If you love nature, wildlife and outdoor adventures, underrated national parks can offer some of the most memorable travel experiences. I am a huge nature lover, and one of the biggest draws for me when I travel is visiting national parks, seeing amazing animals, and experiencing nature's playground. I love getting off the beaten track and into the great outdoors, seeing a whole different side to a country, as well as escaping the crowds!
Sleeping under the stars, walking the trails, swimming in the ocean, climbing trees, roasting marshmallows - it's a brilliant way to experience a country! I have seen some incredible parks during my travels, and I wanted to share some of the lesser-known gems of national parks I have visited for those who love to get out into the wild!
8 Underrated National Parks That Deserve a Place on Your Travel List
Discover eight underrated destinations where you can enjoy nature, adventure, wildlife and beautiful landscapes away from the crowds.
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
This is obviously the national park to visit if you are heading to Sri Lanka! It boasts fantastic scenery with both dense, packed jungle and also wide-open plains and beautiful beaches and swampland.
To give yourself the best possible chance of seeing wild leopards, wild elephants, and numerous monkeys, book one or two safaris! Just make sure you do your research beforehand to find the most eco-conscious companies that will look after the animals to the highest degree while also securing you the best safari view possible.
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Minneriya National Park, Sri Lanka
As the habitat here is completely different from the one in Yala National Park, these wide-open plains are a perfect place to come for you who want to see elephants. Here, you can see 200+ elephants have gathered by the water's edge – even babies! Minneriya is a paradise for many.
However, as much as I loved being part of the experience, I couldn't help feeling concerned over the aggressive driving that some of the safari guides exhibited in their vehicles.
Bohemian Switzerland/Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany & Czech Republic
This is by far the most epic national park I've been to in Europe! I did not expect this when we drove through Croatia on my summer road trip – see what a surprise this place was! Fields of sunflowers, epic medieval buildings high in the cliffs have stood there for centuries, castles, spectacular views and adorable villages perched along the river.
Freycinet National Park & Cradle Mountain National Parks, Australia
Tasmania completely blew me away – I seriously think my time there was one of the best road trips of my life. I did a 10-day trip that combined Freycinet and Cradle Mountain National Parks, and it was hands-down one of the best trips I've ever taken. First up – I did Freycinet. I camped on the beach where we saw no one for days apart from some friendly kangaroos, wombats, and whales out in the water on the horizon. Never a dull moment.
I tackled Cradle Mountain second, which was a whole other kind of magic, rock climbing mountains in crazy ways, hiking the funnest trails, and visiting pristine lakes. Read this Freycinet post and this Cradle Mountain post for more details.
Akan-Mashu National Park, Hokkaido, Japan
Aside from the parks of Hokkaido, there are really several such islands present here. However, Akan-Mashu is the ancient land of the local Ainu people of the island. An incredible environment is boasted of by it that includes odd volcanic sights and wildlife such as Japanese deer, white-tailed eagle and owls.
There are also hot springs, thick forests and lakes with crystal waters, including a caldera lake – Lake Kussharoa – where kayaking can be done. Keep your eyes peeled for some strange velvety green balls of algae that grow in the lakes, called marimo.
Canaima National Park, southeastern Venezuela
Although it is the home to the world's tallest waterfall (Angel Falls), Canaima is not totally unrecognized. However, many visitors to the area aren't aware that the 12,000-square mile (30,000sq km) park offers other options than just Angel Falls.
The sheer giant, table-top plateau rock formations known as tepuis dominate the park. Adventure hiking trails and canoeing to Angel Falls attract the most visitors. Visitors might spot jaguars, giant armadillos, two-toed sloths, and numerous other species of wildlife.
Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, Salerno, Italy
The most beautiful place in the world, Italy's Amalfi Coast, widely hails as one of the most stunning locations in the world, and this amazing national park lies just south of the coast.
The natural park has a long history with archaeological sites, including some 250,000 years old, and more recent settlements and sanctuaries. In addition to this, the scenery takes your breath away - lush river valleys, majestic mountain peaks, gorgeous waterfalls, and secret beaches, all lie beneath the crystal-clear waters.
Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada
Top Park for: Birders Canada's many national parks are spectacular, but there's one small park that is particularly underappreciated despite its prime location.
The park sits at the very bottom tip of the country and nests in the aquatic environments of Lake Erie, attracting migrating birdwatchers and wildlife fans eager to look for beavers and turtles. Around the sandy beaches of the park, the water is perfect for kayaking and canoeing, and in summer time is usually warm enough for swimming.
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Cairngorms National Park, Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom
Not as well-known as some of the UK's more popular parks like Snowdonia in Wales, the Cairngorms in Scotland holds the title of the largest park in Britain and certainly ranks among the better ones for climbing, with a range of peaks and outcrops created by the Scottish Grampians.
The park offers a fabulous place to visit at any time of the year, with hiking, golfing, and mountain biking in the summer, and ice-climbing, downhill skiing, and dog-sled rides in the winter. Cairngorms feature all kinds of terrains, including scenic drive-throughs, moorlands, woodlands, and peatlands.
FAQs
1. What are the best underrated national parks to visit?
Yala, Minneriya, Akan-Mashu, Point Pelee and Cilento and Vallo di Diano are excellent choices for travelers looking for less crowded nature destinations.
2. Which national park is best for wildlife?
Yala National Park is a great choice for wildlife lovers because visitors may see leopards, elephants and several species of monkeys.
3. Which national park is best for seeing elephants?
Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka is well known for its large gatherings of wild elephants, especially around its water sources.
4. Which national park is best for hiking?
Cairngorms National Park and the parks of Tasmania offer excellent hiking opportunities, with mountains, lakes, forests and scenic trails.
5. Which national park is best for nature lovers?
Akan-Mashu National Park in Japan is a strong choice for nature lovers, with volcanic landscapes, forests, lakes, wildlife and hot springs.
