The United States benefits from a wealth of national treasures, none more appreciated than her national parks. However, there are plenty of underrated national parks which don’t get the attention or visitation they deserve. As overall visitation to the parks continues to climb, I would encourage everyone to consider making a trip to some of the least visited national parks in our system. By taking the pressure off the big guys (like Great Smoky Mountains) and visiting these underrated national parks, you’ll get a chance to see some amazing sights with far less people to bump into!
I’ve got six national parks I think are the most underrated national parks that are worth a visit in 2025. Plus, if you head all the way to the bottom I’ve got some recommendations for places that are “national parks” without the fancy title but still are way underrated and worth your appreciation!
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of the four national parks located in the great state of Colorado. Unlike the vastly more popular (and accessible) Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Canyon is located in a part of the state which sees little traffic. The park protects the steepest canyon in the United States, which gets it’s name from the fact that some portions may only see about 40 minutes of sunlight per day. The Gunnison River also has one of the steepest river decents in America as it flows through the canyon dropping 34 feet over every mile.
I made a trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park back in 2020, and immediately fell in love. The park was a top notch destination when I was a budding photographer. I captured one of my favorite photos ever while I was here, and loved standing in awe over the impressively deep and dark canyon. I think it’s one of the most underrated national parks because it simply doesn’t get enough attention or appreciation from most people. It is easier to visit one of the bigger or more popular parks, so people miss out on this stellar location.
When making your visit to one of the least visited national parks, it’s important to know that the two rims are not connected. The South Rim is by far the easiest part to access, has developed camping, and most of the scenic overlooks. The North Rim is more remote, has less conveniences, but also has the “easiest” hike into the canyon. If you only have one day, I recommend visiting the South Rim. If you do plan on hiking into the depths of the canyon, make sure you’re well provisioned as it is difficult to hike in, and equally difficult to rescue stranded hikers.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of my favorite national parks, and if I lived closer, I’d certainly be making regular visits to one of the most underrated national parks!
North Cascades
North Cascades National Park is home to some of America’s most pristine mountain backcountry. Located about three hours north of Seattle, the park offers access to those seeking adventure, either on land or on the water. Hikers and boaters will find the park packed full of great hikes, wonderful alpine lakes, and some of the best camping in the entire national park system.
The park is often overlooked by visitors to Washington’s two other national parks. Both Olympic and Mount Rainier are more accessible, which makes them better for quicker and easier trips. However, I’ve put North Cascades on my top ten summer national parks for a few years now because it is a spectacular park. It’s gorgeous mountain landscapes, deep clear lakes, and remoteness shouldn’t be missed. Yet, this remains one of the least visited national parks in the country.
If you’re going to visit one of the most underrated national parks in 2025, then you’ll need to be prepared. The North Cascades Scenic Highway runs across the park to provide access to the park itself. However, the park extends to the north and south of the road, much of which is only accessible by boat or foot. This is really an advantage for visitors wanting to truly get away from it all for a while. Getting some solitude in life can be hard, but it’s a bit easier in a place like North Cascades.
North Cascades National Park has an abundance of adventure to offer those willing to make the trek and check off their bucket lists one of the most underrated national parks in America.
Mammoth Cave
The US National Park System has a surprising number of parks which preserve cave systems. However, no cave system is larger than Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. In fact, it’s the longest known cave system in the entire world! Yet, even with this awesome fact, the park sees just over half a million visitors each year. It’s not quite at the top of the least visited national parks list, but it’s still way lower than it should be.
I think this is one of the best underrated national parks you can visit in 2025 thanks to it’s combination of less visitors and mind-blowing cave size. When I made a trip there a couple years ago, I was honestly taken aback at the sheer size of it all. Mammoth Cave truly lives up to its name. However, the cave isn’t the only attraction when making a trip. You’ll find hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and even stargazing on in the world above the cave. It’s fascinating to think you can wander right above the cave in the afternoon that you spent the morning exploring!
The #1 tip for visiting Mammoth Cave National Park is to reserve your cave tour in advance. The park website has a great description of all the tours, including photos, that can help you pick. We made a simple day trip and enjoyed the basic Mammoth Passage tour. Another tip when making your visit is to consider taking some time on the Green River. It’s a great way to extend your trip and if you’re feeling adventurous you can even find camping along the river!
I really loved my short visit to Mammoth Cave National Park, and wish we could have made it an even longer stay. No matter how much time you have to spend, you won’t be disappointed in your visit to one of America’s best underrated national parks.
Isle Royale
Isle Royale might not be the most remote national park, but it’s still one of the more difficult to make a visit to. That’s probably why Isle Royale National Park is one of the least visited national parks in America. However, what you get for this isolation is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Much of the island remains undeveloped. This provides visitors with a phenomenal opportunity to explore, via hiking or water, the wilderness of the Great Lakes. As an added bonus, if you visit in 2025, you’ll get a chance to celebrate the park’s 85th anniversary!
The difficulty of visiting comes from it’s location in the far north of Lake Superior. Yet, the amount of pristine backcountry hiking, or kayaking you can do is nearly unmatched in the lower 48. If you’re looking for a unique challenge as a hiker, then tackling the Greenstone Trail or even the full circumnavigation of the island. The multi-day backpacking hikes and camping, are one of the biggest reasons this is among the best underrated national parks.
The biggest tips for visitors is to plan well in advance. More than most parks, you’ll need to be prepared for anything and be flexible. Just getting to the ferry takeoff locations on the mainland can be an adventure in itself. Planning in advance will also help you book your stay at the Rock Harbor Lodge if you want to basecamp in less rugged conditions.
A journey to this wonderfully underrated national park is what you make of it. With just over 25,000 visitors last year, you’ll certainly be getting an experience few others have a chance to enjoy, so make the most of it in 2025!
Canyonlands
Canyonlands National Park is one of Utah’s Mighty Five, and is located just outside of the city of Moab. In fact, it’s the closest pair of national parks to (that don’t actually border one another), in the country! Despite this fact, Canyonlands is shockingly the fifth most popular of the Utah parks. That made Canyonlands a pretty easy addition to my list of underrated national parks.
Canyonlands is a stunning landscape, carved by the same forces that shaped the more famous Grand Canyon in Arizona. What’s even better here is that the Green River also plays a part in carving the land throughout Canyonlands. With it’s close location to Arches, it’s simply a shame that it doesn’t get more attention from visitors. Canyonlands offers stunning views, scorching desert hikes, and opportunities for truly escaping to solitude.
My biggest tip for visiting is to get their early. Canyonlands is features one of the best sunrises in Utah. By arriving early, you’ll beat the crowds, many of which head to Arches first then MAYBE come to Canyonlands. I definitely recommend everyone partake in a hike when visiting the park. When I visited a few years ago, I hiked Upheaval Dome which was a fairly straightforward hike. In fact, you can read all my suggestions for visiting Canyonlands Island in the Sky section right now!
While Arches and Zion get all the attention, Canyonlands is a fantastic alternative to explore. That’s doubly true if you’re seeking to check off some of the most underrated national parks from your bucket list!
Great Basin
Great Basin National Park is one of those parks which packs an abundance of activities into a relatively small area. You’ve got camping, hiking, caves, ancient trees, and brilliant night skies all available to you in the park. In fact, Great Basin National Park might be THE best park for stargazing in the entire park system. This is because it’s also one of the most remote national parks in the lower 48 states. The nearest city of Ely only has 3,500 people and it’s more than 3.5 hours from Salt Lake and 4.5 hours from Vegas!
It’s the amazingly clear night skies which put Great Basin on my list of the most underrated national parks. Practically any location in the park provides stunning nighttime views. When you’re visiting, it can be hard to actually get any sleep because you’ll want to be outside looking at the stars! However, don’t plan on trying to sleep in either. You’ll want to head underground and explore the amazing Lehman Caves.
My #1 tips for make a trip to one of the least visited national parks is make your reservations in advance. While the visitor numbers might not be high, camping and cave tours regularly sell out or become unavailable. Another tip when visiting is to spend time driving around the park. It features some great scenic drives, including the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. That makes the park pretty accessible for visitors.
I honestly can’t wait til I can make a trip back out west so I can visit Great Basin. It’s certainly in my top five parks I still haven’t had a chance to visit, so it should 100% be on your list of underrated national parks to visit in 2025!
Underrated National Parks that aren’t “national parks”
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest is a combined area of national forest that spans the Wyoming-Colorado border. This sublime landscape features miles of protected trails and back country experiences that rival those at Grand Teton or Yellowstone, but are often overlooked. Visitors in the winter should head for the world-class skiing at Steamboat Springs which exists inside the boundary of this national forest.
Vicksburg National Military Park is one of the best historical battlefields you can visit in the US and should be put on your list of underrated national parks. The siege of Vicksburg was a pivotal moment in the US Civil War, and the preservation of this battlefield is one of the best in the country. Visiting Vicksburg can be easily done in a day, or as part of a road trip along the Great River Road in Mississippi!
Monongahela National Forest is a fantastic and highly underrated national park destination in West Virginia. While many people will flock to the newest national park at New River Gorge, visitors should certainly make some time for Monongahela. We spent a couple days traveling in and out of it while on our West Virginia road trip, all of which was absolutely beautiful during the fall.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore can be a dream vacation for anyone who love being out on the water. You can hop between the islands on your own kayak or boat; take a chartered cruise with Apostle Island Cruises; or simply enjoy the scenery from the mainland. Many people don’t even realize we have national lakeshores, making the stunning sea caves and landscape of Apostle Islands one of our highly underrated national parks!
El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico has the distinction of being the only tropical rain forest protected as a national forest in the country. This amazing landscape features gorgeous waterfalls, fabulous hiking, and stunning mountain views. It’s very popular with visitors to the the island, but still doesn’t get nearly enough attention or appreciation for it’s unique nature.
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site is perhaps one of the most unique locations in all of the National Park Service. Located in Deer Lodge, Montana, Grant-Kohrs Ranch is still maintained as a active cattle ranch. However, it’s historic nature means that much of the work is done as it was in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It’s a fascinating look at life in the historic American west, which could be easily overshadowed by big brother Yellowstone just to the south.
Final Insights on America’s Underrated National Parks
National parks are as popular as ever thanks to the wide array of places you can visit across the country and a continual desire for exploring the great outdoors. By getting out and visiting more underrated national parks, you can still enjoy these wonderful locations while not contributing to their overcrowding. In fact, making a visit to some of the non-park parks can be a great way to see amazing sights that plenty of other are overlooking.
One of my final tips for those looking to make a trip to one (or more) of these underrated national parks is to look beyond even this list. There are hundreds of places the National Park Service oversees. It’s more important now, than ever, that these places see visitors and local communities get tourism dollars to keep them funded. If you’ve got any questions on how to find a great local underrated national park near you, leave a comment below or send me an email at triphelp@floridamanontherun.com!
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