You’ve spent half the week hiding from the sunlight, scrolling on your bed. You forget what the day was, and your last meal happened the day before yesterday. Your throat was dry, and you hadn’t said a word in days, so you mumbled sounds just to check if you could still talk. Sounds familiar? These are all signs that yell at you in the ear to, “Go touch some grass!” But where? Well, how about these fifteen underrated and surely interesting public parks where you can get your hands on some tallgrass, dip into refreshing waters, and even check out some wolves in their natural habitat?
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas
When they say, “Touch some grass,” why not take it up a notch and touch some tallgrass? Currently, because of industrialization, just under 4% of the tallgrass prairie remains, which makes Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas both significant and intriguing. Here, you can fish, hit the trails, and frolic with your dog (yes, very pet-friendly!) all year-round. If you’re after peace, quiet, and a little Mother Nature therapy, make sure to add this gem to your to-do list.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
The Mother Nature experience isn’t complete without a splash of water action. Luckily, Cuyahoga Valley National Park lets you check out the once-contaminated Cuyahoga Waterfall in its fully restored glory. Bike and trail around rolling hills, open farmlands, and the historic Ohio and Erie Canal during the summer and fall, then ski and snowshoe during the winter. Whichever season it is, it’s always time for Cuyahoga!
Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
Seen the dry landscapes and the wetlands separately? Big Cypress National Preserve offers the best of both worlds. This park boasts vast wetlands brimming with lively wildlife, rare orchids, tall cypress trees, and a surprising array of marine life. Spanning more than 729,000 acres of swamp, it plays a vital role in sustaining the nearby Everglades – in fact, it was the first national preserve in the U.S. established to protect the Everglades. Beauty with a purpose, indeed!
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
If damp lands aren’t your thing, the desert peaks of Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas might be just the escape you need. Explore the world’s most extensive Permian fossil reef from 250 million years ago, wander among spectacular dunes, and discover a variety of unique animals and plants. And if that doesn’t spark your inner Ross Geller, maybe your dormant Paul Atreides will!
Devils Postpile National Monument, California
Unlike the previous parks, this one was born from deep below—volcanic lava, to be precise. It’s not hell, despite what the name might imply; rather, it dates back roughly 100,000 years when basalt lava seeped out from an unknown source and formed a lava pool. Fortunately, the lava cooled and fractured into the striking hexagonal columns that the monument proudly showcases today. Topped with a serene alpine view, this park, in contrast to what its name suggests, is heaven on Earth.
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho
Another volcanic masterpiece, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve attracts visitors with its extensive lava fields and otherworldly landscapes—so much so that NASA itself noted the scenery resembles the surface of the moon. Many visitors drop by to get that astronaut-on-the-moon experience, especially since NASA used this very place as a training ground for lunar missions. How cool is that?!
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Home to ancient, 5,000-year-old bristlecone pine trees and Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park is where the wilderness meets the cosmos. While many parks lose their charm once the sun goes down, this one only shines brighter. One of the best reasons to visit? To bask in one of the darkest and clearest night skies in the United States—thanks to its high elevation, low humidity, and minimal pollution. If you’re a nocturnal soul looking for peace when everyone’s asleep, this park is calling your name. After all, what’s more soothing than a sky full of stars in the dead of night?
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Back in 1883, a skinny, bespectacled guy ventured into an unknown part of Dakota to hunt bison but ended up finding solace and inspiration after the loss of his mother and wife—an experience that would forever change a nation. That dude was President Theodore Roosevelt, and that serendipitous place was later named in his honor: Theodore Roosevelt National Park. He credited the vast, beautiful landscape of the park as the spark behind his conservation campaigns. Today, this secluded park boasts open prairies, rugged landscapes, painted canyons, and stories that linger long after you leave.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado
Carved over two million years by the Gunnison River, this masterpiece showcases tall, steep, and rugged volcanic rock walls, better known as the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. These dramatic cliffs deliver stunning scenery whether the sun is shining or not. In fact, some canyon areas get only 33 minutes of sunlight a day—a true testament to nature’s extremes!
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina
Not in the mood for a sweaty hike and more for a scenic joyride? Blue Ridge Parkway is your next paradise. At a glance, you’ll encounter Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain peak in the U.S., Linville Gorge, the deepest gorge east of the Grand Canyon, and, of course, the diverse flora and fauna that Virginia and North Carolina offer. Built amid the Great Depression to employ and support thousands of people, this parkway is a perfect example of a beautiful face with a heart of gold.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
This park is a reminder of just how stunning Earth can be. True to its name, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore dazzles with momentous sandstone cliffs, gorgeous rock formations streaked with vibrant minerals, and immaculate beaches. Whether you’re hiking, camping, or just touring around, if you’ve ever dreamed of starring in a Netflix beach episode, grab your maps and pin this one down.
Channel Islands National Park, California
Channel Islands National Park is breathtaking proof that seclusion can yield something spectacular. Dubbed the “Galápagos of North America” because of its rare flora and fauna found nowhere else, this park is adorned with rugged, isolated islands and captivating sea caves. Though we all share this planet, the Channel Islands look—and feel—like they belong to an entirely different world. Out of this world, indeed.
Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska
With vistas featuring brown bears catching their salmon dinners and breathtaking panoramic valleys, Katmai National Park and Preserve is like watching the Discovery Channel in 3D. Established following the 1912 eruption of Novarupta—the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century—this park gave birth to what we now know as the “Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.” One of its biggest events is the annual “Fat Bear Week,” where the public gets to vote on the fattest bear—a crucial part of ensuring these bears have enough energy for the winter. Here, you have bears, smoke, and a tournament of a lifetime. Who’s already booking tickets?!
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
The ultimate be-one-with-nature experience awaits on a remote island in Lake Superior, Michigan—home to the secluded Isle Royale National Park. It may not rival the Grand Canyon in size, but it boasts a vibrant, robust ecosystem perfect for kayakers, backpackers, boaters, and divers. Amid the freshwater and towering trees, the park’s main attraction is its 60-year-long predator–prey relationship between wolves and moose. Wolves, the island’s reigning predators, are everywhere—so an encounter with them is never out of the ordinary. Don’t worry; guidelines are in place to ensure your safety. And besides, seeing a wolf in real life, or even sharing an island with them, beats just touching grass by a million times. By then, who’s to say you haven’t truly lived?!
