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    The coolest national parks you didn't know existed

    Find tropical escapes, outrageous adventures, and one-of-a-kind wildlife right in the USA.

  • 10 National Parks You Didn't Know Existed
    There's no need to travel far for adventure. Check out these little known national parks.  
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    Image: Channel Islands National Park- Courtesy of iStock
  • Dry Tortugas National Park, FL
    West of Key West, Florida, this national park is comprised of seven islands, each offering rich marine life and stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico. Whether it’s snorkeling in clear tropical water or learning the history of 19th century Fort  Jefferson, this national park provides a unique experience for everyone. And since one day might not be enough, guests can bring a tent and camp out at Garden Key.
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  • Mammoth Cave National Park, KY
    Possibly Kentucky’s best kept secret, the early guide Stephen Bishop called Mammoth Cave “a grand, gloomy and peculiar place.” Home of the world’s longest known cave system, the park contains over 70 endangered, threatened or state-listed species. Mammoth Cave also offers camp sites, rivers, hiking trails, bike paths, and horseback riding.
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  • Channel Islands National Park, CA
    Due to their isolation, the five islands of Channel Islands contains unique animals and plants that exist nowhere else on earth. The park has a wealth of recreational activities including hiking, camping, fishing, surfing, diving, snorkeling, boating, and even a seal and sea lion viewing.
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  • Katmai National Park & Reserve, AK
    Katmai National Park & Preserve is filled with mountain views, ample wildlife and over 700 plant species. Named for the mountain it surrounds, Katmai is a protected habitat for moose, caribou, red foxes, wolves, lynx and brown bears. Since its devastating volcanic eruption in 1912, it's been protected as a living laboratory and continues to inspire awe with its fauna and volcanics.
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  • Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA
    Considering its name, it is not surprising that Lassen is a park filled with volcanoes. The park is lined with jagged peaks indicative of historic eruptions. The park contains eight hydrothermal areas (hot water areas), which indicate active volcanism and a possibility of further eruptions.
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  • Petrified Forest National Park, AZ
    This unconventional forest is full of fossils and unique geological formations. The park is also a habitat for hundreds of species of plants as well as diverse animals including coyotes, bobcats, green herons, bald eagles, and many others. The Petrified Forest has become even more of a place for discovery with exclusive new hikes to areas never open before.
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  • Congaree National Park, SC
    Congaree is the site of the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. Nearby rivers periodically flow into the floodplain of the park, nourishing a unique ecosystem and rich biodiversity.
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  • Alcatraz Island National Park, CA
    At this national historic landmark, see the site of the first lighthouse on the West Coast and the infamous federal prison. Alcatraz was the birthplace of the American Indian Red Power movement, as well as a Civil War fortress. With a bird sanctuary, gardens, and tide pools, this landmark has the natural features of a typical national park with a rich, manmade history inside. 
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  • Everglades National Park, FL
    The largest subtropical wilderness in the country, Everglades National Park is a habitat for rare and endangered species including the manatee, American crocodile and Florida panther. With features like a week-long canoe route, bike paths, and observation towers, the park offers nothing short of an adventure.
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  • Isle Royale National Park, MI
    This designated wilderness contains one main island and 450 smaller islands, occupying the northwestern portion of Lake Superior. Because of its isolation, the park is an International Biosphere Reserve, and has bred a unique ecosystem.
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    Courtesy of iStock
  • Published
    11 Images

    The coolest national parks you didn't know existed

    Find tropical escapes, outrageous adventures, and one-of-a-kind wildlife right in the USA.

Move Forward
  • The coolest national parks you didn't know existed
  • 10 National Parks You Didn't Know Existed
  • Dry Tortugas National Park, FL
  • Mammoth Cave National Park, KY
  • Channel Islands National Park, CA
  • Katmai National Park & Reserve, AK
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA
  • Petrified Forest National Park, AZ
  • Congaree National Park, SC
  • Alcatraz Island National Park, CA
  • Everglades National Park, FL
  • Isle Royale National Park, MI