The 21 Most Underrated, Crowd-Free National Parks in America

Explore the Chisos Mountains, which is the only mountain range contained entirely within the borders of a national park. And considering that park is Big Bend, that might explain why you’ve never heard of them. Altogether, the expansive desert park is a hiker’s haven, with more than 150 miles of designated trails through mountains and limestone canyons. A good starter course is the Chisos Basin Loop Trail, a moderate — and mercifully tree-shaded — two-mile round-trip route from the Chisos Basin Trailhead that provides stunning mountain panoramas without a ton of elevation gain. For something more strenuous, hoof it up the Lost Mine Trail, a five-mile jaunt through juniper and pine forest to the top of an expansive ridge, which rewards hikers with staggering vistas of the canyon below.  

Stay at the Big Bend Holiday Hotel in the nearby Terlingua ghost town just outside the park. The independent property has got all the creepy-cool dusty goodness of a real-deal ghost town, although the furnishings are refreshingly up to date and quite cozy. Lodging options include rustic-chic casitas, the fireplace-equipped Cinnabar Suite and the Perry Mansion, a former estate that once overlooked the Chisos Mining Company and has since been restored to a bougie abode for groups and families.

Eat at the Starlight Theatre, a jovial saloon and restaurant in the ghost town. An adorably raucous watering hole, the lofty oasis also far exceeds culinary expectations in a part of West Texas where javelinas far outnumber the grocery stores. Margaritas are the main tipple, available in a slew of flavors and spice levels, while the impressive food menu runs the gamut from chicken-fried Texas antelope and tequila-marinated quail to mesquite-smoked brisket with green chile mac & cheese.

Stay in Miami. Despite the fact that Biscayne is wildly underrated and not all that known, even to Miami residents, the city is less than an hour away, which makes it exceedingly easy to snag a hotel room or an Airbnb if you’d rather not spend the night roughing it on Boca Chita Key. Plus, it’s always nice to unwind after a long day of adventure with a glam cocktail at the Freehand Miami’s Broken Shaker.

Picnic on Boca Chita Key, the most visited and most iconic key in the park, home to a 65-foot-tall lighthouse, a few tree-lined trails, plenty of grassy green space, and sandy beaches for splishing and splashing. As with all keys and parts of the park, visitors are welcome to take their own private boats to Boca Chita, and there’s a small campground for primitive overnight stays. 

Slurp a guava milkshake or guanabana smoothie at Robert is Here, the “Disney World of fruit stands” on the edge of Everglades National Park, and an easy stopover from Biscayne. Here, the lively market features a dizzying abundance of fresh, tropical fruits to peruse, and there’s an especially popular milkshake counter where customers can customize with up to three fruits. These include familiar favorites like banana and cherries, as well as esoteric options like canistel, black sapote and mamey. 

Drive along the south rim. The main entry point for the park, and the most accessible for visitors (thanks to its proximity to Montrose), South Rim Road zigs and zags for seven miles along the canyon edge, dotted with numerous scenic overlooks  and show-stopping views. Stop at Painted Wall for a particularly awe-inspiring look at Black Canyon’s singular geology. The park earns its ominous name from its jet-black metamorphic rock, striated with color from minerals that formed igneous rock as a result of magma radiating through layers of schist and gneiss. Towards the entrance of the park, there’s also a route that goes down to the canyon floor along East Portal Road. But be warned, with hairpin turns and a 16% grade, it’s not suitable for most RVs or larger vehicles — or folks prone to carsickness. 

Hike on the north rim. Although the north side of the park takes a lot longer to reach, due to the fact that there are no bridges or shortcuts over the canyon, it’s well worth it for the utter solitude and spectacular vantage points. The ultimate is the North Vista Trail, a seven-mile out-and-back jaunt from the North Rim Ranger Station to the top of Green Mountain, where a unique aerial view of the canyon rewards your long day’s journey. 

Drink at Phelanies, a surprisingly legit speakeasy tucked down an alley in Montrose. For a town of just 20,000, the clandestine candle-lit bar is quite metropolitan, offering a mix of masterful classics (your Sazeracs, your Lemon Drops), along with originals like the 12-Mile Limit, a mix of pomegranate grenadine, lemon juice, brandy, rum and rye that sounds like just the ticket after a 12-mile hike. 

Stay in a Montrose hotel. The town has all the requisite affordable chains, along with RV parks, vacation rentals and bed & breakfasts. For something more rustic, the national park has one campground on each rim.

Hike the Island in the Sky district. The most accessible of the park’s districts (the others being The Needles, The Maze and Horseshoe Canyon), and home to the main Island in the Sky Visitor Center open year round, it’s an otherworldly realm of sandstone cliffs rising, some 1,000 feet over the surrounding canyons. Driving out along the road offers endless overlooks, but be sure and get out to explore on your own two feet for a closer look at this jaw-dropping terrain. Mesa Arch is a must-see — the enormous rocky arch is at the end of a 1/2-mile trail, acting as a colossal frame for the deep canyons behind it. For something a tad more hardcore, hike 1,400 down to the White Rim along the Gooseberry Canyon trail, a 5.5-mile trek along cliffs and slopes, with views for days.

Climb the sandstone towers at Island in the Sky. Considering this is the place that inspired 127 Hours, the James Franco movie about a rock-climber who resorts to extreme measures to escape a narrow canyon, it’s no wonder Canyonlands is a climbing mecca. Just be a little more careful, please. Island in the Sky is also the most popular place in the park for rock-climbing, especially along the district’s towering sandstone walls. Permits are not required, but climbers must bring their own gear, abide by a slew of rules and regulations, and most importantly, be prepared.

Stay at Element Moab. The funky little town of Moab is the nearest “urban” area, about 35 minutes from the park, is filled with hotels both boutique and chain-y, but Element Moab is ideal for its optimal location as the closest resort to the park. A Marriott property, it’s a cozy retreat with luxe comforts, a super-sized jacuzzi, and an architectural motif designed to blend it into the surrounding high-desert topography.

Eat in downtown Moab, where the tiny town is surprisingly teeming with an assortment of cuisines and high-quality eats. Like real-deal barbecue at Spitfire Smokehouse and maki rolls named after Canyonland features — the White Rim roll with tempura shrimp, cucumber, avocado, tuna and eel, for instane — at Sabaku Sushi.

Paddle Cedar Creek. South Carolina is infamously flat, and considering the watery focal point here, paddling is the main draw. Guests can book a guided kayak or canoe trip with an area outfitter (or bring your own) on Cedar Creek, a moody waterway that meanders through the thick of the forest like a wooded labyrinth. The slow-moving creek is also gentle as can be, which means you won’t have to work too hard to paddle in either direction — rather, sit back and enjoy the peaceful journey through an ominous forest so quiet that the only sounds are distant woodpeckers and hooting owls. The longest journey is a 15-mile float from Bannister’s Bridge to the far-mightier Congaree River.

Hike the Boardwalk Trail. Although the park is flat, and “hiking” is really more like scenic strolling, the Boardwalk Trail is a beauty to behold, getting visitors up close and personal to the park’s most epic plant life. The easy — and dog-friendly! — trail traverses a 2.5-mile boardwalk loop, starting at the visitor center and passing through trees, over creeks, and alongside rivers. The boardwalk is raised several feet off the forest floor, so it’s accessible — even during heavy rain — and it’s a lot less muddy than some of the other trails through the woods.

Eat in downtown Columbia. South Carolina’s state capital is only 22 miles down the road, home to myriad restaurants, bars and cafes. This is no Charleston, but the city is still home to some impressive eats, like a locally sourced feast of shrimp remoulade, okra masala and seared wreckfish at Terra, a French-flavored spread of tinned seafood, escargots and salmon Wellington at Black Rooster, and a stiff drink with a side of black-eyed pea hummus at Bourbon.

Stay at the Graduate Columbus. This funky boutique brand is known for setting up shop in college towns, and this locale follows suit with an artsy-cool abode near the University of South Carolina. Decorated with adorable Southern-style furnishings and bright pops of color, the playful property also has a lobby restaurant called Trophy Room, offering all-day American food and brews.

Swim around Garden Key. For a 100-square mile park comprised almost entirely of water, aside from seven small islands, Dry Tortugas is really the farthest thing from dry. Getting in the water, thus, is the best way to experience it, especially via an underwater snorkel tour that goes around Garden Key, the park’s main stopover and the island where the Yankee Freedom ferry docks for the day. Here, you’ll get to swim around the third largest coral reef in the world, reading underwater signs to learn about the nautical ecosystem. For those looking to keep things more leisurely, swimming beaches are located on the north, south and east sides of the island.

Explore Fort Jefferson. Garden Key is home to to colossal 19th-century brick-clad fort, created to protect U.S. harbors from enemy ships and help the Union impede Confederate shipping during the Civil War. Most notably, the fort also temporarily served as an Alcatraz-like prison that held Dr. Samuel Mudd, the guy who set John Wilkes Booth’s broken leg after assassinating President Lincoln. Visitors to the park nowadays are free to explore the entirety of the fort, including the visitor center, Dr. Mudd’s cell, and the expansive roof, where you won’t find a better 360-degree view of the Gulf of Mexico.

Get lost. With zero trails, roads, or visitor services to speak of, Gates of the Arctic is the definitional example of Alaska’s final frontier. Most access here is pure backcountry, which requires substantial planning and preparation — namely, you’ll need to coordinate in advance with an air taxi service to plan a drop-off and pick-up location, or you can enter the park on a float trip down a river. As long as you’re not looking for a pampered experience, Gates of the Arctic is the ultimate place to unplug and disappear for a while, far from the clutches of WiFi or the siren song of your inbox.

Hike into the wild. While there are no designated trails, hikers and backpackers are free to explore as far as their hearts desire. As long as you have a proper plan in place, with proper maps and directions secured, this is a park that’s entirely yours to explore. The National Park Service recommends hiking above the tree line, in stream beds or along game trails for ease of travel and minimizing impact on vegetation. 

Go underground into Lehman Caves, the longest cave in the state. Only accessible via pre-booked ranger-led tours from the visitor center, tours are offered daily to take visitors into a subterranean realm of mystery and awe, where rare geologic formations like cave shields are on full display. Parachute Formation is the most famed shield in the park, a huge wall of rock thought to be formed as extensions of cracks in the cave walls.

Stay at Stargazer Inn. Although the gateway town of Baker is so teeny that the year round population is about 36, it does actually have a cool boutique inn. Owned by a couple of New York City expats who traded big-city life for the complete opposite, the funky 10-room motel has charming and cozy rooms, a cute general store that looks like real-life Rose Apothecary, complete with sundries, coffee, outdoor gear, books and vittles.

Hike to the highest point in Texas. The park’s namesake mountain, Guadalupe Peak is the tallest in the state, ascending to nearly 9,000 feet over the Chihuahuan Desert. That may not sound like much compared to some heftier pinnacles in Colorado or California, but by Texas standards, that’s a behemoth. And you’ll definitely feel the burn as you hike 8-plus miles and gain 3,000 feet of elevation en route to the summit, past endless switchbacks and along rocky ridges before reaching the top and signing your name in the hiker’s book. For something less strenuous, check out McKittrick Canyon, a flatter stroll through dry creek beds and forest that sees a surprising amount of vibrant foliage in the fall. Then there’s the salt basin dunes, a portion of the park where sugar-white wind-swept sand looks more like the Caribbean than Texas.

Go back in time on the Permian Reef Trail. Starting at the same trail head as McKittrick Canyon, this comparatively strenuous hike is a geologist’s dream. Not only are the canyon views astounding, but the entire trail hugs walls of fossilized permian reef, indicative of when this region was once a tropical sea. Nowadays, as you hike along cliff walls and ridges, you can spot ancient shells and sea sponges preserved in the mountain walls. Down in the canyon, experience a different kind of time warp at the Pratt Cabin. Located about two miles into the canyon, the stone house was once a vacation home for Wallace Pratt, a presumably anti-social oil geologist who had the house built in the 1930s. Today, it’s a nice place for a picnic.

Eat downstairs at The Trinity restaurant. Dinner is the snazziest affair in town, with New Mexico wines and hearty portions of lobster ravioli, bacon-wrapped filet mignon and chicken lasagna spiced up with Hatch green chilies. 

Climb the dunes. The idea of hiking in the Midwest, especially in a park just 30 minutes outside of Chicago, sounds like sarcasm, but the dunes here are no joke. Just check out the Mount Baldy Beach Trail, which is only .75 miles to reach Mount Baldy Beach, but entails a rugged and intense ascent up a steep dune comprised of shifting sand and uneven terrain. If you’re looking to lengthen your hike, explore the network of Glenwood Dunes Trails, with several miles of routes that range from sand to foliage-filled forest. It’s also equestrian-friendly, and in the winter, this is a popular area for cross-country skiers.

Get your feet wet at the beach. With 15 miles of pristine shorefront at Lake Michigan’s southern terminus, there’s no shortage of beachfront beauty to behold. In the summer, places like West Beach, Porter Beach and Lake View Beach are fixtures for swimming and sunbathing, while fall and winter bring their own forms of serenity. In autumn, particularly, you’re likely to have vast swaths of beachfront to yourself, ideal for a serene shoe-free stroll.

Stay at an Indiana bed & breakfast. In addition to campgrounds in the park, and ample chain hotels in the area (not to mention the endless options in Chicago), one unique way to stay is at Riley’s Railhouse, a B&B in a former freight train station in nearby Chesteron. Leaning into the aesthetic, rooms (some of which overlook active train tracks) are decorated with vintage train knickknacks, and there’s a cozy lounge equipped with a wood-burning fireplace and deck.

Dive in on a Scuba trip. It might seem like an unexpected activity, up in this far-flung stretch of Lake Superior near Canada, but diving is a prominent activity at Isle Royale. Indicative of the Great Lakes’ maritime lore, there are 10 major shipwrecks surrounding the park, making this the National Park Service’s most intact collection of sunken ships. For experienced divers who register at one of Isle Royale’s visitor centers in advance, Scuba is an epic way to experience them. Be mindful of the lake’s extreme conditions, though — full wetsuits are required, since water temperatures rarely rise above 55° at the surface and sink as low as 34° further down where most of the wrecks are. Fishing is another popular aquatic activity, keeping in mind that Michigan Fishing Licenses are required for fishing in Lake Superior (no licenses are required for inland lakes on the island, though), as is canoeing and kayaking. Due to the vast and unpredictable expanse of Lake Superior, paddlers are encouraged to stick to the bays or inland waterways.

Learn about the ultimate example of predation in nature. For decades, Isle Royale has been home to populations of moose and wolves, both of whom accessed the island in the 1900s via an ice bridge from Canada. Over the years, their populations fluctuated, and the National Park Service has documented their behaviors and their lives. In fact, the ongoing research project is the longest continuous study of the predator-prey relationship in the world. As one species dips in population, due to factors like winter severity, so too does the other. In 2018, the National Park Service restored the wolf population (much to the chagrin of the moose, surely), and the pack has grown to a steady 14. Moose, meanwhile, continue to fluctuate anywhere between 500 and 2,400. If you’re lucky enough to spot one, which are most commonly seen by inland waterways like Washington Creek and Ojibway Lake, keep a safe distance and stay steady. Wolves, for better or worse, are much rarer to see, but keep your eyes peeled near lake shores and open meadows.

Marvel at the largest living organisms on Earth. Although not quite as tall as coastal redwoods, nor as wide as baobab trees, the giant sequoia has a combined height and circumference that makes it the largest living thing on the planet, surpassing even blue whales. Along with Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon is one of the only places in the world where these gentle giants grow, at an elevation of 6,000 feet on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevadas. Since the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia is technically the largest tree on Earth, that park tends to get the hordes. But don’t scoff at the General Grant Tree — located in Kings Canyon, and clocking in at 267-feet tall and 29-feet wide, it’s the second largest tree in existence. In 1926, President Calvin Coolidge declared it the “Nation’s Christmas Tree,” and President Dwight D. Eisenhower doubled down by declaring it a “National Shrine” in 1956, the only living thing to be enshrined as a war memorial.

Hike along the Kings River in the Cedar Grove area of the park. Lined with bucolic meadows, granite cliffs and roaring waterfalls, this peaceful section of the park is only accessible via Highway 180, open seasonally from April through November. Aside from more rugged treks that climb up into the wilderness, most trails here are docile and leisurely, like the 0.8-mile Zumwalt Meadow trail, which crosses the Kings River on an expansion bridge, and the Roaring River Falls trail, an easy shaded stroll to a robust waterfall through a granite chute. For extraordinary views, ascent the Cedar Grove Overlook, a five-mile roundtrip excursion that reaches a tree-lined ridge to offer wide-open views of the majestic Kings Canyon. 

Hike to the top of Lassen Peak. It’s a five-mile round-trip journey to the cratered summit, where panoramic views of the Cascade Range (including Mount Shasta in the distance) await. The trail gets quite steep at points, and much of it is in the direct sun, so plan accordingly. Even in the height of summer, traces of snow can be found at the top, so proper hiking boots and layers are especially recommended for fall. Another iconic area to explore is Bumpass Hell, a moderate three-mile trek through the largest hydrothermal area in the park, home to vibrant hot springs, bubbling mud pots and acidic boiling water. Due to its high elevations, it’s an area prone to lots of snow, which means it’s closed in the winter and into spring.

Stay at Drakesbad Guest Ranch. In addition to hotels and vacation rentals in surrounding communities like Redding, Red Bluff, Susanville and Burney, Lassen Volcanic features one place for hotel-caliber lodging within its confines. Optimal for seclusion in nature, the former homestead-turned-guest ranch is in Warner Valley and boasts a main lodge, a dining hall, and bungalow-style rooms. Operating like an B&B, all meals are prepared by an on-site chef, which are available to the general public with reservations. On the go? Grab a sack lunch to take with you on your hike.

Tour the cliff dwellings. The star attraction at Mesa Verde, and something that sets this park entirely apart from anything else in the National Park Service, most cliff dwellings are only accessible on pre-booked ranger-guided tours. And for good reason, because these places of immense archeological and cultural significance are delicate and vital to Puebloan history. A simple step in the wrong spot can leave lingering damage. The cream of the crop is Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America. Built mainly of sandstone bricks and mortar between the years 1190 and 1280, its Puebloan population once surpassed 100, and 30-minute tours of this veritable cliff city showcase the stunning ingenuity, effort and engineering that went into the steady construction of its various rooms and structures. Whether here or at other cliff dwellings, like Long House or Balcony House, visitors learn about daily life for the ancient peoples who dwelled, hunted and thrived here for centuries.

Traverse the Chapin Mesa. With a name that translates in Spanish to “green table,” Mesa Verde is indeed a lush and beautiful place for a hike, and the Chapin Mesa area does not disappoint. For a route that combines more Puebloan history with immense nature, try the Petroglyph Point Trail. It’s a 2.5-mile round trip hike that starts at the Spruce Tree House Overlook before navigating stone staircases, boulder-clad passageways, and cliffs to reach the mesa top. Along the way, you’ll see a huge wall of petroglyphs, further illustrious indication of ancient human activity here.

Eat at Absolute Bakery & Cafe. A community cornerstone in the charming, artsy gateway town of Mancos, this bustling breakfast and lunch spot is an ideal place to fuel up for a day on the cliffs. Scratch-made and locally sourced, good eats include granola, breakfast sandwiches, chorizo-filled omelets and huevos rancheros, while lunch amps things up with sandwiches, pasta, and a surprisingly killer orange chicken lo mein. And don’t be shy about snagging a pastry or two for a trail snack — the Congo Bars with coconut, walnuts and chocolate chunks are basically trail mix masquerading as blondies.

Stay at Far View Lodge in Mesa Verde National Park. Located in the middle of the park, the snug resort has a full slate of cozy amenities with stunning views from all of its balcony-equipped rooms. In the evening, take a seat at Far View Lounge, and drink in the mesa sights as you drink in your cocktail.

Marvel at the third highest bridge in the U.S. The New River Gorge Bridge is to West Virginia as the Space Needle is to Seattle — a feat of architectural prowess and innovation ascending to staggering heights. A centerpiece attraction in the park, it’s the longest steel span bridge in the western hemisphere, designed to significantly reduce travel time for drivers on roads. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s an essential sight in New River Gorge, best seen from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center north of the bridge.

Eat in Fayetteville. The main cluster of high-quality restaurants can be found in this nearby town, home to offbeat spots like Cathedral Cafe, a former church-turned-eatery serving wholesome bites like hummus, whole-grain pancakes, tofu scrambles and spinach-mushroom frittatas. Wood Iron Eatery is another daytime fixture, offering Spanish lattes with sweetened condensed milk, waffles with honeycomb butter, smashburgers and crispy rockfish sandwiches.

Stay at Adventures on the Gorge. While the park itself does not have any lodging, this 350-acre resort in Lansing fits the bill nicely with its chic confines, dining and adventure activities, including white water rafting and ziplining. Lodging is mainly cabins, along with glamping tents and RV sites, and the property features several on-site restaurants, cafes, and bars, including barbecue-focused Smokey’s on the Gorge, Sweet Java Falls, and Chetty’s Pub.

Hike in the American Alps. Any place to earn such a nickname is clearly a heaven for hikers. With no manmade development as far as the eye can see, it’s nothing but emerald-green forests, jagged mountaintops, and ancient forces — like glacial ice caves and towering waterfalls — as far as the eye can see. With more than 400 miles worth of hiking trails to explore, there’s something for everyone here, at every skill level. Options range from easy jaunts, like the .03-mile boardwalk mosey along the Happy Creek Forest Walk, or the 1.5-mile roundtrip on the Ross Dam Trail. Longer half-day outings get even more scenic, like the 7.6-mile Diablo Lake Trail through thick forests overlooking the teal-tinted waters of the lake. Or the Easy Pass Trail, an ironically named route that entails a strenuous 7.4-mile scurry up 3,000 feet of elevation gain to a mountain pass with expansive valley views.

Stay at the North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin. The main lodge within the park, and the primary source for dining, it doesn’t get more picturesque — or remote — than this. Located on the shores of Lake Chelan, the third deepest in the country, the resort is only accessible via The Lady of the Lake ferry from Chelan, or on long hiking trails. It’s totally worth it though, for the luxe isolation of the accommodations, which include cabins, guest rooms, and a lake house perched directly on the shore of Lake Chelan. There’s also a quaint general store and a full-service restaurant open all day long, serving hearty grub like grilled cheese, black bean burgers and fish & chips.

Drive the entire length of the park. Considering that Petrified Forest is the only national park bisected by Route 66, America’s most iconic thoroughfare, this park feels particularly apt for a scenic drove. In fact, driving the entire 28-mile length of the park from end to end is one of its chief attractions. At the north entrance, the Painted Desert Visitor Center has an introductory film that provides some historical and geological context, before moseying towards the southern end of the park, home to the largest concentration of petrified wood and the Rainbow Forest Museum & Visitor Center. Along the way, look for scenic overlooks for views of the Painted Desert, colorful badlands, ancient petroglyphs and luminous logs shimmering from the side of the road.

Stroll the Blue Mesa Trail. A short-but-sweet one-mile loop trail that combines two of the park’s primary draws, petrified wood and badlands, this easy paved trail is located at the end of Blue Mesa Scenic Road, atop a mesa that steadily descends into a desert canyon strewn with petrified wood. On all sides, craggy badlands sparkle with tints of deep blue and purple, a color scheme echoed by the colossal logs twinkling in the Arizona sun. In general, there are only a handful of hiking trails in the park, and all of them are short and easy, but they really pack a punch. Another biggie is the Giant Logs trail, a half-mile loop behind the Rainbow Forest Museum, home to the largest specimens of petrified wood in the park, including the 10-foot-wide Old Faithful.  

Journey back in time at the Rainbow Forest Museum. Ancient history is on full display at Petrified Forest National Park, from petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock to the adobe-style Painted Desert Inn, now a national historic landmark and museum. But the Rainbow Forest Museum harkens to a more ferocious epoch in history, with exhibits, films, and displays detailing the prehistoric animals that once dwelled in these former tropics. Fortunately for park-goers today, they no longer need to worry about giant crocodilians or Rauisuchians, the top apex predator of the Late Triassic, growing up to 20-feet in length, and enough three-inch serrated teeth to make Jurassic World look like the Muppets.

Stay in Holbrook. The park itself has no campgrounds whatsoever, and the only way to sleep over is by backpacking into designated wilderness area. It also has designated hours — daily from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. — and gates at either end of the park road. The area doesn’t have a ton to offer, but the nearby town of Holbrook meets muster with plenty of affordable chain hotels and motels.

Go wild with immense wildlife. While you won’t find grizzly bears, wolves or mountain goats here (for better or worse), you will find an impressive amount of larger-than-life fauna. Bison are the most prominent giants here, easily seen on scenic drives and hikes, along with black-tailed prairie dogs, whose chirping noises are like an adorable chorus. Big-horn sheep and elk can also be found here, albeit more rare, and longhorn cattle are known to mosey through the park’s north unit. Wild horses, meanwhile, are popular denizens in the south unit of the park (the two main units of the park are about an hour apart). Although not native to the region, the horses are indicative of Roosevelt’s history as a rancher, and they’re one of only a few national parks where wild equines roam free. Usually seen in small groups, they can commonly be seen along I-94 and from trails at Painted Canyon Overlook and Buck Hill, the tallest point in the park.

Hike the Petrified Forest Loop, an epic 10-mile loop in the northwest corner of the south unit. Not only are you likely to see wild horses out in the prairies, but this wildly diverse trek contains a variety of different features and terrains, including fossilized logs, badlands, canyons, cliffs and wide-open plains. Start at Peaceful Valley Ranch and bring plenty of sunscreen and water, no matter the season — much of the route is exposed to sun. The Wind Canyon Trail, an easy .4-mile trip through a wind-blown canyon, is a south unit sensation for its unparalleled views of the Little Missouri River. In the north unit, expect to find even more badass badlands, as at the 1.5-mile Caprock Coulee Nature Trail. This same trailhead can be used to access the Buckhorn Trail for a quick detour to a prairie dog town.

Stay at the Rough Riders Hotel. Located in the charming town of Medora by the south unit entrance, this frontier-chic boutique is an ornate homage to Teddy Roosevelt, complete with the largest private library of books on the President. The soaring lobby is impossibly cozy and rustic, with a huge hearth, tin-tiled ceiling, and comfy lounge chairs by the wall of books. Rooms are comfy and handsomely appointed, including some with Teddy bears. Some of the particularly historic suites, like the Rough Riders Suite and 501 Historic Suite, amp up the luxury. Then feast on buffalo osso bucco, walleye fritters and wild rice porridge at Theodore’s Dining Room.

Eat in Dickinson, North Dakota. About 30 minutes directly east of the south unit of the park, the area’s largest city abounds with good eats. In the morning, fuel up with blackberry pancake lattes and jumbo caramel rolls at The Brew, a former church-turned-coffee shop. Post-park, savor a well-earned beer — made with North Dakota malt — at Phat Fish Brewing, like the S’mores Porter, Pronghorn Peach Wheat, or the Jalapeño Honey Blonde. Then pair it with some of their specialty pizzas, available as thin-crust or Detroit-style. Options include he Jalapeño Popper pizza, with a cream cheese popper base, pepper Jack cheese, chicken, bacon, onions and jalapeños.

Set sail on a houseboat. One of the many ways visitors can hit the water at Voyageurs, houseboat rentals are available from numerous companies just outside the park and come fully loaded with beds, cooking facilities and, in some cases, roof decks with slides plunging into the water. All houseboats require permits, and reservations open for the next year on November 15. Fishing is another mainstay activity here, in any of the park’s four large lakes and 26 smaller lakes, where species like walleye, northern pike, yellow perch and smallmouth bass flourish (keep in mind that fishing in the park requires a State of Minnesota fishing license). Of course, kayaking and canoeing are the primary activities here, with infinite rental options in and around the park. For rentals within the park, the National Park Service provides codes for accessing combination locks on canoes at the ends of trails on certain lakes.

Stay at the Cantilever Hotel. In addition to seasonal lodging and camping in the park, many of which can be downright hostile in the harsh winter conditions, nearby towns like Ranier offer more amenities year round. Inspired by Prohibition, the handsome hotel has an on-site distillery and suave cocktail bar highlighting spirits made on-property and throughout the state. There’s also a rooftop sauna, offering a place to zen out and drink in the views of Rainy Lake and Canada. 

Frolic in a winter wonderland. If you thought summer and autumn were desolate, just wait until you have the park to yourself in the winter. With an average high of 14 in January, it gets pretty frigid up here, so dressing in warm layers is essential. But it’s worth it for the opportunity to snowshoe, cross-country ski and ride snowmobiles through nature at its most pristine. There’s even a sledding hill on Sphunge Island.

Eat at The Rocky Ledge, a cozy cottage-like nook on the forested shores of Kabetogama Lake. Look for local specialties and indigenous recipes, like wild rice casserole, crispy walleye sandwiches, and fry bread fish tacos. Nearby-ish, on the eastern side of the Kabetogama Peninsula, the seasonal Kettle Falls Hotel is the only place to get a full-service restaurant experiences in the park, and it’s only accessible by water.

Slide on a sand sled. Considering the fact that the dunes are snow-white, it feels appropriate that sledding is one of White Sands’ premier activities. But unlike snow, sand is not naturally slick, which is why waxed plastic saucers are recommended — and available for rent or purchase from the gift shop at the entrance visitor center. The entire park is accessible for sledding and exploring, but sledders are reminded not to slide down dunes that lead towards roads, or ones that end in a hard surface (spoiler alert: the area at the base of the dunes is not as soft as it may look). 

Explore the dunes via the Alkali Flat Trail. The longest of the park’s five designated trails, this is a five-mile loop at the end of the scenic Dunes Drive, with mesmerizing desert views that extend to the horizon. Clip-on shoe-covers are a wise choice, since you’ll 100% be shimmying up and down a plethora of tall dunes, through shifting sands and unstable surfaces as you follow the red diamond trail markers. Sun hats, sunglasses and ample sunscreen are also advised, along with plenty of water. A bit easier, the Dune Life Nature Trail is a one-mile loop through the grassier portion of the park, where you might see tracks in the sand of critters like kit foxes, badgers and lizards. For something truly unique, embark on a guided full moon hike, offered once a month by reservation.

Go underground on a cave tour. To fully experience the park, you need to get below the surface on a ranger-led tour. The cave is only accessible on tours, which are capped at a max of 40 people and entail careful scurrying though narrow passageways, under low ceilings, and up and down steep staircases — so this might be challenging for folks prone to claustrophobia. Of the tours, the Garden of Eden is a popular one — and the easiest — with an array of boxwork, frostwork and cave popcorn, aka rock formations resembling popcorn. The Natural Entrance Tour takes visitors to the diminutive natural entrance of the cave, a small opening in the Earth where a subtle breeze earned the cave its name. Far too tiny for humans to squeeze through, tours enter the cave through man-made stairs nearby.

Hike on the surface. Even more underrated than the cave itself, the park’s surface trails are expansive, beautiful, and inspiring. Altogether, there are 30 miles worth of trails through the Black Hills, where prairie dogs and bison are likely to be spotted. An apt starter is the one-mile Prairie Vista loop near the visitor center, while Rankin Ridge takes trekkers up a half-mile hill to the tallest point in the park, for panoramic views of the prairie below. If you’ve got extra time, Highland Creek is the longest outing in Wind Cave, with a nearly nine-mile trail that traverses prairies, ponderosa pine forests and riparian wilderness along creeks and canyons.

Stay in Custer. About 20 minutes north of Wind Cave, this charming touristy town meets muster with an array of affordable chain hotels and indie properties, like the Euro-chic Bavarian Inn, the adorable Chalet Motel or the majestic Sylvan Lake Lodge in Custer State Park. The latter puts you up close and personal with the gorgeous Sylvan Lake, a bustling destination in the Black Hills for kayaking, swimming, picnicking, and hiking up nearby Black Elk Peak, the tallest point in South Dakota.

Eat at Skogen Kitchen. This pint-sized eatery in Custer feels like a cozy Norse diner, with some of the best cuisine in the region. Owned by California expats Joseph and Eliza Raney, this locally sourced spot serves a dazzling variety of fine dining-quality dishes, like rabbit leg with Dijon miso jus, king salmon with chanterelle mushrooms and yuzu truffle emulsion, and Dimock butter cake with popcorn ice cream. The owners also operate a three-story cabin, The Skogen House, located on nine picturesque acres in the Black Hills.