Hikers looking to get away from the crowds should skip Yellowstone and visit a national park in Michigan instead, according to a new report.
All 63 US national parks were officially ranked based on key factors including: crowd size, the quantity and quality of hiking routes, campsite availability, access to activities, mountain biking, and fishing.
Some 50 percent of the total score was based on its crowd sizes, while the remaining statistics were evenly factored in the report compiled by the Wall Street Journal.
Isle Royale National Park in Michigan hit the top spot, achieving a score of 81.01 while North Cascades came in second.
1. Isle Royale National Park – Michigan
Isle Royale National Park sits in the middle of Lake Superior near Michigan’s border with Canada.
Visitors can only access the park by ferry, seaplane, or private watercrafts like boats and jet skis.
It boasts 508 miles of hiking routes throughout the forest and its coastline and catch a glimpse of wolves or moose.
The park only has around 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’s index.
2. North Cascades National Park – Washington
North Cascades National Park is located less than three hours from Seattle.
With a score of 78.89, this national park allows travelers a chance to see beautiful views of peaks with more than 300 glaciers.
The North Cascades only had 40,351 visitors in 2023, and it was the least visited park in the state last year.
This remote park gives travelers the option to hike, camp, or ride on the water.
Hikers who are looking for a challenging but worthwhile trail can visit the Cascade Pass Trail, which offers a view of the mountains.
3. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks – California
These California parks feature huge mountains, deep canyons, and some of the world’s biggest trees.
Although these parks usually have over one million visitors a year, its amount of campsites could have helped in receiving a score of 70.79.
Campers can choose to stay at one of the park’s 1,213 campsites, some being near forests.
They also have an abundance of wildlife, including six federally endangered species.
4. Big Bend National Park – Texas
This Texas national park scored 70.04, and nearly 512,000 travelers visited the park last year.
It has 66 hiking or walking routes in the park that was rated nearly 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5 for their quality.
Visitors should be aware that there is no public transportation to or within Big Bend, and it’s far from most cities. It received a score of 70.04.
5. Denali National Park & Preserve – Alaska
Denali National Park & Preserve is a small Alaska location with 28 trails and 241 campsites. It received a score of 67.99.
Only 498,772 visitors went to the park this year despite it having more than six million acres of wildlife.
The only rails in the park are near the road, but visitors often like to hike off of it and navigate the park themselves.
Travelers on the road or on a trail can also check out Denali – North America’s tallest peak.
6. Lassen Volcanic National Park – California
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 only 418,878 visitors last year.
In addition to volcanoes, visitors can view mountain lakes, jagged peaks, and wildflower meadows while watching for bears.
Trails like Bumpass Hell Trail and Lassen Peak Trail are occasionally closed in the summer due to snow coverage.
Lassen Peak and Brokeoff Mountain can also be covered in snow by the fall, end experience storms for multiple days.
7. Great Basin National Park – Nevada
Great Basin National Park scored 66.98 and it’s one of two locations on this list that doesn’t have an entrance fee.
143,265 travelers went to the Nevada park despite it being near the Utah border.
Guests can go fishing and stargazing or explore the park to view South Snake mountains and ancient pine groves.
8. Death Valley National Park – California/Nevada
More than one million travelers visited Death Valley National Park last year in either California or Nevada.
Guests can choose to stay in one of its 804 campsites and hike on one of 86 trails in the woods.
However, it is below sea level, and despite its massive peaks, the park experiences a draught and extremely hot temperatures during the 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 63.59 this year and it has only 51 campsites.
The 31 hiking trails are near mountains and deserts, and the park itself is home to the four highest peaks in Texas.
It also includes Permian fossil reef and a collection of flora and fauna – the collection of plants and animals living in an environmental situation.
Visitors will likely also benefit from solitude on their hikes as the park only had 227,340 visitors last year.
10. Yellowstone National Park – Idaho/Montana/Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is a highly popular tourist attraction for outdoorsy travelers in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.
Scoring 62.93, the park had just over five million visitors last year who had the choice to stay at one of 2,139 campsites.
Hikers can walk on one of its 257 trails and spot various wildlife along the way.
Anyone who is not looking to go on one of its trails can also travel along most of Yellowstone lakes during boating season.