10 SUPER-BEAUTIFUL LESSER-KNOWN NATIONAL PARKS TO VISIT NOW

The U.S. boasts 59 National Parks. Today, as we continue our weeklong celebration to the National Parks Service Centennial, we’ve curated 10 Parks that have particularly extraordinary features. Many of these parks are relatively unknown. Check them out below.

1. PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK -- ARIZONA

Petrified Forest National Park, in Arizona, is one of the most fascinating parks in the world. It contains fossilized trees that date back to the Late Triassic period, more than 200 million years ago.

There are large trunks and smaller chunks scattered on the forest floor. Paleontologists have also found uncovered several dinosaur and other prehistoric creature fossils here.

The red, grey, and cream-colored rocky desert look gorgeous no matter what time of day.

In between the mesas, a grassland ecosystem supports herds of pronghorn antelope. And, part of historic Route 66, which runs through the park.

Parts of the Painted Desert lie within the Petrified Forest. It is known for its brilliant spectrum of colors and highly eroded rock. It’s a must-see bucket-list worthy destination.

2. GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK  --  NEVADA

Great Basin National Park, in Nevada, is a treasure trove of topographic drama. Wheeler Peak, one of the state’s tallest mountains, at 13,065 feet, offers unparalleled hikes and views.

But the most extraordinary features of this Park are some of the oldest living organisms on earth — the bristlecone pines.

One bristlecone, nicknamed Prometheus, which was cut down as part of a scientific study in 1964, was found to contain 4,900 growth rings, meaning that it was nearly 5,000 years old.

Enjoy the quiet beauty of the desert. Breathe in the scent of sagebrush. Gaze at countless stars piercing the darkest sky, and check out the incredible sunken gardens of the 550 million-year old Lehman Caves.

3. NATIONAL PARK OF AMERICAN SAMOA

The National Park of American Samoa is an idyllic tropical haven that spans 13,500 acres, across 3 islands. Over ⅓ of this territory is coral reef. The rest is covered with rainforests and sprouting volcanic peaks.

This park is the only American national park south of the Equator. It is home to over 35 resident and migratory bird species, including seabirds, water birds, forest birds, and shorebirds.

4. LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK -- CALIFORNIA

Lassen Volcanic National Park, in California, is chock full of bubbling mud pots, boiling pools of water, steaming ground, volcanic vents, and, of course, volcanoes.

There are 4 types of volcanoes here: shield, plug dome, cinder cone, and composite.

Lassen Peak is the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range and is part of a chain of volcanic hotspots the formed along the Pacific Rim. Eruptions happen once every thousand years, give or take.

5. CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK -- UTAH

Capitol Reef National Park, in Utah, is like a giant natural sculpture garden. The earth has morphed and moved its crust, folding, spouting, piling on, forming spires, canyons, and arches.

The land formations are part of the Waterpocket Fold, a monocline fold in the Earth’s crust nearly 100 miles long.

Pinyon-juniper forests shelter bighorn sheep, ring-tailed cats and canyon bats, the smallest bats in North America. Explore them on horseback!

6. GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK --  COLORADO

Great Sand Dunes National Park, in Colorado, is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, which formed about 440K years ago. They span 30 square miles.

These undulating piles of sand look desolate as they catch the light, but they are teeming with hundreds of animal species.

Check out sandboarding and sand sledding on specially designed boards.

7. DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK -- FLORIDA

Dry Tortugas National Park, in Florida, is comprised of 7 small islands that form the end of the tail of the Florida Keys, about 70 miles off of Key West. The park is only accessible by boat or plane.

The 19th century ruins of Fort Jefferson form a striking backdrop against a diver’s paradise, with a rich network of thriving coral reefs. It is also a migration resting spot between the northern and southern hemispheres.

8. VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK -- MINNESOTA

Voyageurs National Park, in Minnesota, is a lacework of waterways, islands, and peninsulas, that span 340 square miles. Over 40% of the park is underwater.

Voyageurs forests are unique. They are a transition zone, where southern boreal forests of jack pine and spruce meet northern hardwood forests of maple, ash, and elm. You’ll see moose, gray wolves, bald eagles, and more.

9. GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK -- COLORADO

Gunnison National Park, in southwestern Colorado, holds an incredible 48-mile long canyon, carved by the Gunnison River over the course of 2 millions years. The canyon walls are nearly 2,000’ tall, with near-vertical drops down to the river.

Hike along the north and south rims, through pinyon-juniper and oak forests. If you are into rock-climbing, you’ll love the challenge and the glory.

10. CONGAREE NATIONAL PARK -- SOUTH CAROLINA

Congaree National Park in South Carolina spans 27,000 acres. It protects the largest intact stand of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest the entire southeastern U.S.

More than 75 species of trees live here, including several champion trees, which are the tallest or largest of their species. And check out the armadillos!

Explore the swamps, by canoe or kayak or hike the more than 30 miles of trails.

Read more about Beautiful Parks in 10 Gorgeous New Books Celebrating the Glory of National Parks Now, See 10 National Parks With the Most Beautiful Wild Animals Now, Forage & Feast On The Beautiful Bounty of Our National Parks Now and The Magnificent Art of US National Parks Now.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Courtesy of Jerry and Pat Donaho. Arizona - Petrified Forest National Park. Arizona.
2. Image: by Hallie Larsen, of NPS. Courtesy of Petrified Forest. Summer Lightning, Blue Mesa, Petrified Forest National Park. Arizona.
3. Image: by Doc Johnny Bravo. Petrified Forest National Park. Arizona.
4. Image: by Andrew Kearns. Jasper Forest- Petrified Forest National Park. Arizona.
5. Image: by Joe Jiang. Painted Desert. Petrified Forest National Park. Arizona.
6. Image: by Zest-pk. Bristlecone Pine Tree. Great Basin National Park. Nevada.
7. Image: by David Fulmer. Bristlecone Pine and Sky. Methuselah Trail, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Great Basin National Park. California.
8. Image: by Frank Kovalchek. Burst of Sunlight on a Column in Cathedral Gorge State Park with a Storm Cloud Approaching. Nevada.
9. Image: Courtesy of U.S. Department of the Interior. Si'u Point Trail, Ta'u Island. National Park of American Samoa. Samoa.
10. Image: by Phaedra. Lassen Volcanic National Park. California.
11. Image: by Faungg's photos. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.
12. Image: by Faungg's photos. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.
13. Image: by Christoph Borer. Great Sand Dunes National Park. Colorado.
14. Image: by Tabitha Kaylee Hawk. Dry Tortugas National Park. Florida.
15. Image: by J. Stephen Conn. Beaver Pond. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota.
16. Image: by David Fulmer. Painted Wall, Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park. Colorado.
17. Image: by Jason Hollinger. Flooded Forest. Congaree National Park, SC. South Carolina.
18. Image: by Hunter Desportes. Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) in Congaree National Park. South Carolina.
19. Image: by David. Gunnison National Park Colorado. Colorado.
20. Image: by BN App - Download now!
21. Image: by Dorothy. Bumpass Hell. Lassen Volcanic National Park. California.