The United States plays host to some of the most amazing national parks in the world.  When you hear the word “National Park”, you may immediately think of Yosemite or Grand Canyon, but there is even more out there that you need to see.  Here is your list of lesser known national parks that you need to visit.

Big Bend National Park

Location: Texas

Get lost in the beauty of Southern Texas by visiting Big Bend National Park.  This park got its name from being an area that is bounded by a river bend which is the Texas-Mexico boarder.  Big Bend National Park consists of over 200 miles of hiking trails, an amazing river to kayak and float down, pristine terrain for biking, horseback riding, and backpacking, and a plethora of opportunities for bird watching.  This National Park has some of the most beautiful conditions for star gazing, and is one of Texas’ hidden mountainous gems.

[caption id=“attachment_10422” align=“aligncenter” width=“1000”]rawImage-1-1200x804 chron.com[/caption]

Great Basin National Park

Location: Nevada

Known for some of the darkest skies in the country, groves of bristlecone pines, and one of the most mysterious subterraneans in the country, Great Basin National Park is truly one of the most remote and beautiful places of solitude in the United States.  Great Basin National Park gets its name from its topographical location.  It spans across the mountainous, dry region in between the Wasatch Mountains and the Sierra Nevadas.  This diverse national park is a perfect place to spent a day or two exploring caves, admiring mountainous peaks, and fishing for trout.  Also, Great Basin’s Wheeler Peak Glacier has been said to be the Southernmost glacier in the Northern hemisphere.

[caption id=“attachment_10426” align=“alignnone” width=“760”]320549-760x507 summitpost.org[/caption]

Katmai National Park

Location: Alaska

You can only get to this park by flying into it, but it is so worth the trip.  This park’s landscape is actively volcanic and has the largest population of brown bears in the country, according to the National Geographic.  You will be amazed at the almost prehistoric looking landscapes and scenery, and will be enamored while watching the thousand of brown bear families thrive.  Katmai National Park, is a one of a kind national park.

[caption id=“attachment_10428” align=“aligncenter” width=“1000”]bearsKatmai-1200x449 IntricateBayLodge.com[/caption]

Isle Royale National Park

Location: Michigan

With only around 18,000 visitors a year, Isle Royale National Park is ranked as one of the least crowded and visited national parks in the country.  According to Fox News, Isle Royal National Park is “the largest island in the largest fresh water lake in the world.”  This makes it a premiere location for kayaking, fishing, and slipping away into the beauty of solitude in the wilderness.  If you are feeling adventurous, you can even scuba dive to wrecked ships.  Isle Royale National Park is truly a portal back in time and an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

[caption id=“attachment_10429” align=“aligncenter” width=“1000”]IsleRoyaleSunsetLakeRitchie2-18-1572-1200x774 thinglink.com[/caption]

There is nothing more exciting than exploring places not many people have been.  If you feel like skipping the crowds and truly experiencing the peace and solitude that nature has to offer, take a trip to one of these less known national parks.