Trying to escape the crowds and discover someplace new? Strive a park dupe! Vacation spot “dupes” are a pattern geared toward providing journey options for overcrowded areas. Park dupes counsel a spot that’s much like a well-liked 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 probably additionally create disagreeable visitors and useful resource injury. Contemplating another choice on your travels when high-visitation parks are at their peak can each ease stress on land administration businesses and provides you a chance to journey someplace chances are you’ll not have in any other case recognized about. Or, if you realize you’ve preferred a sure type of park prior to now, a park dupe presents one other place to attempt that’s seemingly up your alley.
Beneath, we provide seven options for widespread parks to get your journey dupe plans rolling. However when you’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, regardless of the place you select to journey, at all times keep in mind to observe the seven ideas of Go away No Hint.
1. Like Sequoia Nationwide Park? Strive Redwood Nationwide and State Parks!
Picture credit score: Korrin Bishop
Sequoia Nationwide Park in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains is understood for its towering big sequoia timber, together with Basic Sherman, the world’s largest recognized single-stem tree by quantity.
If you wish to be wowed by monumental 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 dwelling tree at 380.3 toes. With attractive shoreline, historic timber, and beautiful spring wildflowers, Redwood Nationwide and State Parks is well worth the trek to this distant stretch of the Golden State. You’ll discover greater than 200 miles of trails by means of old-growth forests, prairies, and seashores. Make certain to acquire a allow for one of many park’s seven designated backcountry campsites.
2. Like Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park? Strive Cumberland Hole Nationwide Historic Park!
Picture credit score: Korrin Bishop
Recognized for its biodiversity, Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park, situated on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, is the most-visited nationwide park in the USA. It’s particularly crowded in autumn when its rolling mountains placed on a colourful present.
In the event you’re in search of close by fall leaf peeping with out the flocks of vacationers, head a bit of north to Cumberland Hole Nationwide Historic Park, situated on the intersection of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. The panorama at this park additionally places on a superb autumn present, and you’ll even see all the way in which 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 several other historic buildings.
3. Like Everglades Nationwide Park? Strive Congaree Nationwide Park!
Picture credit score: Korrin Bishop
Occupying 1.5 million acres on the southern finish of Florida, Everglades Nationwide Park is a singular subtropical wilderness of mangrove wetlands, sawgrass marshes, and hardwood hammocks. It’s a very distinctive ecosystem.
In the event you’re in search of 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 biggest remaining tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the USA, together with a few of the tallest timber within the East. Its distinctive floodplain panorama is crammed with alternatives for climbing and paddling. Congaree Nationwide Park is an excellent place to search out some solitude, rating within the high 15 least-visited nationwide parks, with round solely 250,000 journeys per yr.
4. Like Large Bend Nationwide Park? Strive Large Bend Ranch State Park!
Picture credit score: Jonathan Schmid
Situated in West Texas alongside a scenic stretch of the Rio Grande, Large Bend Nationwide Park has grown in recognition through the years. Reservations are required for all park campgrounds, with many filling up months upfront.
Nonetheless, by no means concern! In the event you’d prefer to discover the placing canyons, river views, and huge desert expanses of this area however didn’t snag a reservation, head on over to Large Bend Ranch State Park. The most important of the Texas state parks at about 500 sq. miles, Large Bend Ranch State Park sits simply west of Large Bend Nationwide Park. The park presents beautiful surroundings, fascinating geology, darkish night time skies, various natural world, and historic remnants of over 10,000 years of human habitation. Come ready to hike, mountain bike, camp, or go horseback using.
5. Like Columbia River Gorge Nationwide Scenic Space? Strive 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 website within the Pacific Northwest, with greater than 2 million visits per yr. It will probably get so busy that from mid-Could by means of early September, you could have a timed-use allow to make use of the location’s principal parking space.
Nonetheless, Oregon is brimming with different scenic waterfalls price visiting. Strive heading to Umpqua Nationwide Forest in southwest Oregon, the place you’ll not solely discover a attractive river valley and pure sizzling springs, but additionally 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 brilliant blue pool. Additionally close by on Freeway 138 are Clearwater Falls, Whitehorse Falls, and Watson Falls. A go to to the world is great for climbing by means of evergreen forests and standing in awe of columnar basalt.
6. Like Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park? Strive Jewel Cave Nationwide Monument!
Picture credit score: Korrin Bishop
Situated in central Kentucky, Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park attracts guests from close to and much to discover the longest cave system on the earth, clocking in at over 400 miles of passageways.
If you wish to discover an equally spectacular but lesser-known cave, navigate your technique 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 the USA and the fifth largest on the earth. The cave is understood for its dazzling jewel-like options and different intricate formations. The park additionally consists of above-ground climbing trails price exploring, such because the Canyons Path loop that traverses by means of open meadows surrounded by canyon cliffs and rocky outcroppings. If you would like much more close by cave journey, the park is slightly below 30 miles from Wind Cave Nationwide Park, house of the seventh longest cave on the earth.
7. Like Arches Nationwide Park? Strive Large South Fork Nationwide River and Recreation Space!
Picture credit score: Arnita Sitasari Grey
Vacationers flock to Utah’s Arches Nationwide Park for its exceptional pure rock formations, together with greater than 2,000 iconic arches.
If you wish to discover some spectacular rock work, however moderately journey in a less-visited location, attempt Large South Fork Nationwide River and Recreation Space. Situated alongside the border of Kentucky and Tennessee, the park is usually known as the Arches of the East. It has extra pure arches than every other area within the jap 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 in search of a change of surroundings, the greater than 125,000-acre park is far more forested and inexperienced than Utah’s purple 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 Fashionable Parks
Whether or not in search of a wilderness journey with extra solitude or just eager to discover a brand new panorama much like one you already love, widespread park dupes are a journey pattern price embracing. We hope these solutions get you dreaming and planning your subsequent journey within the nice open air. Don’t overlook to load up your favourite daypack with the necessities and seize your trekking poles earlier than you hit the path!
Have an concept for a park dupe that’s not on our checklist? We’d love to listen to about it! Share your finest options for crowded parks with us by tagging Gossamer Gear on social media (@gossamergear) and utilizing the hashtag #takelessdomore.
On the lookout for extra outside journey inspiration? Try a few of our different articles on the Gentle Toes weblog: