14 Least Visited National Parks in the United States

With no roads, no trails, and no visitor center, Gates of the Arctic is the most remote of all U.S. parks.

Located entirely above the Arctic Circle, it had around 10,000 annual visitors in recent years. It offers rugged mountain peaks, backcountry camping, and an untouched Arctic wilderness.

Another Alaska treasure, Kobuk Valley features towering sand dunes, migrating caribou, and no formal trails. It's one of the least visited because of its remote location and lack of road access.

Only accessible by plane or boat, Lake Clark combines lush forests, pristine alpine lakes, and active volcanoes.

With few recreational visits, this park offers dramatic scenery and great opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Located in the middle of Lake Superior, this island park is only open part of the year and must be reached by boat or seaplane.

Isle Royale National Park typically has under 30,000 annual visitors, even though it offers incredible hiking, canoeing, and even shipwreck diving.

Despite being just hours from Seattle, North Cascades saw just over 40,000 visitors in 2023. North Cascades is often regarded as one of the most beautiful national parks—think glacier-covered peaks and over 300 pristine alpine lakes.

Roughly 70 miles (113 km) from Key West, Dry Tortugas is only accessible by boat or seaplane. Its remote location explains the low visitation—less than 85,000 visitors in 2023. The park consists of Fort Jefferson, coral reefs, and incredible marine life.

Great Basin National Park recorded just over 140,000 visits in 2023, making it a peaceful alternative to busier parks. The park offers ancient bristlecone pines, starry skies, and the towering Wheeler Peak. Its low visitation makes it a peaceful alternative to more visited national parks.

This swampy wonderland in the southeastern United States features towering trees and biodiverse wetlands. With around 250,000 visitors each year, Congaree offers quiet boardwalk hikes and canoe trails.

Located near the extensive Permian fossil reef, Guadalupe Mountains saw about 225,000 visitors in 2023—far fewer than popular parks like Big Bend, which saw over 500,000 in the same year. It features dramatic cliffs and some of the highest peaks in Texas.

Off the Southern California coast, Channel Islands sees fewer visitors than many mainland parks despite its proximity to cities. The park offers kayaking, snorkeling, and untouched island ecosystems. It also offers a contrast to more crowded sites like Zion National Park or Glacier National Park.

Famous for the bear-watching hotspot Brooks Falls, Katmai is still one of the least visited due to its remote location. Accessible mostly by plane, it showcases active volcanoes and vast tundra.

Dramatic and steep, Gunnison National Park remains lesser known compared to Rocky Mountain National Park. Its deep canyons and narrow gorge offer incredible views with a fraction of the crowd.

Nestled in northern Minnesota, Voyageurs is a water-based park requiring boats for most exploration. Low access means low crowds, but its lakes and forests make it worth the trip.

Although better known than others on this list, Carlsbad Caverns still sees lower numbers than most visited national parks. Its underground chambers are vast and breathtaking, showcasing the hidden beauty of America’s national treasures.

Located in the South Pacific, this is the only national park south of the equator. Its isolation leads to very low visitor numbers, but those who make it are rewarded with rainforests, coral reefs, and Samoan culture.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.