by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:00 PM ET, Sun May 26, 2024
National parks are incredible places to discover, yet oftentimes we only think about visiting the most popular: Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier. Yet the National Park Service maintains and protects hundreds of parks, national lakeshores and seashores,
recreation areas, walking trails and more, all available for you to discover.?
So before you book your reservation to visit a busy park this summer, check out this list of ten underrated national parks to visit this summer instead. While this list certainly isnt exhaustive, it might just spark your imagination.?
Assateague Island National Seashore?
Assateague Island National Seashore is located in Assateague Island off the coast of Maryland and Virginia. Its a beautiful spot
for nature lovers to hike, bike, camp, stargaze, fish and even go crabbing, but its especially known for one very special four-legged animal: wild horses!?
Horse lovers will love visiting the national seashore to view and photograph the majestic creatures, who, according to local legend, are descendents of shipwreck survivors in the late 17th century (but were more likely intentionally brought to the island
for tax evasion purposes).?
There are two herds: the Chincoteague ponies of Virginia and the Maryland herd, so travelers can rest assured knowing that no matter what state they visit, theyll be able to see the horses roaming free and happy across the scenic landscape and beaches.?
Angel Falls rapids at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. (Photo Credit: NPS)
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
Ever wondered about what the Milky Way looks like? Travelers heading to Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area overnight might just find out on a clear summer night!
The area spans across Kentucky and Tennessee to offer 125,000 scenic acres within the Cumberland Plateau, and it also protects the Cumberland River. While there, campers can gaze at the Milky Way with Ranger-led dark sky programs, take photos of the regions
beautiful rock formations and natural beauty, go whitewater paddling down the river, climb the regions signature sandstone cliffs and even go horseback riding along scenic trails.
Outer Island docks inside Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin. (Photo Credit: NPS)
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a scenic gem located in the far northern reaches of Wisconsin, located along the coast
of Lake Superior and the nations northernmost border. There, travelers can catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights at certain times of the year (though especially during the winter) and much more.?
There are 21 different Apostle Islands, accessible by boat or sea kayak. Travelers can easily purchase a ride on a water taxi or take a NPS-authorized Apostle Islands Cruise to get the most out of a trip to the islands.?
Travelers heading to the islands can take a guided kayak tour, bring their own boats to jet around, camp on one or a few of the islands or simply explore the 12 miles of lakeshore on the mainland. Sea caves, historic lighthouses and beautiful scenery
await, as does a chance to learn about the culture of the regions first inhabitants, the Ojibwe.
Isle Royale National Park. (Photo Credit: sschremp/Adobe)
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Isle Royale National Park
Isle Royale National Park is another paradise of unspoiled nature. Located off the Michigan shoreline on Lake Superior, the worlds largest
freshwater lake, its accessible by seaplane and a variety of ferries and boat options. Travelers can also visit the national park via the RANGER III, too.?
Daytrippers are more than welcome, but travelers wanting to immerse themselves for longer (or take advantage of the dark northern skies and catch a glimpse of the Milky Way and even the Northern Lights) with a stay in the Rock Harbor Lodge or a campsite.?
With over 400 islands across the park, travelers with boats or sea kayaks will adore sailing or paddling to these uninhabited gems, where great opportunities for photography await. Hikers will especially love climbing the parks highest peak, Mount Dresor,
which rises 1,394 feet in the air.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND. (Courtesy of www.nps.gov)
Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is often considered one of the most underrated of the American national parks, and its not hard
to see why. The North Dakota national park, named after the president who advocated for the establishment of more national parks, offers great opportunities for hiking, photography and encountering some of the nations coolest animalsincluding bison!
Travelers to the park can also fish, canoe, bike, horseback ride, camp and much more at the park. Additionally, the park hosts the Dakota Nights Astronomy Festival each year and is a great destination from which to view the Milky Way in all its celestial
glory.
Night sky in Great Basin National Park. (Photo Credit: Maya/Adobe)
Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park might just challenge your conception of the state of Nevada: its not all desert! The park offers ancient bristlecone
pine forests, incredible night skies, scenic foothills covered in sagebrush, the stunning 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak and the mysterious Lehman Caves.?
Here, travelers can partake in some unique adventure activities, from wild caving to pine nut gathering. The park offers a range of seasonal activities like wildflower viewing, but it also boasts year-round activities with its many hiking trails, nighttime
beauty and bird watching opportunities.
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve. (Photo Credit: NPS)
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to walk on another planet? You wont even have to use much of your imagination during a visit to Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve!?
Located in the southern portion of Idaho, the preserve is home to the remnants of ancient lava flows. The park is a great one to visit for a few hours, a half day or a full night, with many of the biggest attractions, like caves and trails, available
along a 7-mile stretch of Loop Road.?
Its also an International Dark Sky Park, making it a great destination for travelers looking not only to experience an otherworldly environment on land, but also experience the glories of the cosmos without light pollution.
When planning or engaging in a national park visit, its important select activities that are appropriate for your experience and physical limitations. (Photo Credit: Courtesy AdobeStock)
Capitol Reef National Park
Geologists will tell you that Utahs scenic Capitol Reef National Park is special because of a wrinkle in the earth called the Waterpocket
Fold, but the unique formation is only one of the parks many attractions.?
The fold extends nearly 100 miles, creating a unique landscape with natural cliffs, domes, bridges and canyons that hikers, horseback riders, canyoneers and bikers will love to explore. Travelers with accessibility considerations or those simply driving
through the region to head somewhere else can take an hour and a half scenic drive, which offers over ten stops featuring some of the parks most incredible geological wonders, such as the Moenkopi Formation, which looks out of this world.
The Sundew Trail Boardwalk inside Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas. (Photo Credit: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga)
Big Thicket National Preserve
You might just forget that youre in southern Texas during a visit to Big Thicket National Preserve! The preserve boasts nine different
unique ecosystems across its 113,000 acres, from pine forests to cypress-lined bayous, offering guests a truly wondrous experience.?
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Big Thicket offers nearly 40 miles of hiking trails and six waterway corridors, as well as opportunities for backcountry camping, paddling, fishing, bird watching and much more.
The park offers a selection of developed regions, offering amenities like restrooms, and more primitive units, ensuring that new campers and seasoned park professionals will be able to get the most out of their visit.?
Oh, and watch out for the carnivorous plants!
An elephant seal on the beach at San Juan Island National Historical Park. (Photo Credit: NPS)
San Juan Island National Historical Park
Located off the coast of Washington State is San Juan Island National Historical Park. Its home to incredible natural beauty,
with a gorgeous rocky coastline, nearby pods of orcas, quiet forests and one of the last native prairies in the region, but its a nationally designated historic park for one particularly strange reason: its the site of a near beginning of war between
the U.S. and Great Britain, started over the death of a single pig.?
Travelers will love hiking, photographing the beautiful island, foraging mussels and seaweed, and exploring all its natural riches, but theyll also learn about the so-called Pig War, and how peaceful arbitration finally put an end to the incident and
led to the creation of the current border between the U.S. and Canada.?
Guests can visit the park via the Washington State Ferry system, by plane or by private boat. There are three camping areas on the island, and while the park itself doesn't offer food, the island does have three grocery stores.?
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