Looking for a uniquely different and rewarding experience for your family’s next adventure? Check out these top 3 most underrated U.S. National Parks. Explore nature without the crowds and enjoy the most pristine landscapes. Without the masses, you can easily reconnect with nature, see remarkable scenery, and maybe find some wildlife!
1. Big Bend National Park
Big Bend is located in remote southwest Texas. El Paso is the closest major airport to Big Bend, but you will still need to drive over 4 hours to reach the park. You’ll need a few days to explore Big Bend’s diverse landscapes. The park has stunning views and hikes along its mountains, canyons, desert, and the mighty Rio Grande River. Due to its remote location and dry climate, the stargazing in Big Bend is also excellent.
While you’re there check out the Santa Elena Canyon trail. It’s an easy 2.6-mile round-trip trek. To start, you first have to cross Terlingua Creek. Depending on the season and recent rains, you have to go through dry sand, thick mud, or flowing water. Enjoy the picturesque canyon and bird-watching along the way. If your shoes get wet or sweaty, use your MobilDri from VersaDri portable shoe dryers when you get back to your car. Moldy and wet gear can quickly ruin your vacation.
One of the most unique activities you can do in Big Bend is soak in the hot springs along the Rio Grande while looking across the water into Mexico. Mexico is literally only a stone’s throw away. It’s about a 0.5-mile hike from the parking lot to the primitive bathing experience. You can pretend to be a pioneer collecting their mail in the early 1900s while checking out the Hot Springs Post Office along the route or view rock art left behind on the limestone cliffs. These lands used to be farmed for corn, squash, and beans in the river’s fertile floodplain by Native Americans. If you bring your passport, you can also easily cross the border into Mexico from the park and continue the adventure!
2. Teddy Roosevelt National Park
In 1883, Teddy Roosevelt went to North Dakota to hunt bison. Today the Theodore Roosevelt National Park offers visitors the chance to adventure like the former president. Driving on either of the two auto loops in the park through the Badlands is an easy and widely accessible way to see unique geological formations, vast landscapes, and interesting wildlife. You have the opportunity to find bison, feral horses, elk, white-tail and mule deer, and pronghorn. In the vast grass prairies, you also might be able to view a crowd favorite, the prairie dog! Photographers will love this picturesque park. While the park is very isolated, you can access it via the two nearest airports in Bismarck, ND, and Billings, MT.
This national park can give you the opportunity to experience what it would have been like to be one of Thorodore Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders” and go on a horseback ride. Go on a guided trail ride or take your horse through the wilderness to truly immerse yourself in its natural beauty. Depending on your skill level, there is something for everyone.
If horseback riding isn’t your thing, check out the many hiking trails within the park. One of the best trails is the Caprock Coulee Loop. At just over 4 miles, this trail is short, but packed with interesting scenery and wildlife viewing. Many people report seeing bison in the canyons along the route so remember to give them space. From the River Bend Outlook, you’ll see gorgeous views of the Little Missouri River. The park can have violent thunderstorms in the summer and blizzard conditions in the winter so it’s a good idea to check the weather before hiking. You can also bring your portable boot dryer, MobilDri, to dry out your gear in case you get caught in a storm. This is the best portable boot dryer to quickly dry and warm up boots, gloves, and hats on the go.
3. Death Valley
As its name would suggest, Death Valley National Park is a land of extremes. Spanning across California and Nevada, this underrated park is only a 2-hour drive from Las Vegas. Death Valley is the largest national park in the Lower 48 so there are lots of great places to explore and get away from the crowds. It is the hottest, driest, and lowest elevation of all the national parks in the United States. In the summer, temperatures routinely get above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Even in the desert environment, there are lots of wonderful flora and fauna. Joshua trees, bighorn sheep, and coyotes all call this park home. There are even a few species of endangered Death Valley pupfish you can find in the park whose ancestors have been around since the climate was much wetter. If you’re lucky enough to come after a rain, you can see beautiful wildflower blooms.
One of the most spectacular places you can visit in Death Valley is the Badwater Basin. This salt flat was once an ancient inland lake but has now evaporated. The basin is the lowest elevation point in all of North America, 282 feet below sea level. You walk along an initial boardwalk and then are free to explore the basin. Hike 5 miles across to the other side of the salt flat or as long as you want. Enjoy 360-degree views of the Black Mountains to the east and the Panamint Range to the west. Just remember to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water.
Wrap Up
These 3 parks are the most underrated national parks in the United States. Plan your next vacation to one of these to see something different and enjoy the authentic wilderness experience. Just remember to pack for MobilDri portable boot and glove dryer for your next national park trip. It easily packs into the included kit bag and travels with you wherever you go. Just plug it into the 12V outlet (cigarette lighter) in your car and have warm, dry gear in a matter of minutes. Rainstorms and river crossings can soak your feet, but with the best portable boot and glove dryer you’ll always be prepared.
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