TremendoUS parks
The United States has some iconic national parks but there are some isolated treasures you have never heard of, writes Ashlyn Oswalt.
America the beautiful. National parks visitors will find it hard to disagree with that sentiment, and for good reason. With
240 million visitors last year, it is hard to deny the varied landscapes’ beauty.
With 63 to choose from, it can be easy to default to the more famous ones –such as Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.
However, there are plenty that fly under the radar, not receiving the attention they deserve.
Whether you are avoiding crowds or just prefer an underappreciated vista, these seven national parks are for you.
Congaree National Park, South Carolina
Congaree National Park receives little air time or visitors – 150,000 last year. The swamp-like forest is an enchanted web of boardwalks and kayak routes, begging for water and land exploration.
It is also the southeast’s only oldgrowth bottomland hardwood forest, making it unique in age and characteristics.
The trees adapt to their submerged conditions by developing ‘‘cypress knees’’ – a phenomenon in the tree world where trees create biomes to possibly aerate the roots. Spectacular firefly viewings can be seen in the early summer.
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
For rugged beauty, it’s hard to beat Isle Royale, isolated in the cold waters of Lake Superior. Off Michigan’s Upper Peninsula shores sits the tiny 80km long by 15km wide island.
Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the remote shores keep the faint of heart away, as do the healthy populations of wolf, moose, or fox. Campsites offer peaceful views of the lake, accessible by tramping or kayaking.
Summer warms the lake up enough to entice weary walkers in for a cold dip, but the real treat is the scuba diving treasures that lie beneath. Home to many shipwrecks, Lake Superior’s cold temperatures keep history preserved.
Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
The beauty of Wind Cave is that you get two parks in one. On the surface, the deer and the antelope play, while bison roam.
There are plenty of walks to enjoy above, but the real reason you go is for the excitement below.
Wind Cave was the first cave designated as a national park, and features ‘‘boxwork’’ formations – thin blades of calcite that make honeycomb patterns on cave surfaces. Rarely found elsewhere, visitors can take ranger-led tours and weave through the inner passages of the cave.
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Mesa Verde National Park honours the history of the Ancestral Pueblo people.
The 26 indigenous tribes built their communities on the mesas and cliff sides of the Mesa Verde and it is a Unesco World Heritage Site in southwestern Colorado.
Visitors can walk through protected cliff dwellings, admire petroglyph panels, and learn about the indigenous people.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Big Bend is named for the large curve the Rio Grande forged in the southern section of the park. The 3243-square-kilometre park gives visitors plenty to look at – tall mountains, stark desert, canyons and desert wildlife. Rattlesnakes, jackrabbits and coyotes call the park home.
Big Bend has a few scenic drives, allowing visitors to enjoy the views via car, making this a very accessible park.
If you would rather get stuck in, take the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and stop at the overlooks and hikes through deserts and canyons.
North Cascades National Park, Washington
Despite having the largest glacial system in the lower 48, this park saw about 30,000 visitors in 2020. Its remote location and frequent road closures may explain the low numbers because it is certainly not the sights. With more than 300 lakes and 300 glaciers to explore without the crowds, you can spend days without seeing another visitor.
Elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and lynx will give you company as you take in the views of the jagged peaks above.
Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Alaska is famous for its stunning glaciers, unique wildlife population, and remote access. Only three of the eight parks in Alaska are accessible by car, and Kenai Fjords is one of them.
Discover nearly 40 glaciers via plane, foot, boat, or kayak, and watch humpbacks and orcas play in the ocean.
Visitors can camp near the glaciers, taking in the scenery among mountain goats and possibly a grizzly bear or two.