United Nations of America is home to many wonderful national parks. Most of these parks receive great inbound traffic from both domestic and international tourists. But the same also means lesser elbow space. Now, this won’t be a very cool scenario if you are seeking some escape from the hustle-bustle of the city. But don’t worry, we got you! And that being said, we have curated a list of 10 beautiful national parks in the USA with less footfall.
The lap of nature is the retreat of many. This explains why many people like spending their holidays at national parks. We have always done that, right? Waking up early morning on the weekends to go hiking with dad, or going to our favorite picnic spot—we have always done that.
However, due to the internet and increasing connectivity, even remotest of the places are being discovered. This leaves little scope to re-live the time when we could go have our favorite picnic spot or hiking trail all to ourselves.
But the good news is that there are still some crowd-free national parks in America where you can visit. And in the list below, you can learn about 10 if the best.
10 Crowd-Free and Beautiful National Parks in the USA
#1 Shenandoah National Park
Situated in Virginia, Shenandoah National Park is an amazing substitute to the famous Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While the latter received about 12.5 million visitors in 2019, the former receives only 1.43 visitors the same year.
But the lesser footfall doesn’t mean that Shenandoah is any less than the Great Smoky Mountains. With its hiking trails amounting to about 500 miles, the park has similarly beautiful sweeping views to offer. Moreover, the park also has other similar attributes like wooded hollows and waterfall. Hence, it is one of the best national parks with lesser footfalls.
#2 Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park of Minnesota is another great place to be if you are seeking a national park within the USA with less footfall. This national park is largely water. In the summertime, you can do a number of water sports like swimming, boating, paddling, fishing and so on. While in winter as the water freezes, it becomes a perfect spot for skiing and snowmobiling.
Moreover, many visitors come here to experience star-gazing. You can even spot Northern Lights in its night sky. This park with an average footfall of only over 230,000 is a great substitute for Acadia National Park which received about 3.4 million visitors in 2019.
#3 Great Basin National Park
There is no bad time to visit Great Basin Park. It is situated in Nevada and is designated an International Dark Sky Park. This national park is not only rich in its geology but also in its cultural history. The park is said to have settled by Native Americans, ranchers, sheepherders, and Mormons.
With about 100 valleys and the stalactite-filled Lehman Caves, Great Basin still contains evidence of glacial activity. With its features, it becomes a perfect crowd-free substitute for Rocky Mountain National Park.
#4 Wrangell–St. Elias National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a famous one in the USA. It received about 3.4 million visitors in 2019—which can be a downside for seclusion-loving tourists. However, we have a great substitute for that—Wrangell–St. Elias National Park. In contrast to Great Teton, it received only 74,518 visitors in 2019.
Situated in Alaska, the park is spread in a square area of 13.2 million acres. This makes it ‘the largest’ national park in the USA. From hiking to backpacking, river-rafting, there are endless outdoor activities to do and endless opportunities to explore.
#5 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
California is home to two national parks which are famously managed as one—Sequoia and King Canyon National Parks. Whether you want to take a peaceful walk among giant sequoias or explore the peaks and valleys through 800 miles of trails, it is the place to be.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are a great substitute for Yosemite National Park. This couple received a combined footfall of about 1,882,110 in 2019 which is way less than the latter’s 4,500,000 for the same year.
#6 Cumberland Island National Seashore
Situated about 35 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida, Cumberland Island National Seashore is basically wild magic. The park received a footfall of 52,000 in 2019 which is less than half of the Canaveral National Seashore’s (1.6 million).
This park is home to Spanish-moss-draped live oaks. It is also the largest in a chain of barrier islands along the Georgia coast. Visitors can access it only by ferry or private boat. However, the profoundly beautiful salt creeks will make it all worth it.
#7 Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Situated in the wondrous city of Kanab, Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a true natural wonder. And the best part is this place is still largely undiscovered by tourists. With a footfall of 983,000 in 2019, it is a great substitute for Bryce Canyon National Park which was the destination of 2.6 million visitors the same year.
The park is huge and wild which adds to its magnificence. Moreover, the lack of mobile signals here will help you truly disconnect from the crowded world for some time. The park is open year-round and can be both travels by four-wheelers or hiked through.
#8 North Cascades National Park
On average, over 3 million tourists travel to Glacier National Park. This is threatening the ecological stability of the park. One can say it is gradually becoming a mere spot for tourism. Thankfully, there is a substitute for this national park with less footfall in the USA—North Cascades National Park.
In contrast to the former, the latter receives only about 38,000 visitors annually. Its glaciers-packed jagged peaks are truly mesmerizing. Given its beauty, it is surprising that the park receives much less traffic. However, it’s for the best! Upon visiting it, you will realize that North Cascades National Park is National Park Service’s best-kept secret.
#9 Saguaro National Park
Indigenous people of the Sonoran desert consider Saguaro sacred. It is so since the fruit of Saguaro is dependable even in drought. It’s just amazing how the plant has uniquely adapted to the rigors of the desert. Such cultural values attached to Saguaro National Park make the experience of visiting this park even more profound.
The paralyzing heat of the sun is what dissuades many from experiencing the beautiful Saguaro bloom in the period of April-June. However, it is an amazing place to visit during dusk and dawn. The park received only about 960,000 visitors in 2019 which is way less than Joshua Tree National Park’s 2.9 million.
#10 Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
Situated in North of Nome, Alaska, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve is a great substitute for Denali National Park and Preserve. It is one of the most remote national park areas in the USA. This explains why it receives only about 3,000 yearly visitors.
In fact, reaching this preserve is itself an adventurous task. There are no roads that leave travel hinging on a small airplane, boat, or foot. However, when you reach there, you will realize it was totally worth it. If you want to experience the bliss of nature in seclusion, this is the best place to be.
Summing Up
People in numbers of millions travel to the USA for its national parks. However, this can lead to lesser elbow space, especially on holidays. Hence, with the help of the list above, you will learn about 10 beautiful national parks in the USA with less footfall. This way, you will be able to get the most of the USA’s natural beauty.