Can’t face the crowds at Yosemite and Yellowstone? These eight lesser-known national parks offer stunning scenery but with far fewer visitors

Fed-up of the seemingly endless influx of travelers at Yosemite and Yellowstone? 

Good news – there’s hundreds of other national parks to choose from, scattered about the US.

Each emanate their own unique majesty, with sights that hold their own with more notable attractions. They show that while the façade of Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon will forever be draws, there’s plenty more to our nation’s parks.

Haters of long lines will be happy to know there are several options for park-goers, each with shorter waits, fewer crowds, and more time to soak in the natural attractions.

And with sights ranging from Civil War-era forts set in tropical paradises to pristine, white sand beaches, some might surprise you. Here DailyMail.com takes a look at some of the best – and less traveled – the 50 states have to offer.

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1. Channel Islands National Park – California

The first of several offshore installments to make the list, Channel Islands National Park is coastal California’s version of the quintessential national park.

It offers sights distinct to the more-represented mainland, all on a chain of eight islands that allows for up-close encounters with dolphins and whales.

Opportunities to kayak through the spectacular caves that encircle the islands are also abound, in a place often referred to as ‘The Galapagos of North America.’

A fitting nickname for a hidden gem of the wide-stretching Pacific, the nationally recognized park is located just off the California coast. 

It offers stunning ocean views, jutting rock cliffs, and wildlife you can’t find elsewhere, but is one of the least visited National Parks due to its remote nature and accessibility.

Still, the Channel Islands are a must for campers and wildlife enthusiasts alike, thanks to its untouched landscape and chances to swim in an idyllic paradise.

Outdoor Union, one of the country’s most respected travel publications, lists the islands amongst the best camping spots in all of the Golden State. 

2. White Sands National Park – New Mexico

One of the more picturesque entries to this list, White Sands National Park is located in the great state of New Mexico, completely surrounded by the white sand dunes of the White Sands Missile Range.

The glimmering white dunes were once the proving ground for the world’s first atomic bomb (code named Trinity), detonated in 1941.

The bomb boasted the same design as the ‘Fat Man’ detonated over Nagasaki, but did not mire the desert’s natural beauty.

Actually an ancient, evaporated lake, visitors can traverse the scenic dunes by sled, or settle for backcountry camp.

The park’s striking views can be enjoyed without fear of fallout by cycling, hiking, and simply by driving around, in a 275 square mile sea of pale white – one of the most remarkable creations in all of the United States.

Moreover, the sand-covered mineral deposits come packaged with a view of  the night’s sky, unmarred by surrounding cityscapes. Not far from the border with Texas and Mexico, it’s still one of the more forgotten entries on this list.

3. Wind Cave National Park – South Dakota

Located in the southwestern corner of sparsely traveled South Dakota, Wind Cave National Park is home to one of the most sprawling cave systems in the world.

Containing six inner lakes, the cave plays home to two very different worlds – one deep within, and the sunlit one that sits above its complex caverns.

There, bison, elk, and an abundance of other wildlife roam freely, over rolling prairies and forested hillsides that comprise one of the country’s oldest national parks. 

Below sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the entire world. 

Each offer unique sights – with the majestic Black Hills available above, and the camp-able cave system underneath.

Opportunities for camping, hiking, and tour activities also abound, in a place once explored by prospectors and hunters of gold. For those looking to be transported into another period in time, look no further than Wind Cave.

4. Dry Tortugas National Park – Florida

One of the more idyllic – and unexpected – parks to make this list, Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida is a 100-square mile nautical paradise. 

Located along the crystal-blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it is mostly open water – with the exception of seven small islands.

It is only accessible only by boat or seaplane, hence why it attracts far fewer travelers than other parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite. 

But it still known for its beauty, as well as it playing home to one of the most recognizable Civil War forts in the country, the magnificent Fort Jefferson.

Surrounded by picturesque blue waters, the still-standing structures is one of the nation’s largest 19th century forts left. 

It plays home to countless coral reefs and an abundance marine life, as well as an assortment of birds that regularly fly overhead.

Opportunities to snorkel alongside tropical fish, sharks, sea turtles, and colorful coral are also rife, all in a little known park quietly nestled in the Florida Keys.

5. New River Gorge National Park – West Virginia

One of the newer parks to grace this list,  New River Gorge in West Virginia was established in 2020 to protect the state’s similarly named gorge in the Appalachian Mountains.

The landscape of this park is therefore perfect for adventures – all while offering access to whitewater rafting, fishing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and more.

For those less physically inclined, the place also serves as the perfect venue for a peaceful afternoon picnic or a leisurely hike, all as the park’s eponymous river continues to sculpt the longest and deepest gorge within all of the mountains. 

Flowing water is these the creative force shaping the features of the park put on display, including the exposure of over 1,000 feet of sandstone and shale, giant boulders, fossils, and steep channel drop-offs. 

Over the centuries, the raging river has also exposed four seams of coal, considered to be among the best in the world. 

Whether you’re in search of a peaceful place to hunt or somewhere just to take in Mother Nature, New River Gorge National Park is definitely the place to be.

6. Isle Royale National Park – Michigan

A remote island wilderness located in the midst of Lake Superior, Isle Royale National Park is only accessible by ferry, seaplane, or by privately commandeered watercraft.

For those fearful of crowds, look no further – as weather influences travels to-and-fro the island, as well as your return trip once you’re there.

Once you are, though, the opportunity to explore a rugged, isolated wilderness awaits – far from other connected communities set around the world’s largest lake.

It offers adventures for backpackers, hikers, boaters, paddlers, and divers abound, as some of the best views in the region – from an often-missed group of islands bordering Canada but belonging to Michigan. 

The island’s fauna includes moose, wolves, foxes, and no shortage of reptiles, all of which have been painstakingly preserved by park staff.

While not the easiest to get to, the trip offers an interesting mixture of land and sea activities like scuba diving, camping, and canoeing. Still, it is one of the least visited parks in the US – a remote destination for nature lovers and wilderness-seekers.

Isle Royale National Park certainly does not disappoint, so consider taking a visit – preferably in the summer.

7. Cuyahoga National Park – Ohio

A quaint river valley nestled in Northern Ohio, Cuyahoga National Park is a refuge for The Buckeye State’s resident wildlife and plant species.

Known particularly for its rolling hills and dwindling forests, the park offers the country’s only nonprofit railroad and several scenic waterfalls, including the iconic Brandywine Falls – an excellent backdrop for any family vacation.

Such sights have enticed visitors from far-and-wide, to another rarely frequented outpost of the country’s park system. 

The only national park in Ohio, it’s also home to a bevy of historical sites that tell the story of the rural landscape that surrounds the Cuyahoga River.

The winding tributary gives way to forests, hills, and roving farmlands, and offers routs to Walk or ride that trace the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal. 

Located a short distance from the metropolises Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park still seems worlds away. 

For plant lovers and fans of untouched wildlife, this park may be your best bet.

8. Acadia National Park – Maine

Last but not least, for one of the more far-flung locations on this list, Acadia National Park is located all the way on the northernmost cusp of the East Coast.

Here, one can explore an abundance of natural attractions such as kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, on a scenic island set just off Southern Maine.

Set some 160 miles from Portland and 50 miles from Bangor, it’s not the most centrally located, but still one of the less-traveled locales on this list.

Home to some of the most stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife along the entire coast, the park is open year-round, allowing access for winter skiing, spring fishing, and scenic summer hikes. 

The foliage during the fall is also certainly a draw, for a place park staff have billed as the perfect outdoor playground

The majority of the park’s 47,000 acres can be found on Mount Desert Island, but portions are also located on the Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut. 

To enjoy the park with fewer crowds during summer months, try an alternative entrance like these less-popular ports.   

Once there, you’ll play witness to the area’s rich mammal and sea life – which includes but not is limited to foxes, bats, beavers, and seals. For lovers of the briny Northeast, this park is definitely a must.