America’s 10 best national parks revealed – with surprise winner a woodland oasis with NO crowds

Hikers looking to escape the crowds may be better off skipping Yellowstone and visiting a national park in Michigan instead, a new report finds.

All 63 national parks in the US are officially ranked based on key factors, including: the size of the crowds, the quantity and quality of hiking trails, the availability of camping sites, access to activities, mountain biking and fishing.

About 50 percent of the total score was based on crowd size, with the remaining metrics being evenly factored into the report compiled by the Wall Street Journal.

Isle Royale National Park in Michigan took first place with a score of 81.01, while North Cascades came in second.

1. Isle Royale National Park – Michigan

Isle Royale National Park is located in the middle of Lake Superior, near Michigan’s border with Canada.

Visitors can only reach the park by ferry, seaplane, or private vessels such as boats and jet skis.

There are over 814 kilometres of hiking trails through the forest and along the coastline. You can spot wolves or moose.

The park only sees about 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 on the WSJ index.

2. North Cascades National Park – Washington

North Cascades National Park is less than a three-hour drive from Seattle.

With a score of 78.89, this national park offers travelers the chance to enjoy stunning views of mountain peaks with more than 300 glaciers.

The North Cascades attracted just 40,351 visitors in 2023, making it the least visited park in the state last year.

This remote park offers hiking, camping, and boating opportunities.

Hikers looking for a challenging yet rewarding route can visit the Cascade Pass Trail, which offers mountain views.

3. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks – California

These California parks are home to massive mountains, deep canyons, and some of the largest trees in the world.

Although these parks typically attract more than a million visitors per year, the large number of campsites could have contributed to the score of 70.79.

Campers can choose from one of the park’s 1,213 campsites, some of which are located near forests.

It is also home to a wealth of wildlife, including six endangered species.

4. Big Bend National Park – Texas

This national park in Texas scored a 70.04 and last year nearly 512,000 travelers visited the park.

There are 66 hiking trails in the park, which have been rated almost 4.5 for quality on a scale of 1 to 5.

Visitors should be aware that there is no public transportation to or within Big Bend, and it is far from most cities. It received a score of 70.04.

5. Denali National Park & ​​Reserve – Alaska

Denali National Park & ​​Preserve is a small location in Alaska with 28 trails and 241 campsites. It received a rating of 67.99.

This year, only 498,772 visitors visited the park, despite the fact that it is home to more than 2.4 million hectares of wildlife.

The only railings in the park are near the road, but visitors often walk off them and explore the park on their own.

Travelers on the road or on a hiking trail can also visit Denali: the highest mountain peak in North America.

6. Lassen Volcanic National Park – California

This national park in California covers over 43,000 acres and has 68 hiking trails for tourists to enjoy.

Lassen Volcanic National Park, which received an overall score of 67.01, has 424 campgrounds and received just 418,878 visitors last year.

In addition to volcanoes, visitors can also admire alpine lakes, jagged peaks and fields of wildflowers while searching for bears.

Trails such as Bumpass Hell Trail and Lassen Peak Trail are sometimes closed in the summer due to snow.

Lassen Peak and Brokeoff Mountain can also be covered in snow in the fall, with the potential for storms that can last days.

7. Great Basin National Park – Nevada

Great Basin National Park scored 66.98 and is one of two locations on this list that has no entrance fee.

143,265 travelers visited the park in Nevada, despite its proximity 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

Last year, more than a million travelers visited Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada.

Guests can choose to stay at one of the 804 campsites and take a hike on one of the 86 forest trails.

However, the park is below sea level and despite the high mountain peaks, there are droughts and extremely high temperatures in summer.

The park, which scored 64.47, has a trail rating of 4.21.

9. Guadalupe Mountains National Park – Texas

Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas scored a 63.59 this year and has only 51 campgrounds.

The 31 hiking trails are near mountains and deserts, and the park itself is home to the four highest peaks in Texas.

It also contains fossil reefs from the Permian and a collection of flora and fauna: the collection of plants and animals that live in a particular environment.

Visitors will also likely benefit from some peace and quiet during their walks, as the park attracted only 227,340 visitors last year.

10. Yellowstone National Park – Idaho/Montana/Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park is a popular tourist attraction for outdoor travelers in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

With a score of 62.93, more than five million visitors came to the park last year, who could choose from 2,139 campsites.

Hikers can walk along one of the 257 hiking trails and spot all kinds of wildlife along the way.

Those who don’t feel like following one of the hiking trails can also cruise along most of Yellowstone’s lakes during the boating season.