TRAVEL | USA

Three Underrated USA National Parks Pt. 1

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National parks are an absolute delight. Anytime we plan a vacation, we check to see if there is a national park close by.

Why We Love National Parks

One thing I find to be interesting is how each country’s park setup is slightly different. What I mean by that is how in England the national parks have houses and towns in them.

That is not common in the US. Yes, there may be hotels or cabins to rent. But England has tiny towns spread out many parts of their parks.

Also, the national parks offer a variety of scenery. Oh my, the scenery. The USA alone has over 50 parks. These parks are spread out across the whole country. And what you see on the west coast will be nowhere near the same that you see on the east coast.

Things to Know Before You Go

Different parks have different rules. Some do not allow through traffic or limits the amount of people. Other parks may only have primitive campsites (ones without any amenities). Depending on the animals that live in the park, people who are camping may need specific equipment.

Most importantly, it would be important to check whether the park is open or not when you are traveling. It is not true that parks are open year round. Weather impacts opening dates of parks, as well as, how much of the park is available to visit.

Now for my top three underrated United States National Parks.

Side note: I stuck to the 48 contiguous states for this list. Many of the least visited parks are in Alaska and after visiting Alaska we understood more how hard they are to get to. So I stuck to ones that you could drive to easier.

1. Big Bend National Park

Maybe I am just crushing on this park since it was my first ever national park. But I remember just be amazed at beauty of this park.

From the moment we stepped out of the car to laying underneath the stars at night, I wish we could have stayed here longer. Not only because we were only there two days, but this park is the 15th largest in the National Park System (NPS) according to their website.

Tucked into the bend of west Texas and taking up 800,000 acres, this park receives only about 500,000 visitors a year. While it is a popular visit in Texas, that many people visiting is spread out through the year. So you can plan your time around the busiest season.

Be aware it gets extremely hot during the summer. Long hikes should only be done if you have proper gear, supplies, and have experience. If hiking is not your thing, Big Bend has scenic driving routes as well.

It’s seclusion away from almost all light polution allows for stargazing. The park also hosts night time events that will include information about the park and the constellations.

There is camping available at the park. When we camped, we had enough room for our car and tent easily. Our campsite had a covered picnic table and there was a bathroom station in the center of the camp sites in our area.

2. Crater Lake National Park

I love the Pacific Northwest. The scenery is amazing and there are so many options. Whether you want to be out in nature or be in a big city, the PNW has options for you.

Crater Lake is in Oregon. Formed over 7,000 years ago, a volcano triggered a huge collapse. This created the giant crater we see today. That crater is deepest lake in the whole USA, and according to Britannica the 9th deepest in the world. The water is a gorgeous blue color and lord it’s stunning to look at.

While the park is open year round, it’s not really. They are abundantly clear that the park conditions vary greatly. Per the NPS, May, June and October are the hardest months to predict access to the park. Other months, they just know due to snow that you cannot get in.

I can say that this park looks vastly different depending on when you go. My husband and I arrived on June 27 and it was one of the first days you could get all the way to the lake on the West Rim Rd. There were snow banks piled on the side and plenty on the ground as you went to stand on the edge of this enormous crater.

However, when my friend went in August, the snow was non existent. Our pictures are extremely different. Which to be honest, made it that much cooler.

Again, plan this visit carefully. For example, one of the two campgrounds did not even open this year. When we visited we stayed outside the park at the Union Creek Campgrounds on the Rogue River. These were well maintained, the campsites were large, and the tall, tall trees towered everywhere.

3. The Great Sand Dunes

In south central Colorado, you will find this gem of a national park. Most people hear it and probably just think “It’s just sand”. Sure that’s true. But it is something to see.

This park is also open year round, but the weather from January through April can be wicked. Between snow once a week and storms, the NPS warns that these months can be unpredictable. August, September, and October have more pleasant days.

The park is great for hiking. I recommend high socks on a hot day. The sand will also be hot and when you come back down, it’s almost impossible to not get it in your shoes — we dumped a ton out when we finished. But lord it burns. You can also sandboard or sled down the dunes.

There are no trails and the dunes as a whole are accessible for you to explore freely. This park boasts the two highest dunes in America. We did not hike either one of these as they are each 6 hour hikes. We hiked High Dune on the first ridge, which is approximately a 4 hour hike.

For those who prefer to just look at the sand, but want to do other natural “things” , you have options. The park and preserve also has regular hiking trails and Mount Heard.

As always, plan your visit carefully around weather and plan for lots of heat during the summer months!

These are just three of the parks I find to be underrated, but I will be sharing more underrated National Parks soon!