<strong>1. National Park of American Samoa:</strong> The least-visited US national park in 2022 saw just 1,887 visits. Most visitors will need a passport to travel to American Samoa.
1. National Park of American Samoa: The least-visited US national park in 2022 saw just 1,887 visits. Most visitors will need a passport to travel to American Samoa.
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2. <strong>Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska:</strong> This vast park contains no roads or trails. It's a true wilderness experience.
2. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska: This vast park contains no roads or trails. It's a true wilderness experience.
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<strong>3. Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska</strong>: There are no roads, campgrounds or entrance gates for this 1.8 million-acre expanse's human visitors.
3. Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska: There are no roads, campgrounds or entrance gates for this 1.8 million-acre expanse's human visitors.
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<strong>4.</strong> <strong>Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska: </strong>Stretching across more than 4 million acres, this area is home to three designated Wild Rivers. Upper Twin Lake is pictured.
4. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska: Stretching across more than 4 million acres, this area is home to three designated Wild Rivers. Upper Twin Lake is pictured.
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<strong>5. Isle Royale National Park</strong><strong>, Michigan: </strong>An isolated archipelago in Lake Superior, Isle Royale boasts 165 miles of trails and more than 30 campgrounds.
5. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan: An isolated archipelago in Lake Superior, Isle Royale boasts 165 miles of trails and more than 30 campgrounds.
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<strong>6. North Cascades National Park</strong><strong>, Washington: </strong>More than 1,600 species of plants have been identified on this land that spans temperate rainforest to a dry ponderosa pine ecosystem.
6. North Cascades National Park, Washington: More than 1,600 species of plants have been identified on this land that spans temperate rainforest to a dry ponderosa pine ecosystem.
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<strong>7. Katmai National Park & Preserve, Alaska: </strong>One of the world's premier bear-viewing spots, according to the Park Service, Katmai is home to an estimated 2,200 brown bears.
7. Katmai National Park & Preserve, Alaska: One of the world's premier bear-viewing spots, according to the Park Service, Katmai is home to an estimated 2,200 brown bears.
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<strong>8. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska:</strong> America's largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias encompasses 13.2 million acres -- or about the size of Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Switzerland combined, the Park Service says.
8. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska: America's largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias encompasses 13.2 million acres -- or about the size of Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Switzerland combined, the Park Service says.
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<strong>9. </strong><strong>Dry Tortugas National Park</strong><strong>,</strong><strong> Florida:</strong> About 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West, Dry Tortugas is mostly open water with seven small islands. Garden Key is home to one of the nation's largest 19th-century forts, Fort Jefferson.
9. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida: About 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West, Dry Tortugas is mostly open water with seven small islands. Garden Key is home to one of the nation's largest 19th-century forts, Fort Jefferson.
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<strong>10. Great Basin National Park, </strong><strong>Nevada:</strong> Mountain peaks meet hot desert valleys here and vast dark skies make for stunning celestial viewing.
10. Great Basin National Park, Nevada: Mountain peaks meet hot desert valleys here and vast dark skies make for stunning celestial viewing.
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<strong>11. Virgin Islands National Park: </strong>About two thirds of the US Virgin Island of St. John is national park, with sandy beaches and rich marine life.
11. Virgin Islands National Park: About two thirds of the US Virgin Island of St. John is national park, with sandy beaches and rich marine life.
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<strong>12. Congaree National Park, South Carolina: </strong>Floodwaters from the Congaree and Wateree rivers regularly cover the park's old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, and the upland pine forest depends on wildfires to clear competing vegetation.
12. Congaree National Park, South Carolina: Floodwaters from the Congaree and Wateree rivers regularly cover the park's old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, and the upland pine forest depends on wildfires to clear competing vegetation.
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<strong>13. Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas:</strong> This park boasts the four highest peaks in Texas and the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef.
13. Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas: This park boasts the four highest peaks in Texas and the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef.
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<strong>14. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota: </strong>Billed as a park of "water, islands and horizons," Voyageurs covers 218,055 acres -- 84,000 of which is water.
14. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota: Billed as a park of "water, islands and horizons," Voyageurs covers 218,055 acres -- 84,000 of which is water.
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<strong>15. Pinnacles National Park, California: </strong>Pinnacles was formed when volcanoes erupted some 23 million years ago. Talus caves and towering rock spires draw hikers and climbers.
15. Pinnacles National Park, California: Pinnacles was formed when volcanoes erupted some 23 million years ago. Talus caves and towering rock spires draw hikers and climbers.
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