Yellowstone and Banff get the glory, but some of North America's most striking national parks see only a fraction of the visitors — usually because they're far away or genuinely tricky to reach. Here are five worth the effort.
Gros Morne in Newfoundland and Labrador is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with fewer than 250,000 visitors a year, and its Western Brook Pond is the standout: a freshwater lake in a former fjord, ringed by cliffs and waterfalls that could pass for Norway. Fly into Deer Lake, rent a car, and base yourself in Rocky Harbour, or camp at one of five campgrounds with hot showers. Admission runs $12.25 CAD for adults.
Closer to civilisation, Congaree in South Carolina sits just 30 minutes from Columbia and protects a rare old-growth floodplain forest. In winter, high water turns the cypress groves into something dreamlike; in autumn, the foliage is excellent. The park's signature event is the May synchronous firefly display, where thousands of fireflies flash in unison — access is by an annual vehicle-pass lottery, and admission is otherwise free.
At the far end of the accessibility scale sits Sirmilik in Nunavut, which some years sees only a handful of visitors. The name means "place of glaciers" in Inuktitut, and the Arctic setting delivers narwhals, belugas, seals, polar bears and seabird colonies on Bylot Island. Getting there means flying to Pond Inlet or Arctic Bay, then a boat or snowmobile, usually via a licensed outfitter or expedition cruise. You must register with Parks Canada before entering, and backcountry fees are $37 CAD per night.
Off the Southern California coast, Channel Islands National Park drew about 227,000 visits in 2025 despite a nickname of "the Galápagos of North America." Its five islands host more than 2,000 species, over 100 of them endemic — plus blue whales offshore and tiny island foxes on land. Island Packers ferries run from Ventura Harbor, around $63 per person, and there's no entrance fee.
Finally, Florida's Dry Tortugas is almost entirely ocean: 99% protected water around seven small islands 70 miles west of Key West. Snorkel the coral reefs, kayak, and tour Fort Jefferson on Garden Key. The Yankee Freedom ferry (from about $260 including entry and snorkel gear) or a seaplane are the only ways in, which helps explain the park's modest 89,000 visits in 2025.
Who are these parks for? Anyone who'd rather earn a view than queue for one. Two of the five need a boat, one needs an Arctic expedition, and none has a gift shop queue — but each rewards planning with solitude, wildlife and scenery the big-name parks simply can't match at peak season.
