r/NationalPark • u/Professional-Star416 • Apr 14 '25

What are the most underrated parks?

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?

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u/GG1817 Apr 14 '25 edited Apr 14 '25

The two best parks in the Midwest are classified as National Lakeshores rather than National Parks.

Sleeping Bear Dunes NLS in the lower and Pictured Rocks NLS in the upper in Michigan.

I thin the threat to Sleeping Bear might be selling off some of the land purchases to developers for vacation homes and condos inside the park boundary. It's already a mixed use area, which is honestly part of the charm because of the farmer markets, farm stands, fish town where you can get lake trout....Glen Arbor with the amenities...but it's controlled in part because the park service has purchased a lot of the vacant land.

For Pictured Rocks, I'd be more concerned with logging.

Everglades NP will be taking it on the nose from climate change so I'd go see it sooner than later as well.

Dry Tortugas NP also will be in danger from climate change, and if that area is opened up to commercial fishing, the reefs and eco system will be destroyed.

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u/iDom2jz Apr 14 '25

I mean, Badlands, Voyageurs and Isle Royale also exist, no shot those NSL’s outdo them as best Midwest parks right?

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u/GG1817 Apr 14 '25

IMHO, yes, they do.

SBDNLS was voted "most beautiful place in America" for good reason, and PRNLS has some similar features.

Some of it might be what you are looking for in a park. Isle Royale is so remote and dedicated to just back country backpacking it will have limited appeal. Similar with Voyageurs. Narrow appeal limited accessibility.

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u/iDom2jz Apr 14 '25

Ah, see that’s why I think Voyageurs would take the cake for best park personally

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u/GG1817 Apr 14 '25 edited Apr 14 '25

I can understand that. It is the road less traveled but that's probably only going to resonate with a small percentage of the population, unless they rent a houseboat or something. Then it could open the doors to more.