Table of Contents
Hikers looking to get away from the crowds should skip Yellowstone and visit a national park in Michigan, according to a new report.
The 63 U.S. national parks were officially ranked based on key factors, including: crowd size, quantity and quality of hiking trails, availability of campgrounds, access to activities, mountain biking and fishing.
About 50 percent of the total score was based on crowd size, while the remaining statistics were evenly taken into account in the report compiled by the Wall Street Journal.
Isle Royale National Park in Michigan took the top spot, earning a score of 81.01, while North Cascades came in second.
The Wall Street Journal created a list of the best national parks based on data from the attractions themselves and AllTrails.
1. Isle Royale National Park – Michigan
Visitors can access Isle Royale National Park in Michigan by ferry, seaplane, or private watercraft such as boats and jet skis.
Isle Royale National Park is located in the middle of Lake Superior, near Michigan’s border with Canada.
Visitors can only access the park by ferry, seaplane or private vessels such as boats and jet skis.
It has 508 miles of hiking trails along the forest and along its coast, where you can spot wolves or moose.
The park receives only 25,000 to 30,000 visitors a year, and those who prefer not to sleep in a tent can stay at the Rock Harbor Lodge or the Windigo Camper Cabins. It scored 81.01 points in the WSJ index.
2. North Cascades National Park – Washington
North Cascades National Park in Washington allows travelers the opportunity to see beautiful views of peaks with more than 300 glaciers.
North Cascades National Park is located less than three hours from Seattle.
With a score of 78.89, this national park allows travelers the opportunity to take in beautiful views of peaks with over 300 glaciers.
North Cascades had only 40,351 visitors in 2023, and was the least visited park in the state last year.
This remote park offers travelers the option to hike, camp or paddle out on the water.
Hikers looking for a challenging but worthwhile trail can check out the Cascade Pass Trail, which offers a view of the mountains.
3. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks – California
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California typically have more than a million visitors a year and have 1,213 campsites.
These California parks feature towering mountains, deep canyons, and some of the largest trees in the world.
Although these parks typically have more than a million visitors a year, their number of camping areas may have contributed to their score of 70.79.
Campers can choose to stay at one of the park’s 1,213 campsites, some of which are near the woods.
They also have an abundance of wildlife, including six federally endangered species.
4. Big Bend National Park – Texas
Big Bend National Park has 66 hiking or walking trails in the park that were rated nearly 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5 for quality.
This Texas national park scored 70.04 and was visited by nearly 512,000 travelers last year.
There are 66 hiking trails or walks within the park that were rated almost 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5 for their quality.
Visitors should note that there is no public transportation to or within Big Bend and that it is far from most towns. It received a score of 70.04.
5. Denali National Park and Preserve – Alaska
Denali National Park and Preserve is a small Alaskan town with 28 trails and 241 campsites. Visitors often like to hike off the beaten path.
Denali National Park and Preserve is a small Alaskan town with 28 trails and 241 campsites. It received a score of 67.99.
Only 498,772 visitors came to the park this year despite having more than six million acres of wildlife.
The only trails in the park are near the road, but visitors often like to walk from them and explore the park on their own.
Road and trail travelers can also visit Denali, the highest peak in North America.
6. Lassen Volcanic National Park – California
Lassen Volcanic National Park, which received an overall score of 67.01, has 424 campsites and received just 418,878 visitors last year.
This national park in California has just over 106,000 acres and 68 hiking or walking trails that tourists can enjoy.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, which received an overall score of 67.01, has 424 campsites and received just 418,878 visitors last year.
In addition to volcanoes, visitors can see mountain lakes, rugged peaks and wildflower meadows while keeping an eye out for bears.
Trails like Bumpass Hell Trail and Lassen Peak Trail occasionally close in the summer due to snow cover.
Lassen Peak and Brokeoff Mountain can also be covered in snow in the fall and experience storms for several days.
7. Great Basin National Park (Nevada)
Great Basin National Park welcomed 143,265 visitors last year and is one of only two places on this list that doesn’t charge an entrance fee.
Great Basin National Park scored 66.98 and is one of two places on this list that doesn’t charge an entrance fee.
143,265 travelers went to the Nevada park despite being close to the Utah border.
Guests can go fishing and stargazing or explore the park to see the South Snake Mountains and ancient pine forests.
8. Death Valley National Park (California/Nevada)
Death Valley National Park in California or Nevada has 804 campsites and 86 trails. However, in summer it suffers from high temperatures and droughts.
More than a million travelers visited Death Valley National Park last year, whether in California or Nevada.
Guests can choose to stay at one of the 804 campsites and hike one of the 86 trails in the forest.
However, it is below sea level and despite its massive peaks, the park experiences drought and extremely high temperatures during the summer.
The park, which received a score of 64.47, has a trail rating of 4.21.
9. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas)
Guadalupe Mountains National Park has 31 hiking trails near mountains and deserts, and the park itself is home to the four highest peaks in Texas.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas scored 63.59 this year and only has 51 campgrounds.
The 31 hiking trails are close to mountains and deserts, and the park itself is home to the four highest peaks in Texas.
It also includes a Permian fossil reef and a flora and fauna collection: the collection of plants and animals that live in an environmental situation.
Visitors will likely benefit from the solitude on their hikes, too, as the park had only 227,340 visitors last year.
10. Yellowstone National Park (Idaho, Montana and Wyoming)
Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho received more than five million visitors last year alone.
Yellowstone National Park is a popular tourist attraction for outdoor enthusiasts in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
With a score of 62.93, the park had just over five million visitors last year who had the option of staying at one of the 2,139 campsites.
Hikers can walk one of its 257 trails and spot various species of wildlife along the way.
Anyone who doesn’t want to hike one of the trails can also hike most of Yellowstone’s lakes during boating season.
