The U.S. is vast, encompassing biomes as different as the sawgrass swampland of the Everglades to the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Anyone with even a small interest in the American outdoors will have some knowledge of Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon’s yawning depths and maybe even Acadia’s coastline. However, with so much territory, the U.S. has lots of lesser-known gems as well.
These aren’t B-sides. America’s underrated parks include glaciated rock faces along the world’s largest freshwater lake, ancestral Puebloan settlements and one of the world’s most massive organisms: a forest of one tree that has sprouted some 40,000 times.
Here are eight of the most underrated parks in the U.S. If you’re having trouble getting a reservation at Glacier National Park during high season — or you just want to try something off the beaten path — they’re well worth a visit.
Grayson Highlands State Park, Va.
With the Appalachian Trail snaking through its forests and highlands, Grayson Highlands offers iconic sights and hidden glens. Venture in, and you’ll find rapids among stands of rhododendron, or summit nearby Mount Rogers, the highest mountain in Virginia, for sweeping views of the Appalachians and the Shenandoah Valley. The park also has convenient family campgrounds — just keep an eye on the kids around the wild ponies .
Wander among fields and forests sprinkled with boulders, where wild ponies trot about. While Mount Mitchell and the Smoky Mountains are known nationwide, Mount Rogers is better known regionally.
Chiricahua National Monument, Ariz.
Like Bryce Canyon in Utah, Chiricahua National Monument is a labyrinth of hoodoos — thousands of spires of balanced rock rise from conifer and desert ground cover. The park has 17 miles of hiking trails and a scenic drive to the summit, so even those not up for backcountry treks can still take in the landscape.
With its red and orange stone, Bryce Canyon is far more famous than Chiricahua, but also far more crowded. If you’re looking to experience Arizona’s hoodoos without the crowds, this southern Arizona monument is a great alternative.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Mich.
One could argue that Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is one of the most underrated parts of the country. If so, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore would be among the chief arguments for it. The park is certainly famous, but it doesn’t have the same profile as national parks like the Great Smoky Mountains .
On the south shore of Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks features towering bluffs and rock spires, interspersed with forested coves and giving way to towering sand dunes. It’s one of the most remarkable places to take in Lake Superior — the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area.
This gorgeous park is well worth a stop on any Upper Peninsula drive. Experience the views by hiking the trails or getting out on the water.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, N.M.
American history began long before Christopher Columbus, and Chaco Culture National Historical Park shows just how sophisticated it was. There’s plenty to take in at this remarkable site: buildings aligned with astronomical patterns, a spiral petroglyph atop Fajada Butte that tracks the 18.6-year lunar cycle and a network of roads, including one that runs about 30 miles due north into the desert. The area was a major center for the ancestral Pueblo people from 850 to 1250 CE.
Located in New Mexico, this ancient site is a must-see in the Southwest. Before you go, take some time to learn about its history and cultural significance. The Mystery of Chaco Canyon , a PBS documentary, offers a solid primer.
Fishlake National Forest, Utah
Have you ever heard of Pando ? Fishlake National Forest in Utah is home to one of the world’s most singular organisms, an entire forest of one tree. Pando is a quaking aspen clone in which one tree has sprouted tens of thousands of stems. It’s believed to be the largest known organism on Earth.
Quaking aspens are named for the way their leaves flutter, whispering as the wind moves through the forest. Old as it is, Pando is widely considered to be in danger, with deer and some cattle threatening new growth, according to Utah State University .
Fishlake is a mixed-use area, with ranches, trails and more sharing space across a mountain range. The forest offers a variety of camping and hiking options, as well as other recreational opportunities.
North Cascades, Wash.
Washington state is a land of contrasts, with temperate rainforests, arid plains and high alpine mountains. North Cascades National Park highlights the latter. A land of rocky massifs and glacial-blue lakes, it’s a sprawling swath with options for a range of adventures.
For families, the park offers drive-in camping , boating, short hikes and more. Committed backpackers can access high wilderness campsites and backcountry trails. Closer to Vancouver than to Seattle, the park skirts the Canadian border, making it a great stop on the way to Canada’s parks , such as Banff.
Blackwater Falls State Park, W.Va.
West Virginia at its best — Blackwater Falls State Park offers a stunning look at the state’s natural beauty. Named for its signature waterfall, the park has river adventures, hikes through dense forest and family-friendly camping. With deep woods and dark, star-studded skies, it beckons you into the Appalachian wilderness.
Visit in the fall to see the forest transformed into a riot of color, or come in spring to hike through cool, misty woods.
Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyo.
Possibly the most underrated of all U.S. parklands is Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Wind River Range, which runs along the Continental Divide and extends into Shoshone National Forest on its eastern side. While Grand Teton and Jackson Hole are world-famous, the Wind River Range (or the Winds) is less well known. You might be surprised to learn that it — not the Tetons — is home to the area’s highest peak, Gannett Peak.
Bridger-Teton is not just the Winds. Interspersed with recreation ranches, the area is a destination for backpacking in summer and snowmobiling in winter. Trails lead through forests home to moose and grizzly bears, and horses carry trekkers over mountain streams.
There are all kinds of ways to enjoy the Bridger-Teton wilderness, from family lodging along its edges to deep backcountry adventures into the land of ermine and mule deer. It’s very much worth a trip to Wyoming — just don’t forget your bear spray.
