15 gems in the national park system you may not know about

From the iconic splendor of Yellowstone’s geothermal wonders to the peaceful rolling hills of Shenandoah, national parks offer breathtaking vistas and awaken our sense of wonder and adventure. But behind the well-known places lie lesser-known gems – hidden treasures that are often overshadowed by the more famous and visited parks.

Within the National Park System, there are many parks and sites (430, to be exact!) that offer people the opportunity to explore a wide variety of landscapes.

To celebrate the NPS’s birthday on August 25th, we’ve compiled a list of 15 lesser-known gems worth visiting. This list is not exhaustive – just some of the beautiful places I’d love to explore myself!

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

NPS

Located at the crossroads of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, this park combines the natural beauty of its mountains, forests, and waterfalls with a rich history. The park marks the historic pass through the Appalachian Mountains that people and animals have traversed for thousands of years. Originally, many tribes and indigenous peoples inhabited the area and used the gap for hunting, trading, and settlement. However, when European colonists began moving through the gap, many indigenous communities were displaced and relocated.

Lake Clark National Park and Conservation Area

J. Pfeiffenberger, NPS

This park in south-central Alaska is known for its stunning landscapes, which include shimmering lakes, rugged mountains, expansive glaciers, and Lake Clark as its centerpiece. The park is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, including brown bears, moose, and caribou. In addition to its natural appeal, Lake Clark holds significant indigenous history. The area has been home to the Dena’ina Athabascans for thousands of years, who have relied on its resources for their subsistence and spiritual practices. The Dena’ina people’s deep connection to this land is reflected in their traditional knowledge and ongoing cultural practices.

National Park of American Samoa

Valentin Vaeoso

This unique, quintessential tropical park in the heart of the South Pacific protects and preserves rainforest, coral reefs, fruit bat habitat and Samoan culture. The park features secluded villages, rare wildlife and incredible views of three volcanic islands – Tutuila, Ta’ū and Ofu. Almost all of the land area of ​​these islands is tropical rainforest and about 4,000 hectares of the park are underwater! It is believed that the first people to inhabit the Samoan Islands came from Southwest Asia around 3,000 years ago and over time they developed distinct cultural traits that became what they now call fa’asamoa, the Samoan way of life.

Great Thicket National Reserve

Scott Sharaga, NPS

This unique Texas wildlife refuge is a biodiversity hotspot where multiple (nine!) ecosystems converge – including pine forests, bayous, and wetlands. Big Thicket protects a wide variety of wildlife, including several sensitive and endangered species such as the Texas phlox, Louisiana black bear, and red-crowned woodpecker. Visitors can enjoy the refuge on land with nearly 40 miles of hiking trails; and on the water with many miles of creeks, bayous, and rivers flowing through the refuge.

Isle Royale National Park

Paul Brown

Accessible only by boat or floatplane, this park in Lake Superior, Michigan, offers seclusion and a pristine environment for hiking, canoeing, and scuba diving in remote areas. It is an archipelago with one main island and about 400 smaller islands. Isle Royale is home to a fascinating ecosystem where wolves and moose are the subject of one of the longest-running predator-prey studies in the world (since 1958!). Also known as Minong, the island has deep ancient significance as part of the traditional cultural lands of the Anishinaabe people.

Congaree National Park

Simon (walhalla), Flickr

This South Carolina park preserves one of the largest remnants of original hardwood riparian forests in the United States. Although the park looks like a swamp, it is a floodplain—a low-lying area near a river that is covered by water for only part of the year. The park’s riparian forests are among the most biologically diverse in North America, providing habitat for a variety of wildlife, including bobcats, river otters, and many species of birds. Its name comes from the Congaree people who once lived in the region and whose history has been largely lost to colonial violence. It is believed that over time, the surviving Congaree assimilated into neighboring tribes.

Virgin Islands National Park

David Pinardi

Another tropical island, this time in the Caribbean. A tropical paradise known for its pristine beaches, coral reefs and vibrant marine life, the park covers more than half of the island of St. John and offers visitors a range of activities, from snorkeling and diving in crystal-clear waters to exploring historic ruins. St. John’s history blends indigenous Taíno roots with the legacy of Danish colonization and the enslavement of Africans on sugar plantations. The Akwamu Revolt of 1733 marked a significant chapter in that history. Today, the island’s culture is a rich blend of local indigenous, African and European influences, with Afro-Caribbean traditions at its core.

Mojave National Preserve

Dave Hursey, NPS

This preserve encompasses a vast expanse of diverse desert landscapes, including sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, and rugged mountains. Located in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, the preserve is home to diverse desert flora and fauna, including Joshua tree cycas, bighorn sheep, and the endangered desert tortoise. But the area also holds a rich human history that spans thousands of years, beginning with the ancestral lands of indigenous tribes like the Mojave, Chemehuevi, and Paiute, who thrived in the harsh desert environment, leaving behind petroglyphs, trails, and spiritual sites that are still visible today.