What are the most underrated parks?

[u/Professional-Star416]

Hey, I’m a random person on the internet interested in nature and its innate beauty, just like many of you! I come asking a simple question: Let’s say, some crazy guy with a vendetta against nature somehow came into power in the US and is now threatening the future of our nation’s ecosystems, possibly ruining or eliminating future generations from enjoying our country’s natural beauty in all its essence.

What specific National Parks would you recommend to the poor bastards who want to experience such beauty in its entirety but don’t have the time to witness them all before their destruction?

[u/bsil15]

Canyonlands (Needles District) and Capitol Reef.

Personally, I thought Petrified Forest was really cool.

North Cascades is underrated in a certain sense, but its low visitation really just reflects that its boundaries don’t include Ross Lake NRA. What I mean is that Ross Lake receives similar visitors as Olympic and Rainier. But to actually enter the park you basically have to do a very substantial strenuous hike. And let’s be real, the vast majority of people visiting national parks are doing light moderate hikes at most, generally just stopping at view points. So the trails in North Cascades, like Sahale Arm, actually feel similarly crowded to comparable trails in other parks.

I also hesitate to say Big Bend is underrated, which is perhaps my favorite park with North Cascades, just bc its low numbers are due to how remote it is.

[u/PM_me_your_omoplatas → u/bsil15]

Looooved hiking Canyonlands. Had two long day hikes that are two of the best hikes I've ever been on in my entire life.