The Most Underrated National Parks in North America
It is no question that the world is filled with natural wonders, a majority can even be found right under your nose. The United States alone is home to 58 national parks with each park offering one unique experience after another. The most popular ones, like the Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon, are no doubt an oasis for anyone looking to escape to the great outdoors. But if one were to name a big drawback, it has to be the huge crowds they tend to attract all year round.
So if you happen to be on the hunt for a camping ground that will give you the isolation you crave for, then you’ve come to the right place. We’re naming the most underrated and overlooked national parks around the USA. Check them out below.
5 Underrated National Parks in the USA
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana
The park got its namesake from the nineteenth-century pirate Jean Lafitte. It offers a rich blend of culture and environment thanks to its unique history. The 22,421-acre park consists of six separate sites including the Chalmette Unit where the 1815 Battle of New Orleans took place. If you’re looking for something more wild, then you can always choose to see the Louisiana wetlands in the Barataria Preserve situated just outside of Marrero. The preserve is home to 23,000 acres of bayous, swamps, marshes, forests, and of course, loads and loads of reptiles.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Ready to explore the badlands? Nothing spells western territory more than the North Dakota region. Sitting right on its western edge is Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The landscape is a mix of eroded badlands, bighorn sheep, buffalos, and wild horses. A trip to this 70,446-acre park will never be complete without a ride down the Little Missouri River.
Biscayne National Park, Florida
Aroun 95 percent of Biscayne National Park’s 172,971-acre area is water, except for a large mangrove forest covering the bay area and a few islets. The largest among these islets is the Elliot Key, the first of the true Florida Keys that was formed from fossilized coral reef. But the park boasts not only natural wonders, but there are also a lot of treasure troves that Florida has become best known for. Biscayne alone has 72 shipwrecks, six have become a part of the Maritime Heritage Trail.
Buffalo National River, Arkansas
The Buffalo National River was established in 1972 and is one of the remaining undammed rivers in the country. Visitors get to explore crystal-clear waters, multicolored bluffs, and lush forests. The 94,293-acre park is divided into three designated wilderness areas: the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area, the Ponca Wilderness Area, and the Lower Buffalo Wilderness Area. One of the most exciting activities you can do at the park is visit the Rush, an uninhabited ghost town that was once home to a booming zinc mining industry.
Mojave National Preserve, California
The Mojave National Preserve is one of the most beautiful spots in California. Its remote and underdeveloped terrain makes it the perfect spot to isolate yourself from the world. Aside from the stunning display of Joshua trees that scatter around the area, there are volcanic cinder cones and tall sand dunes that are worth exploring as well.
It is easy to lose yourself in the wilderness. But for safety reasons, always make sure you are fully equipped and prepared before you start exploring the world. Other than an old-fashioned compass, a GPS tracking device like Trackimo is sure to give you peace of mind and serenity. Give your loved ones live and accurate coordinates of your location at a single push of a button and, in the event that something bad happens, immediately send SOS alerts with the device’s emergency feature. Little benefits like these make GPS tracking an investment campers won’t regret making.
