America’s national parks are a national treasure. They are also part of a proud history that inspired the beginning of a national park movement all across the world. They’re also among the most popular vacation destinations in the nation.
We all know about the most popular national parks, but if you’d like to visit some less crowded parks that still have lots of beauty and natural wonder to see, put these places on your bucket list.
Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
This park is named for the size of the forests in the Big Cypress Swamp. It offers a lot of the attractions of Everglades National Park, but it’s a whole lot less crowded. There are two scenic roads that will provide you with the chance to see amazing birds including snowy egrets, white ibises, and wood storks, not to mention alligators and other amazing Florida wildlife.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
There are lots of famous Native American sites in the Southwest, including Mesa Verde in Colorado and Canyon de Chelly in Arizona—but Chaco Canyon was more important in its day than either of those two parks. Now a well-preserved national park, it was a major ceremonial, trade, and administrative center for the ancient Pueblo culture. In view of its importance, it has been designated as a World Heritage site. It’s truly awe-inspiring to see the structures there, and the natural beauty that surrounds them.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Although Denali National Park is a lot more famous, Wrangell-St. Elias is actually the largest national park in the U.S. and has nine of the 16 highest mountains in the country. You can take adventure tours including guided glacier hikes, river rafting, and sea kayaking. If you’re careful and prepare well (and the weather is good), you can drive along its two roads and see a variety of wildlife including Dall sheep, bears, foxes, mountain goats, and possibly even wolves. The roads are both very long, mostly unpaved, and require planning and preparation before you embark on your trip, but it’s well worth the effort.
Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
If you’ve always wanted to see the inside of a cave, this park will give you a chance. Wind Cave is the world’s fourth largest cave, and it’s noted for its unusual rock formations including boxwork, a formation of thin calcite fins resembling honeycomb. There are a number of ranger-guided tours, including one suitable for people with physical disabilities. Not only is the cave beautiful, though; the plains above it are amazing, too—you’ll have the chance to see bison, elk, prairie dogs, mule deer, and a lot more.