Article Overview: Least Visited National Parks
The new numbers are out for the least visited national parks for the calendar year 2023! We now have the updated list of the national parks with the smallest crowds, or as some like to say, the “least popular parks” from last year.
In this article, we want to familiarize you with the least visited national parks in the United States and give some context as to why the least visited doesn’t always mean not worth visiting.
While you may not agree with this list, please keep in mind that this list is based entirely on visitation to the national parks, as reported by the National Park Service in 2023.
At the bottom of this article, we’ve included the plain text detailed lists, including:
- Top 10 Least Visited National Parks
- Least Crowded National Parks
- Complete List of All 63 National Parks Visitation Numbers
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Least Visited National Parks in 2023
Table of contents
Overview of National Park Visits in 2023
The least visited national parks are typically in very remote and difficult to access areas – this year this is true once again.
Five of the top ten least visited national parks are located in Alaska, with one moving from the least visited national parks to the middle of the pack.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve blasted its way from the bottom 10 to number 32 on the list. It saw more visitors than Big Bend, Denali, and Mammoth Cave (just a few examples). In 2021, Glacier Bay National Park had just under 90,00 visitors during the pandemic recovery, but in 2023, it brought 704,000 people when cruise services were back in action.
In 2023, overall visitation to American National Park sites increased by 13,512,648 million visitors compared to 2022. That is a 4.3% increase year-to-year.
Over the past five years, 2023 saw the second-highest number of recreation visits, just 6% lower than 2019. However, 2023 was almost 10% higher than 2021, as the nation was coming out of pandemic travel restrictions.
Finally, one of the key takeaways I’d like you to get from this article is that a park having low visitation doesn’t mean it’s:
- Easy to enter with no lines or wait times.
- Not worth making the effort to visit.
- A reflection of the quality of the park and sites to see.
US National Parks List & Map
Check out our Complete List of National Parks with comprehensive resources for each one, including FREE National Parks Maps, best hikes & trails, interesting facts, amazing things to do, & more.
Top 10 Least Visited US National Parks
10. Great Basin National Park
Location: Nevada, USA
Visitation: 143,265 (2023)
Average Length of Stay: 10.5 Hours
Our Favorite Resources: Things to Do | Map | Guidebook
Eastern Nevada’s Great Basin National Park’s addition to the top 10 least visited national parks is less about how many people visited and more about changes in other parks’ visitations. In fact, visitiation is up 54% in the past decade as more people discover this hidden gem.
About Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park boasts the second-highest peaks in the state, including Wheeler Peak standing tall at 13,063 feet. However, its hidden gem lies beneath the surface—the Lehman Caves. It markes the only spot in Nevada where you can take guided cave tours. In addition, wild caving among 40 other caves is allowed here with a permit – something you can’t find in most national parks with cave systems.
With some of the darkest skies in the United States, this Dark Sky Park offers programs throughout the year with an annual astronomy festival in September. Wildflower burst with color across the landcape to the apline level.
As an ultimate roadtrip, consider the Park to Park in the Dark trek from Death Valley national Park to Great Basin National Park.
9. Dry Tortugas National Park
Location: Florida, USA
Visitation: 84,285 (2023)
Average Length of Stay: 8 Hours (due to ferry times and limited campsites)
Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Facts
Coming in at the ninth on our list of least visited national parks is Dry Tortugas in Florida. In 2023 Dry Tortugas saw more than 84,000 visitors, which set an all-time visit record. Just 1% of this park sits on land; the other 99% is on and under the water.
About Dry Tortugas National Park
What was once a strategic fort far out on the Florida Keys is now an incredible island national park.
Dry Tortugas is one of the few “tropical” national parks in the system which is reason-alone to make the trip. And making the trip is half the fun.
Getting to this park requires an additional plane ride or ferry ride from Key West out to the island. Once there, visitors can snorkel, swim, relax, and otherwise enjoy the remains (well-intact) of Fort Jefferson. Despite being a “least visited” park, the Yankee Freedom Ferry books up months in advance and campsites are critcially hard to come by.
NO FACILTIES are available on the island, and ferries/plans have weight limits, so pack smart and wise. With as early as this park sells out, you’ll have plenty of time to strategize what you’ll bring.
READ: Our detailed Dry Tortugas Guide
8. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Location: Alaska, USA
Visitation: 78,305 (2023)
Average Length of Stay: 50 Hours
Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Map | Guidebook
The eighth least visited national park in 2023 was Wrangell-St. Elias National Park which saw just 50,189 visitors. Visitiation increased by 20% from 2022.
About Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
As one of the more accessible Alaska parks, Wrangell makes it into our top 20 US national parks for that reason alone. Wrangell is an Alaska national park full of superlatives and a world unto itself.
It is a park of otherworldly and seemingly impossible landscapes. The difference at Wrangell vs some of Alaska’s national parks is that you can take a car and drive to some of them.
Wrangell St. Elias National Park is the largest in the US at over 13 million acres. The park features 9 of the 16 tallest mountain peaks in the country.
If Wrangell were a state, it would be larger than Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island.
Now, the drive is a bit of a trek (5 hours from Anchorage) to get to McCarthy, Alaska where visitors can access the historic Kennecot Mine and Root Glacier.
READ: Our detailed Wrangell St Elias National Park Guide
7. North Cascades National Park
Location: Washington, USA
Visitation: 40,351 (2023)
Average Length of Stay: 13 Hours
My Favorite Resources: Map | Guidebook | Where to Stay | Things to Do | Best Hikes
North Cascades National Park falls at number seven on the least visited national park list, and remains only oen of two parks in the lower 48 that is landlocked and still among the lowest crowds. However, there’s a somewhat complicated reason this park doesn’t get the full credit it’s due.
In fact, North Cascades National Park’s 2023 visitation numbers reflect the largest in this century.
This park forms a tri-park as the North Cascades National Park Complex. Much like Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are under the same managment, North Cascades is managed with Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas.
North Cascades National Park Skewed Data
As I crunched the data on this one, something stood out. Park visitation went from 400,000 to 900,000+ prior to 1991. That’s when numbers dropped to around 22,000. As I discovered, pre-1991 (and when the wilderness designation was placed on North Cascades), the park’s visitation included all three sites. Post 1990, each one released separate data.
Also, Ross Lake NRA cuts the north and south sections of North Cascades in half, reaping the visitation of the main road. When looking at the entire complex, more than 961,000 visitations happened in 2023. That would place the North Cascades Complex as the 26th most visited national park.
About North Cascades National Park
Referred to by some as the “American Alps” with mountain beauty that rivals any range on the planet, North Cascades is the crown jewel of the mighty cascade range.
One of three Washington state national parks, North Cascades is the least visited, the most difficult to access all around, and perhaps the most rewarding for those who dare. After that wilderness designated and the preceding years when the wilderness battle was being waged, North Cascades was eliminated from any hope of having roads. Of course, that’s going to cut into the number of people who explore its epic terrain.
A backpackers paradise to be sure, but it’s just not very approachable for the average national park/outdoors enthusiast. For that reason we had to dock it on amenities as there really aren’t any.
That said, the park’s interior is absolutely stunningly beautiful, and its lack of crowds and backcountry offerings are a major plus.
If you’re interested in getting off the beaten path and seeing some amazing scenery, here’s your chance.
RELATED: Our Guide to All of Washington’s National Parks
6. Katmai National Park
Location: Alaska, USA
Visitation: 33,763 (2023)
Average Length of Stay: 18 Hours
Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Map
As the sixth least visited national park in America, Katmai saw 33,763 visitors in 2023. Considering how difficult and expensive it is to reach Katmai this is a pretty impressive number.
About Katmai National Park
We’ve all seen the famous Fat Bear cameras of the grizzlies hunting salmon at Brooks Falls, and we all want to see that in person (safely behind the plexiglass viewing area) along with the countless other hard-to-fathom landscapes that exist within this amazing park.
The fact of the matter is that it just ain’t easy (or cheap) to do so. Getting to Katmai typically requires multiple flights and thousands of dollars which puts it squarely out of reach for most Americans. Expect to spend $1200 on a day trip, and that’s before you add in lodging.
There are no roads that lead into the park which means getting to Katmai requires a flight (and not on a commercial flight).
In addition, viewing the Bears of Brooks Falls means yet another flight to that section of the park. From King Salmon it the cost to Brooks Falls is around $300. Once here, behold the best bear viewing on the planet via a safe viewing platform.
READ: Our detailed Katmai National Park Guide
Top 5 Least Visited National Parks
5. Isle Royale National Park
Location: Michigan, USA
Visitation: 28,965 (2023)
Average Length of Stay: 53 Hours
Resources: Guide | Map | Guidebook
The fifth least visited national park in 2023 is Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park which saw just under 29,000 visitors.
This comes with a few caveats, too. First, Isle Royale National Park closes from November 1 through April 15. Second, even when the park opens, ferry rides and lodging don’t kick in until mid to late May and wrap up the season in early September.
That means the park only gets about five to six months of visitors instead of having 12 months of opportunities. Of course the numbers will be lower! However, look at that average length of stay – people love visiting for 2+ days.
About Isle Royale National Park
Isle Royale might get overlooked by first timers, but those who visit keep coming back. It’s the most RE-visited national park in the lot.
Its location, a network of 450 islands (mostly very small) out in Lake Superior, requires a ferry ride, personal boat, or seaplane ride to access. Then, you pick form the north or south ports of the island and explore a roadless wilderness.
Getting to the main island requires a 2 hour ferry ride (the shortest route) and costs $60-100 per passenger. Extensive paddling options, lighthouse viewing tours, fishing, and cross-island backpacking hikes mixed with a lodge, cabines, and 36 campsites means you won’t get bored here. You just have to go to see how amazing it is.
4. Kobuk Valley National Park
Location: Alaska, USA
Visitation: 17,616 (2023)
Average Length of Stay: 13 Hours
Our Favorite Resources: Guide
Coming in at number four on the least visit national parks in America list, Kobuk Valley brought in 17,616 visitors – the second highest number in its history and the highest in the past decade.
About Kobuk Valley National Park
Kobuk Valley is a jaw-droppingly beautiful place that is nearly impossible for the average person to access. Getting into the park requires multiple flights, a guide (to do it safely), and thousands of dollars.
It seems to us this park would have been more fitting for a wilderness designation than a National Park. For that reason it ranks at the bottom as the official least accessible Alaska National park.
Kobuk Valley National Park is located north of the Arctic Circle making it the most remote national park in Alaska.
To get there, one must first fly (1 hour 45 minutes from Anchorage) to the extremely isolated town of Kotzebue. From there you can pick up a flight (and guide) into the park.
3. Lake Clark National Park
Location: Alaska, USA
Visitation: 16,728 (2023)
Average Length of Stay: 8.5 Hours
Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Map
Alaska’s Lake Clark is the fifth least visited national in America seeing a mere 16,728 visitors in 2023. That marks the lowest visitation outside of 2020 since 2018.
About Lake Clark National Park
Lake Clark is home to some of the most extraordinary landscape scenery on the planet. This Alaska National Park is another one sculpted by glaciers and volcanic activity.
Add in the vast array of wildlife present in the park and you’ve got a real home run.
The only problem, as is the case with most of the Alaska parks, is getting there. Getting to Lake Clark, while not quite as difficult as Gates of the Arctic or Kobuk Valley, is still pretty darn tough.
Visitors must take a small plane to reach jumping off points into the park.
The cost for all this? Around $1000 for a day trip, and upwards of $3,000 – $5,000 for a multi-day adventure. You can pay $700 to see the bears from a plane or go to Katmai and see them for free!
READ: Our detailed Lake Clark National Park Park Guide
2. National Park of American Samoa
Location: American Samoa, USA
Visitation: 12,135 (2023)
Average Length of Stay: 2 Hours
American Samoa was the second least visited national park in America for 2023 seeing just 12,135 visitors.
About American Samoa National Park
A picture-perfect postcard of tropical paradise, American Samoa National Park is a bucket list park for NPS enthusiasts.
Crystal blue waters meet tall, lush mountains in the heart of the South Pacific creating one of the dreamiest looking national parks in the system.
Getting there, however, is going to cost you. Average flight prices from the mainland US typically range from $1,800 – $3,000 putting it out of reach for most of us.
Once you get there, exploring the park’s incredible beauty isn’t exactly easy either with relatively few hiking trails and very limited park facilities. Then there’s the island hoping. However, if you’re in the South Pacific, it’s definitely worth an extra leg on the trip.
1. Gates of the Arctic National Park
Location: Alaska, USA
Visitation: 11,045(2023)
Average Length of Stay: 9 Hours
Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Facts | Map
The least visited national park in America is Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska. Guess what? National Park Service officials are prefectly okay with that – this park appeals to only the most experienced and adventurous guests.
About Gates of the Arctic National Park
Gates of the Arctic is a breathtakingly beautiful place that is nearly impossible for the average person to get to. That’s not surprisingly considering its location north of the Arctic Circle.
Getting into the park requires multiple flights, a guide (to do it safely), and thousands of dollars. Once you’re there, no roads or even trails greet you. At best, you follow wildlife passages along the way.
It seems to us this park would have been more fitting for a wilderness designation than a National Park. For that reason it ranks near the bottom of our national parks ranking list.
The easiest way to get to Gates of the Arctic National Park is to catch a flight from Fairbanks to the small town of Bettles which is an hour or so by flight.
List of the Top 10 Least Visited National Parks
- Gates of the Arctic National Park – 11,045
- National Park of American Samoa – 12,135
- Lake Clark National Park – 16,728
- Kobuk Valley National Park – 17,616
- Isle Royale National Park – 28,965
- Katmai National Park – 33,763
- North Cascades National Park – 40,351
- Wrangell-St. Elias National Park – 78,305
- Dry Tortugas National Park – 84,285
- Great Basin National Park – 143,265
least visited national parks, least visited national park, least crowd
Map of Least Visited US National Parks
Least Visited National Parks in the Lower 48
Ok, we get it – Alaska and the Virgin Islands come with a lot of travel. Choosing those for a weekend escape isn’t feasible. Getting to islands takes reservations and extensive advanced planning. Here are the mainland parks of the lower 48 that get the fewest number of visitors.
| 1 | North Cascades NP | 40,351 |
| 2 | Great Basin NP | 143,265 |
| 3 | Voyageurs NP | 220,825 |
| 4 | Guadalupe Mountains NP | 227,340 |
| 5 | Congaree NP | 250,114 |
| 6 | Pinnacles NP | 341,220 |
| 7 | Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP | 357,069 |
| 8 | Carlsbad Caverns NP | 394,121 |
| 9 | Redwood NP | 409,105 |
| 10 | Lassen Volcanic NP | 418,978 |
List of All 63 Most Visited National Parks
| 1 | Great Smoky Mountains NP | 13,297,647 |
| 2 | Grand Canyon NP | 4,733,705 |
| 3 | Zion NP | 4,623,238 |
| 4 | Yellowstone NP | 4,501,382 |
| 5 | Rocky Mountain NP | 4,115,837 |
| 6 | Yosemite NP | 3,897,070 |
| 7 | Acadia NP | 3,879,890 |
| 8 | Grand Teton NP | 3,417,106 |
| 9 | Joshua Tree NP | 3,270,404 |
| 10 | Olympic NP | 2,947,503 |
| 11 | Glacier NP | 2,933,616 |
| 12 | Cuyahoga Valley NP | 2,860,059 |
| 13 | Indiana Dunes NP | 2,765,892 |
| 14 | Hot Springs NP | 2,502,967 |
| 15 | Bryce Canyon NP | 2,461,269 |
| 16 | Gateway Arch NP | 2,422,836 |
| 17 | New River Gorge NP & PRES | 1,707,223 |
| 18 | Mount Rainier NP | 1,674,294 |
| 19 | Hawaii Volcanoes NP | 1,620,294 |
| 20 | Shenandoah NP | 1,576,008 |
| 21 | Arches NP | 1,482,045 |
| 22 | Capitol Reef NP | 1,268,861 |
| 23 | Death Valley NP | 1,099,632 |
| 24 | Badlands NP | 1,046,400 |
| 25 | Saguaro NP | 1,010,906 |
| 26 | Sequoia NP | 980,567 |
| 27 | Everglades NP | 810,189 |
| 28 | Canyonlands NP | 800,322 |
| 29 | Haleakala NP | 791,292 |
| 30 | Theodore Roosevelt NP | 746,862 |
| 31 | White Sands NP | 729,096 |
| 32 | Glacier Bay NP & PRES | 703,659 |
| 33 | Mammoth Cave NP | 654,450 |
| 34 | Kings Canyon NP | 643,065 |
| 35 | Wind Cave NP | 592,459 |
| 36 | Biscayne NP | 571,242 |
| 37 | Crater Lake NP | 559,976 |
| 38 | Petrified Forest NP | 520,491 |
| 39 | Great Sand Dunes NP & PRES | 512,219 |
| 40 | Big Bend NP | 509,129 |
| 41 | Mesa Verde NP | 505,194 |
| 42 | Denali NP & PRES | 498,722 |
| 43 | Lassen Volcanic NP | 418,978 |
| 44 | Redwood NP | 409,105 |
| 45 | Carlsbad Caverns NP | 394,121 |
| 46 | Kenai Fjords NP | 387,525 |
| 47 | Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP | 357,069 |
| 48 | Virgin Islands NP | 343,685 |
| 49 | Pinnacles NP | 341,220 |
| 50 | Channel Islands NP | 328,746 |
| 51 | Congaree NP | 250,114 |
| 52 | Guadalupe Mountains NP | 227,340 |
| 53 | Voyageurs NP | 220,825 |
| 54 | Great Basin NP | 143,265 |
| 55 | Dry Tortugas NP | 84,285 |
| 56 | Wrangell-St. Elias NP & PRES | 78,305 |
| 57 | North Cascades NP | 40,351 |
| 58 | Katmai NP & PRES | 33,763 |
| 59 | Isle Royale NP | 28,965 |
| 60 | Lake Clark NP & PRES | 17,616 |
| 61 | Kobuk Valley NP | 16,728 |
| 62 | Gates of the Arctic NP & PRES | 12,135 |
| 63 | National Park of American Samoa | 11,045 |
Pin Least Visited National Parks in the USA
Why Listen to Us About the National Parks?
We’ve spent our entire adult lives exploring and filming America’s national parks and public lands. Plus, we’ve worked with the National Park Service, the Department of Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service for years creating films on important places and issues.
The Parks Brothers
We are Will and Jim Pattiz, a.k .a. The Parks Brothers. Our work has been featured in leading publications all over the world, and even some people outside of our immediate family call us experts on national parks.
We’re Jim Pattiz and Will Pattiz, collectively known as the Pattiz Brothers.
Our goal here at More Than Just Parks is to share the beauty of America’s national parks and public lands through stunning short films in an effort to get Americans and the world to see the true value of land conservation.
Permit Systems and Reservations
Check to see if the national park you’re visiting has a permit or reservation system in place before visiting. As parks become increasingly crowded more has to be done to safeguard them which means controlling the hundreds of millions of people who visit these places each year.
Popular national parks with reservation systems of some kind include Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Arches, Acadia, Denali, and more.
Want Smaller Crowds? Try a National Forest!
Try visiting a national forest while you’re on your trip to avoid the crowds. There are 155 national forests in America, many of which are equally as beautiful as the national parks they neighbor and only see a fraction of the visitors.
For example, try the Flathead National Forest next to Glacier National Park, the Bridger-Teton next to Grand Teton, and the Dixie, which borders nearly all of the Utah National Parks.
VIDEO: Bridger Teton National Forest Film by More Than Just Parks
Practice Safety, Seriously
National parks are amazing but wild places, so it is essential to practice basic safety while visiting them. Every year, people die while vacationing in national parks. This is easily avoided by:
- Sticking to trails
- Checking the weather before going out on a hike
- Maintaining a safe distance between wildlife, which means at least 25 yards from most wildlife and 100 yards from predators
- Avoid ledges with steep drop-offs
- Download offline maps before going into zones where mobile service isn’t available
- Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return
More Helpful Information on the National Parks
List of National Monuments: Ultimate List of National Monuments (Alphabetical + By State)
Largest National Parks: 15 Largest National Parks in the United States (+ Full List)
Best National Parks Ranked: ALL 63 US NATIONAL PARKS RANKED By Experts
List of National Monuments: Ultimate List of National Monuments (Alphabetical + By State)
Free Downloadable National Parks Map & List: LIST & MAP of National Parks By State (+ Printable Checklist)
Best National Monuments: All 128 US National Monuments Ranked (Best to Worst)
Most Visited National Parks: Top 10 Most Visited US National Parks
Best East Coast National Parks: Top 10 Best East Coast National Parks Ranked
Utah National Parks Road Trips: 5 Best Utah National Park Road Trips
Best National Park Road Trips: 10 Best National Park Road Trips
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The top headline, referring to US parks, is accurate, but the graphic title, referring to parks “in America” is not correct. And that’s the one I’ve seen posted elsewhere on Facebook. “America” should be avoided if you only mean the US portion. Otherwise, you’ll need to include more parks. Torngat Mountains NP in Newfoundland & Labrador would probably top the list.
Great point, Adam!
We will be updating the title image accordingly. Thanks for taking the time to read through the article and leave this helpful feedback 🙂
Best,
Will