You’ve heard of Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Acadia and the Grand Canyon, but what about the other 53 national parks? There’s so much chatter about all the popular parks that some of our most incredible national treasures are forgotten about.
Without further ado, we present to you five of the most incredible national parks that you might not have known about!
1. Dry Tortugas National Park – Florida Keys
The enchanting Dry Tortugas National Park is about 70 miles west of where Key West lies. Dry Tortugas is composed of 7 tiny tropical islands equaling 100 square miles surrounded by pristine turquoise blue waters.
Fun fact: 1% of Dry Tortugas is dry ground. 99% is crystal clear Caribbean water!
The only way to access Dry Tortugas is to take a ferry, private boat or seaplane. This limitation means that this park never gets too crowded with visitors. Unless you enjoy traffic and crowds at national parks (cough…Yellowstone), we like to think this limitation makes Dry Tortugas extremely special. Imagine being one of the few families exploring a national park. Sounds epic! Not to mention, Dry Tortugas has amazing campsites! We recommend tent camping at Garden Key Island, where there is unbelievable star gazing, snorkeling, swimming, sunsets and more!
Things to do:
- Explore the historic Fort Jefferson, one of the nation’s largest 19th century forts
- Scuba dive and snorkel around Florida Keys reef system (a lot of cool shipwrecks & marine life). It is the third largest in the world
- Fishing
- Paddle sports
- Bird viewing and lots of sea turtles
- Camping
Best time to go: Year-round!
2. Gates of the Arctic National Park – Alaska
If we were to describe a place that was the complete polar opposite of Dry Tortugas, it would have to be Gates of the Arctic National Park in Northern Alaska. Gates of the Arctic is the northern most national park and the second largest in United States covering over 8 million acres of archaic land. This national park is different from your average park because you visit Gates of the Arctic to experience an extremely primitive lifestyle. The park’s desolate, frozen landscape does not contain any visitor centers, campsites, roads or trails. In fact, this park was created to preserve and protect its undeveloped and raw character. If you plan on exploring the Gates of the Arctic, you must be fully prepared and self-sufficient. Talk about being one with nature!
Exploring the Gates of Arctic, you will discover diverse ecosystems where people have lived for over thousands of years. The park’s land remains untamed except by the forces of nature.
Wild rivers flow through mountainous evergreen valleys, endangered species hunt along vintage trails and summers see 24 hours of daylight.
Things to do:
- Dog sled
- Epic stargazing and viewings of the aurora borealis in the winter
- Experience 24 hours of light during the summer or 24 hours of darkness in the winter
- Extensive Wildlife viewing: Grizzly and black bear, wolf, moose, Dall's sheep, wolverine, muskox, and fox
- Find yourself
Nearby campgrounds: None!
Best time to go: Summertime (In the winter, temperatures range from -20 degrees to -50 degrees…brrrr)
3. Great Sand Dunes National Park – Colorado
The tallest sand dunes in North America can be found at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Southern Colorado. This national park offers a range of interesting landscapes of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes and tundra. Lots to see here folks! Experience the park’s diversity through hiking, sand surfing, swimming, wildlife watching, and more!
Fun fact: The Great Sand Dunes were formed thousands of years ago, as sand was swept by mountain streams and playa lakes on the San Luis Valley floor.
Things to do:
- Sand surfing and sand sledding
- Hiking
- Backpacking
- Horseback riding
- Fishing
- Swimming in the Medano Creek
- Awesome stargazing
Best time to go: Summertime
Nearby campgrounds: https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/area-campgrounds.htm
4. Petrified Forest National Park – Arizona
The spectacular Petrified Forest National Park is located in Navajo and Apache counties in Northeastern Arizona. The name of this national park derives from the Painted Desert, a historic landmark in the national park where you will find an abundance of fascinating colored petrified wood in a barren landscape that dates back to over 200 million years old. Another cool feature of the Petrified Forest is that it’s known for its fossils. Scientists have identified several hundred species of fossil plants and animals (Dinosaurs!) in the Petrified Forest.
Things to do:
- Biking through the park
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Backpacking
- Geocaching
When to go: Year-round offers a variety of beautiful opportunities
Nearby campgrounds: https://www.nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/camping.htm
5. Channel Islands National Park – California
The five majestic islands that make up Channel Islands National Park are off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel . Similar to Dry Tortugas, you have to take a ferry, seaplane or private boat to access the national park. Many express that each of the five islands represent tiny versions of what California looked like hundreds of years ago before it became industrialized. Visit this park if you would like experience California’s true natural beauty. Channel Islands geographical features include tall evergreen mountains with towering rocky cliffs surrounded by crystal clear waters resembling the islands of Hawaii. Each island offers something different, so make sure to plan your trip ahead of time!
Things to do:
- Seal and sea lion watching
- Whale watching
- Surfing
- Snorkeling and diving
- Hiking
- Fishing and boating
- Watersports
- Camping
When to go: Year-round (Each season offers different, yet unique experiences)
