I've Visited 30 National Parks Across the U.S., and This Is the Most Underrated

"On a clear, warm May night in Michigan, I sat atop a rock and eavesdropped on howling loons as the northern lights shimmied above a mirror-still lake with no other soul in sight. It's the kind of secluded awe national park travelers dream about, but it's increasingly tough to find in well-trodden showstoppers like Zion, Arches, and Great Smoky Mountains national parks."

"While Zion sees around five million annual visitors, Isle Royale draws around 25,000. Those who do make the journey are in for a treat. The isolated, car-free getaway is the ultimate backcountry escape, with thick fir and spruce forests, boggy swamps, and wildlife like moose, wolves, and beavers, plus my favorite Great Lakes soundtrack: an all-night symphony from the local loons."

Isle Royale National Park is an 850-square-mile archipelago in Lake Superior featuring one main island and hundreds of smaller islands. The park is reachable by multi-hour ferry or seaplane from Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern Minnesota, and the lengthy journey limits visitor numbers. Isle Royale receives roughly 25,000 visitors annually compared with millions at parks like Zion. The park is car-free and largely backcountry, with hiking and paddling as primary ways to explore. Habitats include thick fir and spruce forests, boggy swamps, and shoreline, and wildlife includes moose, wolves, and beavers. Accommodations include Rock Harbor Lodge, Windigo Camper Cabins, and nearly 40 first-come, first-served campgrounds; some visitors arrive by private boat and sleep aboard their vessels.

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