Travel Tips

Lesser-Known National Parks

If you want to stay on U.S. soil and visit a national park, why not skip the crowds and give some lesser-known parks a try?

Instead of Yosemite, check out the nearby Sierra National Forest.

It straddles California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range and offers great hiking, fishing and camping opportunities.

For a throwback to the good old days, you can even rent an authentic Model T Ford for about $400 for four people.

If you’ve already visited the famous Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, less than an hour away are the Guadalupe Mountains’ fossilized reefs in West Texas.

Skeletons of plants and animals are visible in the exposed limestone rock that was once submerged underwater.

And just west of the Rocky Mountains National Park is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

With the tallest vertical wall in Colorado, this area is a favorite among rock climbers, but there are easier marked paths for hikers and campers.

Find out more about lesser-known parks, check out America the Beautiful: Hidden National Parks.

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