The Forgotten Ones: America’s Least Visited National Parks in 2014
Nowadays more and more people are finding the time to visit our national parks. The National Park Service just released the number of visitors in 2014 and the results are promising. It revealed that 2014 was more than just a robust year for the National Park Service, it was the busiest year it has ever seen. The 405 sites in the National Park Service welcomed a total of 292.8 million visitors in 2014 breaking the 1987 record of 287.2 million.
But while having more visitors to the parks is always good news, the unfortunate downside is that some of these parks feel a bit too crowded. So for those you who want to visit a national park but want to bypass the crowds, here is the list of the 10 least visited parks according to the National Park Service:
Number of visitors in 2014: 107,526
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
The only national park located entirely in Nevada, Great Basin National Park offers a nice escape from the Vegas crowd. The park is home to the impressive Lehman caves, as well as some of the oldest trees on Earth, the Bristlecone Pine. In fact, the oldest non-clonal tree, Prometheus, was discovered in the park. It was over 5000 years old!
9. Wrangell-St. Elias, Alaska
Number of visitors in 2014: 74,722
At over 13 million acres, Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest national park in the country. It is large enough to contain the country of Switzerland, Yellowstone AND Yosemite National Parks snugly within its borders. If you are looking to experience the grandness of Alaska, you can’t do much better than Wrangell-St. Elias. Of the 16 tallest mountains in the United States, 9 of them are found in this park.
Number of visitors in 2014: 64,865
Located about 70 miles west of Key West, this park is a snorkeler’s paradise. Of the over 100 square miles of this park, most of it lies beneath water, offering snorkelers an opportunity to encounter its abundant marine life and pristine coral reefs. Also, the centerpiece of this park, Fort Jefferson, happens to be the largest masonry structure in the western hemisphere.
Number of visitors in 2014: 30,896
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
This Alaska national park has a diverse array of landscapes from gorgeous river valleys to immense volcanoes. At least 18 volcanoes can be found in the park and it is also home to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, which was the site of the largest volcanic eruption by volume of the 20th century. But the park’s biggest draw is probably the bear population. Katmai is the home of the largest protected brown/grizzly bear population in the world - with over 2,000 bears.
6. North Cascades, Washington
Number of visitors in 2014: 23,865
This national park, less than a three hour drive from Seattle, offers a less crowded alternative to Olympic National Park, which was the sixth most visited park in the country. The park has a diverse array of wildlife such as black-tailed deer, mountain lions, and black bears and contains over 1,600 species of plant. Also with its numerous cascading waterfalls and snow-capped peaks, it’s no wonder this place is called the “American Alps”.
Number of visitors in 2014: 16,100
Don’t let its name fool you; Lake Clark National Park is much more than just a lake. In fact, this national park has a greater variety of geographical features than any other national park in Alaska. In this park you can find mountain ranges, coastal rainforests, alpine tundra, glaciers, and active volcanoes. Also for those interested in seeing wildlife, the park has 37 species of mammal residing in it and over 180 bird species have been spotted in the park.
Number of visitors in 2014: 14,560
Located four miles into Lake Superior, this park gives visitors an idyllic retreat from civilization. Visitors are treated to an abundance of hiking and kayaking opportunities as well as wildlife watching. If you’re lucky enough you may even get a chance to see the northern lights!
3. National Park of American Samoa
Number of visitors in 2014: 13,953
No other national park is as remote as American Samoa; it is the only national park south of the equator. Getting to this park is difficult to say the least, but once there, visitors are rewarded with a one-of-a-kind experience. Snorkelers can encounter over 250 coral species. Also there are plenty of opportunities to get immersed in Samoan culture. Visitors can sign up for the park’s homestay program which allows them to room with the locals and experience the culture and customs firsthand.
2. Gates of the Arctic, Alaska
Number of visitors in 2014: 12,669
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Of all the national park names, perhaps no other park has a more intimidating one than Gates of the Arctic (with the obvious exception of Death Valley). And it’s for good reason; this park caters to only the most experienced of campers. The entire park is located north of the Arctic Circle and is designated as a wilderness. But those adventurous enough to make the trip will get to interact with land that has been virtually unaltered by mankind. And there’s no small amount of land to interact with, at over 8 million acres Gates of the Arctic is the second largest national park in the country, slightly larger than Belgium.
Number of visitors in 2014: 0
Yes, you read that number correctly. Kobuk Valley National Park recorded zero recreational visitors in 2014. If you’re a person that considers places like Gates of the Arctic “too touristy”, then Kobuk Valley is the destination for you. If you do find yourself wandering into it, you might come across the largest caribou herd in Alaska –about 490,000 animals. And if you have ever wanted to go sliding down a sand dune in Alaska, you can do that at the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes. But the best part of the park might be the feeling that you are the only one there…….because you are.
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