KATMAI NATIONAL PARK – Want to escape the crowds? You might want to try visiting one of the least visited national parks! Here’s the official list for last year:
- Gates of the Arctic, AK, 11,907 visits in 2024
- North Cascades, WA, 16,485
- Kobuk Valley, AK, 17,233
- Lake Clark, AK, 18,505
- National Park of American Samoa, 22,567
- Isle Royale, MI, 28,806
- Katmai, AK, 36,230
- Wrangell-St. Elias, AK, 81,670
- Dry Tortugas, FL, 84,873
- Great Basin, NV, 152,068
A couple notes and observations:
Gates of the Arctic in Alaska, the least visited park of all, is considered the “black belt” of parks for adventurers because there are no roads, hotels or even trails.
North Cascades’ numbers are skewed lower due to a lack of a singular entry point. It is relatively close to major cities in Washington state, so it gets more visitation than is actually recorded.
Dry Tortugas is unique because it’s mostly open water with seven small islands, accessible only by seaplane or boat.
National Park of American Samoa is one of two U.S. national parks located within U.S. territories. The other is Virgin Islands National Park.
Related: These are the Most Visited National Parks of 2024
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