Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park

OutsideMay 15

Go Here, Not There: 5 Less-Crowded Alternatives to the Most Popular National Parks

Looking to avoid the crowds at Zion or the Smokies? Our national parks columnist shares the intel on overlooked parks that rival the most popular spots.

Protects high-elevation peaks, glaciers, and backcountry lakes

22 things in this story

Rocky Mountain National ParkSightProtects high-elevation peaks, glaciers, and backcountry lakes
Elsewhere
Great Smoky Mountains National ParkPlaceGatlinburg, United StatesMost visited park, most biodiverse in America
Appalachian TrailTrailGatlinburg, United StatesCruises through high-elevation spruce-fir forest
Congaree National ParkSightHopkins, United StatesHome to oldest and tallest tree canopies east of Mississippi
Fork Swamp TrailTrailHopkins, United StatesHike follows oxbow lake formed by hurricane
Cedar Creek Canoe TrailTrailHopkins, United StatesPaddle between stands of 500-year-old bald cypress trees
Congaree RiverSightHopkins, United StatesForms the border of the park
Palmetto OutdoorPlaceHopkins, United StatesOffers guided day trips
Bluff CampgroundHotelHopkins, United StatesRequires mile-long hike, sits above floodplain
North CascadesSightSedro-Woolley, United StatesSteep and rugged Cascade Range with many glaciers
Mount BakerSightSedro-Woolley, United StatesHighest peak in the park
Lake DiabloSightSedro-Woolley, United StatesMassive lake with glaciated peaks on the horizon
Thunder Knob TrailTrailSedro-Woolley, United StatesTraces edge of Thunder Arm of Lake Diablo
Colonial Creek CampgroundHotelSedro-Woolley, United StatesMultiple day hikes begin from campground
Sourdough MountainSightSedro-Woolley, United StatesRocky peak with a historic lookout cabin
Diablo LakeSightSedro-Woolley, United StatesLarge lake flanked by Pyramid and Colonial peaks
Colonial Creek North CampgroundHotelSedro-Woolley, United States38 sites tucked into a pine forest
Capitol Reef National ParkSightTorrey, United StatesDesert landscape with rock towers, slot canyons, cliffs, arches
Grand Wash TrailTrailTorrey, United StatesWanders through a canyon with 200-foot-tall walls
Temple of the SunSightCapitol Reef National Park, United States
Temple of the MoonSightCapitol Reef National Park, United States
Cathedral ValleySightCapitol Reef National Park, United States

Read the full piece at Outside →

Rocky Mountain National Park

In the coverage2 stories

Officials Have Officially Banned Tents at a Popular Yellowstone-Area Camp Amid Growing Grizzly Concerns

Go Here, Not There: 5 Less-Crowded Alternatives to the Most Popular National Parks