America’s 250th birthday is a pretty good excuse to look around and appreciate what we still have: millions of acres of public land, wild water, historic ground and open space that belong to all of us.
Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon get most of the postcard treatment, and rightly so. But some of the best trips happen in the quieter National Park Service units most people blow right past.
These five underrated national parks are a reminder that some of America’s best outdoor adventures are still waiting in quieter corners, with fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, history and plenty of room to make your own memories.
National Parks Today: More Than the Famous 63
Our national parks have an interesting history. The National Park System grew out of early conservation ideals, gaining federal structure when President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act in 1872.
Later, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the 1906 Antiquities Act, giving presidents the authority to protect important natural, cultural and scientific landmarks as national monuments.
The rest, as they say, is history.
When it comes to national parks, we can all be thankful that millions of acres have been preserved for public use. But in researching this story, I learned something quite interesting: There are National Parks, with an uppercase designation, and national parks, in the broader, lowercase sense.
Kathy Kupper, with the National Park Service’s Communications Office, said there are 433 NPS sites across the country, with at least one in every state.
“So, while there are 63 designated National Parks, there are 433 that are designated by an act of Congress or presidential proclamation, and Congress determines the names,” Kupper said in an exclusive interview with Hook & Barrel magazine.
“We might call this one a national battlefield or a national lakeshore or a national park or a national historic park. But really, it’s just nomenclature—just the name—but the protections, the regulations, the leadership across the country, they’re all treated the same.”
It’s also worth noting that most national parks do not charge an entrance fee. Only about one-quarter of NPS sites charge admission, which makes many of them an economical way to spend time with family and friends.
For the parks that do have fees, entrance can cost up to $35 per vehicle. But if you plan on hitting two or three fee-based parks in a single year, the annual America the Beautiful Pass is still a good deal. U.S. residents can buy an annual pass for $80, while nonresident annual passes cost $250.
How We Chose These Underrated National Parks
Hook & Barrel readers are certainly aware of some of the big, iconic places like Yellowstone National Park and Yosemite National Park. They are special for a reason. But the full National Park Service system includes much more than the famous names everyone already knows, which is exactly why underrated national parks deserve a closer look.
Going with the broader national parks designation, we asked Kupper to share some of the most unsung national parks H&B readers should consider visiting when in the area.
We then narrowed the list to five. Remember, however, that aside from our five-park list, there are hundreds of others worthy of your bucket list.
Voyageurs National Park: Water, Walleye and Dark Skies
This park near International Falls, Minnesota, is about a five-hour drive from either Minneapolis or Fargo, North Dakota. Spanning 218,000 acres of lakes, forests and streams in northern Minnesota, the park is named after the French-Canadian voyageurs who once navigated these abundant waters.
Established in 1975, Voyageurs provides exceptional opportunities for recreation and exploration amid landscapes rich in natural beauty, history and cultural heritage.
One of the park’s main draws is the excellent fishing it provides, with plenty of options for aspiring and experienced anglers alike.
Fish abound in the 30 named lakes, which include four large lakes and 26 smaller interior lakes, and 54 species have been identified in the park’s aquatic habitats.
Some of the more sought-after species include walleye, sauger, northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and black crappie. And unlike at some parks, motorboats are permitted on all but one of Voyageurs’ interconnected lakes, allowing anglers to reach prime fishing spots with ease.
Of course, Voyageurs provides plenty of other recreational opportunities. From camping and houseboating to birdwatching and hiking, this park will get your kids away from the screens and into nature. And for stargazers, Voyageurs National Park is a designated International Dark Sky Park, making it one of the most complete underrated national parks on this list.
Ninety Six National Historic Site: Revolutionary War History With a Fishing Bonus
Located near Ninety Six, South Carolina, about one hour from Augusta, Georgia, 1.5 hours from Columbia, South Carolina, and 2.5 hours from Charlotte, North Carolina, this isn’t your typical park.
Visitors can walk the land where settlers struggled against the harsh backcountry to survive, and where Cherokee Indians hunted and fought to keep their land. Two towns and a trading post were formed, then abandoned to the elements. Two Revolutionary War battles fought on these grounds claimed more than 100 lives.
Available activities include tours, a historic interpretive trail, hiking trails, horse trails, a picnic area and guided bird walks.
While most visitors come to this park for the scenery and deep-rooted history, Star Fort Pond within the park offers fishing opportunities for those wanting to wet a line during their visit. The 27-acre lake features largemouth bass, bluegill, shellcracker and channel catfish, and has a fishing pier for those with limited access abilities.
For those who like to plan their vacations well in advance, Ninety Six National Historic Site will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Siege of the Star Fort in May and June 2031. Events are expected to feature living history demonstrations, musket and cannon firing demonstrations and children’s activities.
Boston Harbor Islands: Forts, Lighthouses and Harbor Views
If you’re looking for a place where you can walk through a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars and relax while fishing, picnicking or swimming—all within reach of downtown Boston—look no further than Boston Harbor Islands National Historic Area. It’s also proof that underrated national parks don’t always have to be remote, rugged or far from civilization.
During the summer, travelers can visit one of the seasonally accessible islands, including Spectacle Island, Georges Island, Peddocks Island and Thompson Island, also known as Cathleen Stone Island. Year-round, visitors can experience several mainland parks, including World’s End, Deer Island, Nut Island and Webb Memorial State Park.
Ranger-led programs include tours of Fort Warren, which was constructed between 1833 and 1860 and was initially built as part of a broader network of coastal defense. It later served as a training facility for Union soldiers and functioned as a prison for Confederate officers and government officials during the Civil War.
The park also offers lighthouse cruises, camping and hiking the drumlins. Visitors can hike up to the summit of the North Drumlin, the highest elevation in Boston Harbor, or hike the South Drumlin to escape the crowds. Both drumlins provide beautiful views of the city and surrounding harbor.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area: Oklahoma Water, Fishing and Hunting
Located in my home state of Oklahoma, Chickasaw National Recreation Area is near Sulphur, about two hours south of Oklahoma City and 2.5 hours north of Dallas. From springs and streams to lakes and ponds, whatever its form, water is the attraction at the park.
The biggest body of water is Lake of the Arbuckles, a crystal-clear reservoir with 36 miles of shoreline. Available activities include camping, swimming, boating, hiking and birding. The park also provides ample fishing and hunting opportunities.
Fishing is regulated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. White bass, largemouth bass, crappie, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, panfish and catfish are popular catches. Wheelchair-accessible fishing docks are available at Veterans Lake and on Lake of the Arbuckles near the boat launches at Guy Sandy, Buckhorn and The Point.
Hunting is permitted under the enabling legislation for Chickasaw National Recreation Area. A variety of game, including quail, turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, dove, ducks, geese and deer may be found there. However, due to the small size of the area and heavy hunting pressure, success can be limited.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area: Big Views, Trout Water and Western Game
For those in the West or headed out west, the vast, wild landscape of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers visitors outstanding opportunities to immerse themselves in the natural world and experience the wonders of this extraordinary place.
Located near Lovell, Wyoming, it is about two hours from Billings, Montana, and about four hours from Casper, Wyoming, or Yellowstone National Park. Encompassing more than 120,000 acres, the park offers astounding diversity in ecosystems, wildlife and more than 10,000 years of human history to explore.
Among the most popular activities is hiking, with miles of designated trails ranging from short walks to dramatic overlooks. Boating is also popular, as are historic ranch tours given by park rangers featuring Mason-Lovell Ranch, Ewing-Snell Ranch, Cedarvale Dude Ranch and Caroline Lockhart Ranch.
Of course, located in Wyoming and Montana, hunting and fishing opportunities are abundant. Popular game species include mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, bighorn sheep, upland game birds and migratory waterfowl.
Fishing opportunities abound both in the lake and the Bighorn River, where the Yellowtail Dam tailwaters provide top-notch fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Visit in the winter and you can even enjoy ice fishing on Bighorn Lake, a longtime winter tradition for locals.
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Plan Your Visit With NPS Tools
As we continue our 250th celebration as free Americans, we hope you get a chance to check out one or more of these underrated national parks this summer, whether you’re planning a full vacation or just looking for a quiet place to fish, hike or stretch your legs.
With the help of the NPS website, they’re easy to locate and can be searched by fishing opportunities, hunting opportunities or a number of other criteria. Visit the website at nps.gov/findapark/index.
“We also have an app, the official NPS app, available to help,” Kupper concluded. “As you’re traveling, if you look at it, it’ll tell you which parks are nearby and what activities are available. A lot of people have no idea it exists, but if you’re traveling and it’s time to stretch your legs, using the app is a nice way to travel.”
National Park Service Resources
National Park Service Main Page
NPS Respects Our Military
While our country’s national parks, even the ones that charge a fee for entrance, are a great deal money-wise, the National Park Service recognizes and honors the service of our military members by giving active-duty military members and veterans free entrance into all the parks. That includes everyone in the vehicle, regardless of whether passengers are veterans or not.
“These free passes have existed for years, but every so often we hear people say they had no idea,” Kupper said. “And for active-duty military members, their spouses are also eligible for a pass. If they get deployed, their spouse can still go visit the parks with no fee.”
