Yosemite National Park and Yellowstone National Park may draw more crowds, but California's Redwood National Park is a hidden gem among the giants.
THE northern california parkwhich is home to some of the tallest trees in the world and beautiful wild flowers, was named the #1 National Park Hidden Gem by Google. The designation was determined by looking at all national parks with ratings of 4.5 or higher and fewer than 1,000 reviews on Google Maps, the research company shared with Travel + Leisure.
“Every year, we see millions of people interact with national parks on Google Maps, whether they explore virtually, search for useful information or share photos and reviews of their experiences,” said Michael Curtes, product manager of the Google Maps group. T+L.
Beyond Californiaother hidden gems include Michigan Isle Royale National Parkbest explored by boat, and Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, best known for its Big Bear Week competition.
In fact, Alaska was home to five of the top nine hidden gems in the national park system, as ranked by Google: Katmai National Park and Preserve, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, and Kobuk Valley National Park.
Although it's not exactly under the radar, Yosemite National Park has been named the most popular national park in the United States, according to Google. (To reach this conclusion, the company looked at the national parks with the most directions requests and interactions on Google Maps over the last year.) Next came Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park , Grand Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located between North Carolina and Tennessee and which was the most visited national park in 2023came in at number 12 on the list of most popular parks.
When it comes to the highest-rated national park (parks with a rating of 4.8 or higher and more than 1,000 reviews on Google Maps), Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park took first place.
These are the 9 most hidden national parks in the United States, according to Google.
- Redwood National Park
- Yellowstone National Park Entrance Garden
- Isle Royale National Park
- Katmai National Park and Preserve
- Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
- Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Reserve
- Minidoka National Historic Site
- Gateways to the Arctic National Park and Preserve
- Kobuk Valley National Park
