July 19, 2024 | Penelope Singh

America’s Most Enchanting National Parks


They Should Be On Everyone’s Travel List

Forget about the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone—these are underrated national parks are breathtaking!

Nationalparks-Msn

1. Biscayne National Park, Florida

At the north end of the Florida Keys is where you’ll find a national park with four marine ecosystems (mangrove forest, the Bay, the Keys, and coral reefs) that provide a home for a diverse range of wildlife, including threatened animals like the West Indian Manatee, American crocodile, sea turtles and peregrine falcon.

Landscape Photo of the Biscayne National Park in FloridaF. Setiawan, Shutterstock

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Biscayne National Park

In addition to seeing the wildlife, there are lots of opportunities for visitors to go snorkeling, boating, camping, or fish. You can also check out The Maritime Heritage Trail, which is the only underwater archaeological trail in America.

Archaeologists surveying the Japanese Merchant Vessel at the the Maritime Heritage TrailLegr0004, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

2. Haleakala National Park, Hawaii

The large volcanic crater known as Haleakalā is a breathtaking, sacred place. Native Hawaiians call it Pōhaku Pālaha and it is considered to be "wao akua," or the wilderness of the gods. Rainforests provide the perfect sanctuary for native Hawaiian plants and animals that can be found nowhere else on earth.

Haleakalā National Park located on the island of Maui in the state of HawaiiLara Farhadi, Flickr

Haleakala National Park

The Kīpahulu Biological Reserve at the park is kept healthy due to limited access for visitors. This park is home to more endangered species than any other, and it’s also where you’ll find some of the best night skies for gazing at planets, stars and moons. Visitors are welcome to camp, hike, backpack, and swim in this incredible paradise.

Kipahulu coastal region of Haleakala National ParkMichael Oswald, Wikimedia Commons

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3. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park, established to preserve the works of man, is home to 5,000 known archaeological sites. It is renowned for its 600 cliff dwellings, some with up to 150 rooms, showcasing the architectural skill of the Ancestral Puebloans in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Cliff Palace at the Mesa Verde National Park, ColoradoRationalobserver, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mesa Verde National Park

Tours provide insights into these ancient lives, while trails offer opportunities for hiking and snowshoeing. The panoramic view at Park Point is one of the most breathtaking in the country, offering a 360-degree vista of the surrounding landscape.

Mesa Verde National Park Park Point OverlookAndreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

4. Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska

Located in the farthest reaches of the north, Gates of the Arctic National Park safeguards a part of Alaska's Brooks Range, an area inhabited for over 13,000 years. Numerous archaeological sites reflect the deep connections between this land and its historical inhabitants, including descendants of the Athapaskan and Inupiat peoples.

Oolah Valley in the Itkillik Preserve, Gates of the Arctic National Park and PreserveNational Park Service, Wikimedia Commons

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Gates of the Arctic National Park

Despite having no of facilities, roads, or trails, the pristine nature of this land invites exploration. Arctic terns undertake the world's longest migration from Antarctic waters to this park annually. Visitors who follow the tern's path will encounter a variety of birds and wildlife while hiking, camping, and navigating the rivers.

Thunder Valley. Gates Of The Arctic National Park, Brooks Range, AlaskaPaxson Woelber, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

5. Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

Natural hot springs have drawn people to this area for centuries, leading to the establishment of a town in the 1800s. Today, Hot Springs National Park is the smallest national park and the only one located within an urban setting. Its baths are open to the public and highlight the historical significance of bathing practices.

The Remaining Natural Hot Springs Of Hot Springs National Park, ArkansasKen Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Hot Springs National Park

The park also features 26 miles of trails for hiking and camping, as well as scenic mountain drives. This unique combination of natural wonders and historical elements makes it a captivating destination.

Display Springs, Hot Springs National Park, ArkansasJames St. John, Flickr

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6. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Mammoth Cave National Park, the world's most extensive cave system, boasts over 400 miles of mapped underground passages. The caves contain immense formations, such as "Niagara Falls," and ancient fossils alongside well-preserved artifacts from early native mineral collectors dating back 2,000 to 4,000 years.

The entrance to Mammoth Cave at Mammoth Cave National ParkNPS Natural Resources, Flickr

Mammoth Cave National Park

Above ground, visitors can explore 70 miles of forest trails by foot, bike, or horse. The Green River also meanders through the park, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming.

Green River Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USAJames St. John, Flickr

7. Big Bend National Park, Texas

True to the saying that everything is bigger in Texas, Big Bend National Park is a vast expanse where the Rio Grande makes a dramatic turn through the Chihuahuan Desert. This area is rich in geological wonders, including laccoliths, faults, volcanoes, and unique fossils including a world-record pterosaur and a 50-foot crocodile.

Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park, TexasMichael from Minnesota, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Big Bend National Park

The park also holds archaeological sites that are over 10,000 years old, reflecting a unique cultural history. The diverse wildlife makes it a paradise for bird watchers. Activities here include hiking, fishing, horseback riding, boating, scenic drives, soaking in natural hot springs, and night sky viewing, where you might even see the Andromeda galaxy.

Big Bend National Park and Chihuahuan DesertAdbar, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

8. Channel Islands National Park, California

Managed by the National Park Service, five of the eight Channel Islands and their surrounding waters preserve a unique coastal Mediterranean ecosystem. Known as the "North American Galapagos," the area hosts 145 species of plants and animals found nowhere else, including the island fox.

Landscape Photo of the San Miguel Island, Channel Islands, California.Toddclark, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Channel Islands National Park

The islands support the region's largest seabird breeding colonies and contain the continent's oldest human remains. Santa Cruz Island's Painted Cave, one of the largest sea caves globally, stretches longer than four football fields and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy activities like hiking, camping, snorkeling, fishing, and surfing.

Photo of the Santa Cruz Island Painted Cave, Channel Islands National ParkCharles Wohlers, Flickr

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9. Congaree National Park, South Carolina

Initially a national monument, this area was recognized as an International Biosphere Reserve and a Globally Important Bird Area before becoming South Carolina's only national park. Congaree National Park is notable for its extensive old-growth floodplain forest, home to some of the tallest trees in eastern North America.

Landscape Photo of Floodplain Forest in the Congaree National ParkBill B, Flickr

Congaree National Park

Visitors can explore the swamps via the elevated Boardwalk Loop. The park also offers hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, canoeing, and kayaking. Its diverse ecosystem and array of recreational activities attract visitors seeking a connection with nature.

Lower Boardwalk Trail, Congaree National ParkKen Lund, Flickr

10. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Located in Arizona's Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park is renowned for its 225-million-year-old petrified wood, which has transformed into solid quartz. This part of the Chinle Formation is scientifically significant for its Late Triassic fossils.

Landscape Photo of the Petrified Forest National ParkNational Park Service, Flickr

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Petrified Forest National Park

The park also contains over 350 Native American sites, documenting more than 13,000 years of human history and culture. It holds one of the Southwest's most diverse collections of prehistoric pottery fragments. Visitors can explore over 52,000 acres of wilderness, ideal for hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and geocaching.

Hiking Trail at Petrified Forest National Park, ArizonaJeff Vincent, Flickr

11. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Capitol Reef National Park showcases the striking Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile geologic monocline that looks like a giant wrinkle in the Earth's surface. This formation offers a unique glimpse into the planet's geological layers.

Strike Valley Overlook, Waterpocket Fold at the Capitol Reef National ParkJesse Varner, Flickr

Capitol Reef National Park

The park also features monoliths, sandstone domes, cliffs, canyons, and natural bridges. Beyond its stunning landscapes, Capitol Reef boasts some of the clearest night skies among western national parks, making it ideal for stargazing. Visitors can engage in activities like camping, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, biking, and horseback riding.

Capitol Reef National Park in south-central UtahWolfgang Staudt, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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12. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Home to North America's tallest dunes, Great Sand Dunes National Park features sand peaks rising up to 750 feet, sculpted by the Rio Grande. The park's diverse landscape includes grasslands, shrublands, wetlands, alpine lakes, high mountains, and ancient forests.

Medano Creek, Dunes, and Cleaveland Peak at the Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, United StatesNPS Natural Resources, Flickr

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Visitors often prefer the spring and fall due to extreme summer heat and freezing winter temperatures. In spring, Medano Creek offers beach-like activities such as wading, skimboarding, tubing, and sand sculpting. Popular activities also include sandboarding, sand sledding, hiking, backpacking, photography, astronomy, camping, and horseback riding.

Girl Sandboarding Above Medano Creek, Castle Creek Picnic Area, Great Sand Dunes National Park & PreserveGreat Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Flickr

13. Great Basin National Park, Nevada

The diversity of Great Basin National Park's treasures is remarkable, evidenced by its 13,000-foot Wheeler Peak, 5,000-year-old bristlecone pine trees, limestone Lehman Caves, and some of the country's darkest night skies.

Enchanting National ParksNational Park Service

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Great Basin National Park, Nevada

You can also explore rock formations, fossils, springs, creeks and even a glacier. And since Great Basin mountains are isolated by surrounding deserts, some plants and animals found here are unique to the area.

enchanting national parksNational Park Service

14. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Crater Lake National Park was formed over 7,000 years ago by the volcanic eruption of Mount Mazama, creating the deepest lake in the U.S. at nearly 2,000 feet. The lake's pristine blue waters and two central islands add to its breathtaking scenery.

Discovery Point at the Crater Lake National Parkray_explores, Flickr

Crater Lake National Park

Winter snows limit access, but visitors still enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. In the summer, the park comes alive with activities like hiking, boating, swimming, fishing, and camping.

Tourists at Cleetwood Cove Trail, The base of the Crater Lake, Crater Lake National Parkdaveynin, Flickr

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15. Olympic National Park, Washington

Olympic National Park encompasses nearly one million acres, with 95% designated as Wilderness, making it a sanctuary for ancient forests. Its temperate rainforests are among the wettest areas in the continental U.S., preserving some of the largest remnants of these ecosystems.

Seven lakes basin at the Olympic National Park, Washington, USA((brian)), Flickr

Olympic National Park

The park's 73-mile Pacific coastline features tidepools, sandy beaches, and rocky cliffs, while the Olympic Mountains host significant glacial formations. This rich diversity supports a wide range of wildlife. Visitors can indulge in hiking, skiing, scenic drives, biking, backpacking, camping, fishing, bird watching, and beach strolling.

Ruby Beach at the Olympic National Park, Washington, USAJohn Fowler, Flickr

16. Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada

Death Valley, the lowest and driest place in the U.S., is a land of extremes, with temperatures soaring up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The park contrasts high snowy mountains with scorching deserts.

Photo of the Death Valley National Park, California, USANiagara66, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Death Valley National Park

Despite its name, Death Valley supports life with periodic rains. Its varied landscape includes canyons, colorful badlands, sand dunes, salt flats, springs, and buttes. Popular activities include backcountry adventures, biking, and birdwatching, with endless possibilities in the largest national park in the contiguous U.S.

Person hiking in a sand dune field in Death Valley National ParkJeff Sullivan, Flickr

17. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Situated at the end of the Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas National Park covers 100 square miles, mainly open water with abundant marine life around its seven small islands. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, it features the third-largest barrier reef system outside Australia and Belize.

Bush Key joined with Garden Key at Dry Tortugas National Park, FloridaNPS Climate Change Response, Flickr

Dry Tortugas National Park

Fort Jefferson, once a remote prison, remains the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere. Visitors can explore shipwrecks and observe a variety of bird species, adding to the park's allure.

Aerial View of the Fort Jefferson at the Dry Tortugas National ParkRon Cogswell, Flickr

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18. Everglades National Park, Florida

Spanning 1.5 million acres, Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. This mangrove ecosystem and marine estuary marks the northern limit for many subtropical plants and the southern limit for many temperate ones.

Landscape Photo of the Everglades National Park, Florida, USAslack12, Flickr

Everglades National Park

Home to 36 protected species, including the Florida panther, American crocodile, and West Indian manatee, the park is a haven for rare wildlife. Visitors flock to see its 350 documented bird species and enjoy activities like boating, hiking, camping, and biking.

Sunset at 10,000 Lakes NWR, Florida. Everglades National ParkGPA Photo Archive, Flickr

19. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Home to Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, two of the world's most active volcanoes, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offers a dynamic landscape. Kīlauea has erupted almost continuously since 1983, creating about 500 acres of new land on the island's southern shore.

Kilauea Caldera, Hawaii Volcanoes National ParkGary Todd, Flickr

The park's location on the southeastern edge of Hawaii's largest island makes it biologically fascinating, with varied elevations supporting diverse habitats. Visitors can observe lava flows, hike, bike, drive, and camp, discovering unique species like native carnivorous caterpillars and endangered Hawksbill sea turtles.

Landscape Photo of the Hawaii Volcanoes National ParkEli Duke, Flickr

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20. Sequoia National Park, California

Sequoia National Park boasts the world's largest tree, General Sherman, and the tallest mountain in the continental U.S., Mount Whitney. The park also features over 240 marble caverns and the granite dome, Moro Rock.

The General Sherman Tree Sequoia National Parkm01229, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sequoia National Park

Bordering Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia encompasses hundreds of thousands of pristine acres, with over 90% designated as Wilderness. It protects nearly half the remaining sequoia groves in the world. Visitors can enjoy scenic drives, campgrounds, rock climbing, and winter sports, though swimming or boating in the rivers is hazardous, fishing is permitted.

Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park, California.Ken Lund, Flickr


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