The Most Underrated National Parks In The US Are Worth a Visit

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Tedd M
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Petrified Forest National Park, United States. Photo by Donald Giannatti on Unsplash

National parks are places where visitors can explore the rich nature, take an energizing hike into the wild, and learn the history of its flora and fauna. We all know about the greatness of Crater Lake and Yellowstone, but have you ever explored some of the less famous national parks in the US? 

There are quite a few, and they can be even more breathtaking than you’d expect! 

Petrified Forest, Arizona 

This national park is located in northeastern Arizona and contains a lot of petrified wood and intricate fossils, some of them being more than 225 million years old. The park’s earliest inhabitants arrived around 8,000 years ago.  

Wind Cave, South Dakota 

One of the oldest national parks in the country, established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, Wind Cabe is located no more than a 1-hour drive from Mount Rushmore. Its name was derived from the large underground caves that can be found in the park. 

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky 

Mammoth Cave is the largest known cave system in the world. It was rediscovered back in 1941, and the Native Americans had found its entrance 4,000 years ago. The massive cave contains more than 500 miles worthy of detailed exploration.  

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Mammoth Cave Hosts 40th Annual Cave Sing MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky., November 20, 2019 – Mammoth Cave National Park will host the 40th annual Cave Sing starting at 2 pm on Sunday, December 1, 2019. This year’s free event will feature the Caveman Chorus who will present traditional holiday music a cappella within the cave at Rafinesque Hall. “Our modern day event is celebrating 40 years in the park, but the tradition of playing holiday music within Mammoth Cave goes back for well over a century when local residents of the Mammoth Cave community planned a Christmas celebration inside the cave,” said Superintendent Barclay Trimble. “It is an honor for us to continue this tradition that was started so long ago. It is now become a great kick off to the holiday season for our local community and for visitors from all over who travel to Mammoth Cave for this special event.” The Caveman Chorus are a group of 45 men from various walks of life, and varying degrees of musical experience who all enjoy singing and entertaining audiences. Their mission is to be excellent in their craft of acapella singing, while serving both the community and their families. The group has entertained thousands of people in Southern Kentucky as well as all over the United States. Cave Sing participants will depart for the Historic Entrance from behind the park visitor center at 2 pm. Participants should be prepared to walk up and down a steep hill, climb 160 steps, and dress in warm layers and comfortable shoes or boots. Even though the cave air stays at a constant 54 degrees Fahrenheit, wind chills in the entrance are much cooler. Prior to the Cave Sing event, world renowned musician, and former cave guide, Janet Bass Smith, will entertain guests with holiday music in the Lodge at Mammoth Cave’s Rotunda Room starting at 1 pm.

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