Article Overview: Least Visited National Parks
The new numbers are out for the least visited national parks for the calendar year 2021! We now have the updated list for 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 (or least popular national parks).
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 2021.
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
Interesting Facts About the Least Visited National Parks
The least visited national parks are typically in very remote and difficult to access areas – this year this is true once again.
Six of the top ten least visited national parks are located in Alaska.
In 2021, overall visitation to National Park sites across America increased by 60 million visitors from 2020 when many facilities remained closed due to the pandemic.
Numbers are still down overall from the record high pre-pandemic levels of visitation.
Given the typical percentage of international visitors to America’s national parks which were not present in 2021 due to travel restrictions, these numbers are extraordinary.
A key takeaway from this year’s report is that domestic visitation to the national parks has increased dramatically since the spread of the pandemic.
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.
Least Visited National Parks in the US
Top 10 Least Visited US National Parks
10. Glacier Bay National Park – 89,768
Location: Alaska, USA
Visitation: 89,768 (2021)
Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Facts
Starting off our list of the least visited national parks in America is an Alaska national park (this will be a common theme), Glacier Bay! Glacier Bay received 89,768 visitors in 2021.
About Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay is a wonderful “cruising park” with spectacular views from the water including orcas, whales, massive glaciers, and so much more.
It’s hard to ask for more breathtaking scenery than what you can find in this park. So what’s the catch?
Getting to the park is exceedingly difficult, requiring a flight and then either another flight or ferry. It also comes with quite a hefty price tag and for that reason it ranks lower on our list despite the incredible sites.
READ: Our detailed Glacier Bay National Park Guide
9. Dry Tortugas National Park – 83,817
Location: Florida, USA
Visitation: 83,817 (2021)
Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Facts
Coming in at the ninth on our list of least visited national parks is Dry Tortugas in Florida. In 2021 Dry Tortugas saw just 83,817 visitors.
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 from Key West or ferry ride out to the island. Once there, visitors can snorkel, swim, relax, and otherwise enjoy the remains (well-intact) of Fort Jefferson.
Facilities are quite limited on the island and if you’re camping make sure to pack all of your own food and water.
READ: Our detailed Dry Tortugas Guide
8. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park – 50,189
Location: Alaska, USA
Visitation: 50,189 (2021)
Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Map | Guidebook
The eighth least visited national park in 2021 was Wrangell-St. Elias National Park which saw just 50,189 visitors.
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. Isle Royale National Park – 25,844
Location: Michigan, USA
Visitation: 25,844 (2021)
Resources: Guide | Map | Guidebook
The seventh least visited national park in 2021 is Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park which saw just 25,844 visitors.
It turns out having to ferry out to a national park is somewhat of a deterrent for visitors. All the better for folks who make it here as they will find more solace than most national parks.
About Isle Royale National Park
Clocking in as one of the least visited parks in the entire system (including the Alaska parks), Isle Royale is a place often overlooked by park-goers.
Its location, a network of 450 islands (mostly very small) out in Lake Superior, makes it difficult to get to.
The fact that you cannot drive to the park seems to serve as quite the deterrent to visitors. Getting to the main island requires a 2 hour ferry ride (the shortest route) and costs $60-100 per passenger.
6. Katmai National Park – 24,764
Location: Alaska, USA
Visitation: 24,764 (2021)
Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Map
As the sixth least visited national park in America, Katmai saw 24,764 visitors in 2021. 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 bearcam 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.
Accessing Katmai National Park is expensive. There are no roads that lead into the park which means getting to Katmai requires a flight (and not on a commercial flight).
Brooks Falls Bear Watching – The world famous Katmai National Park bear camera resides at Brooks Falls. Getting to Brooks Falls is not cheap requiring yet another non-commercial flight.
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. Lake Clark National Park – 18,278
Location: Alaska, USA
Visitation: 18,278 (2021)
Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Map
Alaska’s Lake Clark is the fifth least visited national in America seeing a mere 18,278 visitors in 2021.
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? Substantial.
READ: Our detailed Lake Clark National Park Park Guide
4. North Cascades National Park – 17,855
Location: Washington, USA
Visitation: 17,855 (2021)
My Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Where to Stay / Things to Do / Best Hikes
Clocking in at the fourth least visited national park in America, North Cascades saw just 17,855 visitors in 2021.
You might be surprised to see that a national park located in the contiguous 48 states rank so high on this list – sounds like an opportunity!
About North Cascades National Park
Here’s a park I’m sure will be moving up this list in the coming years.
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.
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 as a simple Google image search will show you, 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 Washington’s National Parks
3. Kobuk Valley National Park – 11,540
Location: Alaska, USA
Visitation: 11,540 (2021)
Our Favorite Resources: Guide
In previous years Kobuk Valley has ranked as the least visited national park in America but such was not the case for 2021. Last year Kobuk Valley saw a whopping 11,540 visitors.
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.
2. National Park of American Samoa – 8,495
Location: American Samoa, USA
Visitation: 8,495 (2021)
American Samoa was the second least visited national park in America for 2021 seeing just 8,495 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.
1. Gates of the Arctic National Park – 7,362
Location: Alaska, USA
Visitation: 7,362 (2021)
Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Facts | Map
Ok folks, we have arrived! The least visited national park in America is Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska.
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.
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 near the bottom of our national parks ranking list.
Gates of the Arctic National Park is extremely remote and as such requires some work to get there.
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 – 7,362
- National Park of American Samoa – 8,495
- Kobuk Valley National Park – 11,540
- North Cascades National Park – 17,855
- Lake Clark National Park – 18,278
- Katmai National Park – 24,764
- Isle Royale National Park – 25,844
- Wrangell-St. Elias National Park – 50,189
- Dry Tortugas National Park – 83,817
- Glacier Bay National Park – 89,768
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Complete List of Least Visited National Parks (in reverse order)
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park – 14,161,548
- Zion National Park – 5,039,835
- Yellowstone National Park – 4,860,242
- Grand Canyon National Park – 4,532,677
- Rocky Mountain National Park – 4,434,848
- Acadia National Park – 4,069,098
- Grand Teton National Park – 3,885,230
- Yosemite National Park – 3,287,595
- Indiana Dunes National Park – 3,177,210
- Glacier National Park – 3,081,656
- Joshua Tree National Park – 3,064,400
- Olympic National Park – 2,718,925
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park – 2,575,275
- Hot Springs National Park – 2,162,884
- Bryce Canyon National Park – 2,104,600
- Arches National Park 1,806,865
- New River Gorge National Park & PRES – 1,682,720
- Mount Rainier National Park – 1,670,063
- Shenandoah National Park – 1,592,312
- Capitol Reef National Park – 1,405,353
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – 1,262,747
- Badlands National Park – 1,224,226
- Death Valley National Park – 1,146,551
- Gateway Arch National Park – 1,145,081
- Saguaro National Park – 1,079,786
- Sequoia National Park – 1,059,548
- Everglades National Park – 942,130
- Canyonlands National Park – 911,594
- Haleakala National Park – 853,181
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park – 796,085
- White Sands National Park – 782,469
- Wind Cave National Park – 709,001
- Biscayne National Park – 705,665
- Crater Lake National Park – 647,751
- Great Sand Dunes National Park & PRES – 602,613
- Petrified Forest National Park – 590,334
- Big Bend National Park – 581,220
- Kings Canyon National Park – 562,918
- Mesa Verde National Park – 548,477
- Mammoth Cave National Park – 515,774
- Redwood National Park – 435,879
- Kenai Fjords National Park – 411,782
- Lassen Volcanic National Park – 359,635
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park – 349,244
- Pinnacles National Park – 348,857
- Virgin Islands National Park – 323,999
- Channel Islands National Park – 319,252
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – 308,910
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park – 243,291
- Voyageurs National Park – 243,042
- Denali National Park & Preserve – 229,521
- Congaree National Park – 215,181
- Great Basin National Park – 144,875
- Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve – 89,768
- Dry Tortugas National Park – 83,817
- Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve – 50,189
- Isle Royale National Park – 25,844
- Katmai National Park & Preserve – 24,764
- Lake Clark National Park & Preserve – 18,278
- North Cascades National Park – 17,855
- Kobuk Valley National Park – 11,540
- National Park of American Samoa – 8,495
- Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve – 7,362
Why Listen to us About the National Parks?
You should probably know that we didn’t just make this list up out of thin air. We’ve spent our entire adult lives exploring and filming America’s national parks and public lands.
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
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 the 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 in land conservation.
Things to Know Before You Visit a National Park
Entrance Fees: Typically $30 per vehicle OR if you plan to visit more National Parks within the next 12 months we suggest you go ahead and purchase the America the Beautiful Pass (which can be found at the entrance gates to most national parks). This pass gets you into all National Parks, Forests, Monuments, and more including 2,000 sites for free after a one time $79 fee.
Sunscreen: Use it. Lots of it. Especially this one which we never leave the house without because it plays nice with our dear friend, earth 🙂
Leave No Trace: We’re big fans of Leave No Trace, here at MTJP. Want to learn more? Read about the seven principals of Leave No Trace.
Insect Repellent: We carry around an Eco-Friendly Insect Repellent with us as mosquitoes can be a bit crazy in the parks.
Dogs are not allowed on trails in most national parks due to their potentially disruptive presence with the natural ecosystem. The basic rule is they are allowed where cars can go so be sure to check before taking your pooch on your trip to the park!
And a bonus! Tips for Visiting a National Park
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 Less 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.
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
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
Least Visited National Parks: Top 10 Least Visited 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