded, so you’re doing good for the endangered wildlife and the local communities.
