By Korrin Bishop
Trying to escape the crowds and discover someplace new? Attempt a park dupe! Vacation spot “dupes” are a development aimed toward providing journey alternate options for overcrowded areas. Park dupes counsel a spot that’s much like a preferred wilderness space, so that you get the identical vibe with out as a lot of the hype.
Overcrowding in parks can pressure native sources, resulting in delayed emergency response and different security considerations. It will possibly additionally create disagreeable visitors and useful resource harm. Contemplating another choice in your travels when high-visitation parks are at their peak can each ease strain on land administration companies and provides you a chance to journey someplace you might not have in any other case recognized about. Or, if you recognize you’ve appreciated a sure type of park up to now, a park dupe affords one other place to strive that’s probably up your alley.
Beneath, we provide seven alternate options for standard parks to get your journey dupe plans rolling. However for those who’re nonetheless set on visiting a busier park, contemplate planning your journey throughout shoulder seasons or different instances when the placement has fewer crowds. And, irrespective of the place you select to journey, all the time keep in mind to comply with the seven ideas of Go away No Hint.
1. Like Sequoia Nationwide Park? Attempt Redwood Nationwide and State Parks!
Picture credit score: Korrin Bishop
Sequoia Nationwide Park in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains is thought for its towering big sequoia timber, together with Common Sherman, the world’s largest recognized single-stem tree by quantity.
If you wish to be wowed by huge timber at a lesser-visited nationwide park, head to California’s far-north coast for a go to to Redwood Nationwide and State Parks. This distinctive state and federal conservation effort is house to spectacular groves of coastal redwoods, together with the world’s tallest residing tree at 380.3 toes. With beautiful shoreline, historical timber, and beautiful spring wildflowers, Redwood Nationwide and State Parks is definitely worth the trek to this distant stretch of the Golden State. You’ll discover greater than 200 miles of trails via old-growth forests, prairies, and seashores. Be certain to acquire a allow for one of many park’s seven designated backcountry campsites.
2. Like Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park? Attempt Cumberland Hole Nationwide Historic Park!
Picture credit score: Korrin Bishop
Recognized for its biodiversity, Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park, positioned on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, is the most-visited nationwide park in america. It’s particularly crowded in autumn when its rolling mountains placed on a colourful present.
In the event you’re on the lookout for close by fall leaf peeping with out the flocks of vacationers, head a bit north to Cumberland Hole Nationwide Historic Park, positioned on the intersection of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. The panorama at this park additionally places on a superb autumn present, and you may even see all the best way to the Smokies on a transparent day. This cozy Appalachian wilderness consists of 85 miles of trails throughout 14,000 acres, in addition to a cave and a number of other historic buildings.
3. Like Everglades Nationwide Park? Attempt Congaree Nationwide Park!
Picture credit score: Korrin Bishop
Occupying 1.5 million acres on the southern finish of Florida, Everglades Nationwide Park is a novel subtropical wilderness of mangrove wetlands, sawgrass marshes, and hardwood hammocks. It’s a very distinctive ecosystem.
In the event you’re on the lookout for one other water-driven park within the Southeast, head to South Carolina for a go to to Congaree Nationwide Park. Whereas solely about 42 sq. miles, this park boasts the most important remaining tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in america, together with among the tallest timber within the East. Its distinctive floodplain panorama is full of alternatives for climbing and paddling. Congaree Nationwide Park is a superb place to seek out some solitude, rating within the high 15 least-visited nationwide parks, with round solely 250,000 journeys per yr.
4. Like Massive Bend Nationwide Park? Attempt Massive Bend Ranch State Park!
Picture credit score: Jonathan Schmid
Positioned in West Texas alongside a scenic stretch of the Rio Grande, Massive Bend Nationwide Park has grown in recognition over time. Reservations are required for all park campgrounds, with many filling up months upfront.
Nevertheless, by no means worry! In the event you’d prefer to discover the hanging canyons, river views, and huge desert expanses of this area however didn’t snag a reservation, head on over to Massive Bend Ranch State Park. The biggest of the Texas state parks at about 500 sq. miles, Massive Bend Ranch State Park sits simply west of Massive Bend Nationwide Park. The park affords beautiful surroundings, fascinating geology, darkish evening skies, various wildlife, and historic remnants of over 10,000 years of human habitation. Come ready to hike, mountain bike, camp, or go horseback driving.
5. Like Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space? Attempt Umpqua Nationwide Forest!
Picture credit score: Korrin Bishop
Nearly 30 miles east of Portland, Oregon, Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space is house to Multnomah Falls, the most-visited pure recreation web site within the Pacific Northwest, with greater than 2 million visits per yr. It will possibly get so busy that from mid-Might via early September, you need to have a timed-use allow to make use of the location’s primary parking space.
Nevertheless, Oregon is brimming with different scenic waterfalls value visiting. Attempt heading to Umpqua Nationwide Forest in southwest Oregon, the place you’ll not solely discover a beautiful river valley and pure sizzling springs, but in addition ample waterfalls inside a brief drive from each other. Make a cease at Toketee Falls, a double cascade plummeting a mixed 120 toes right into a vivid blue pool. Additionally close by on Freeway 138 are Clearwater Falls, Whitehorse Falls, and Watson Falls. A go to to the realm is superb for climbing via evergreen forests and standing in awe of columnar basalt.
6. Like Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park? Attempt Jewel Cave Nationwide Monument!
Picture credit score: Korrin Bishop
Positioned in central Kentucky, Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park attracts guests from close to and much to discover the longest cave system on this planet, clocking in at over 400 miles of passageways.
If you wish to discover an equally spectacular but lesser-known cave, navigate your approach to South Dakota’s Black Hills the place you’ll discover Jewel Cave Nationwide Monument. Measuring over 200 miles in size, this cave system is the second longest in america and the fifth largest on this planet. The cave is thought for its dazzling jewel-like options and different intricate formations. The park additionally consists of above-ground climbing trails value exploring, such because the Canyons Path loop that traverses via open meadows surrounded by canyon cliffs and rocky outcroppings. If you need much more close by cave journey, the park is just below 30 miles from Wind Cave Nationwide Park, house of the seventh longest cave on this planet.
7. Like Arches Nationwide Park? Attempt Massive South Fork Nationwide River and Recreation Space!
Picture credit score: Arnita Sitasari Grey
Vacationers flock to Utah’s Arches Nationwide Park for its outstanding pure rock formations, together with greater than 2,000 iconic arches.
If you wish to discover some spectacular rock work, however reasonably journey in a less-visited location, strive Massive South Fork Nationwide River and Recreation Space. Positioned alongside the border of Kentucky and Tennessee, the park is typically known as the Arches of the East. It has extra pure arches than some other area within the japanese United States. A number of the hottest of the park’s greater than 100 sandstone arches embrace Twin Arches, Needle Arch, and Break up Bow Arch, all reachable through climbing trails. For arch lovers on the lookout for a change of surroundings, the greater than 125,000-acre park is far more forested and inexperienced than Utah’s pink rock landscapes. Go to for fewer crowds, rugged terrain, scenic rivers, sandstone bluffs, and deep gorges.
Increase Your Adventures to New Public Lands With Alternate options for Standard Parks
Whether or not on the lookout for a wilderness journey with extra solitude or just eager to discover a brand new panorama much like one you already love, standard park dupes are a journey development value embracing. We hope these recommendations get you dreaming and planning your subsequent journey within the nice open air. Don’t neglect to load up your favourite daypack with the necessities and seize your trekking poles earlier than you hit the path!
Have an thought for a park dupe that’s not on our record? We’d love to listen to about it! Share your finest alternate options for crowded parks with us by tagging Gossamer Gear on social media (@gossamergear) and utilizing the hashtag #takelessdomore.
In search of extra out of doors journey inspiration? Try a few of our different articles on the Gentle Toes weblog:
