15 stunning photos of under-the-radar national parks you should visit to escape crowds

Visitors can find all sorts of natural phenomena in Lake Clark National Park. In addition to the gorgeous mountains and lakes, the park is home to an array of wildlife like swans, porcupines, fish, brown and black bears, caribou, moose, wolves, and more, according to the National Park Service.

Saguaro National Park is located in the desert of Arizona. While Saguaro cacti, which can grow as tall as 40 feet, are the signature draw of the park, its wildlife is also part of the appeal. The park is home to mountain lions, foxes, jackrabbits, Gila monsters (a type of lizard), rattlesnakes, turtles, frogs, and many species of birds, according to the National Park Service.

While the 143-degree Fahrenheit pools are too hot to swim or bathe in, many visitors take a taste of the water at Hot Springs National Park. It's completely portable and visitors may bottle up water to take home with them, according to the National Park Service.

The five islands of Channel National Park are located off the coast of southern California and known as the Galápagos Islands of North America for their diverse wildlife.

Visitors may come across sea lions, seals, whales, dolphins, and sea otters in the ocean water surrounding the park, according to the National Park Service.

Hiking up the sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park gives visitors an unparalleled view of the Rocky Mountains. According to the National Park Service, the melting snowcaps of the Rockies form a stream called Medano Creek at the base of the sand dunes, creating a beach unlike any other during the spring and summer months.

Just south of Miami, Biscayne National Park in the Florida Keys offers visitors unparalleled opportunities for boating, kayaking, snorkeling, and diving.

At Haleakalā National Park, visitors can watch sunrises and sunsets in the Summit Area or hike and camp in the Kīpahulu District. Many spots throughout the park are mentioned in Hawaiian legends and songs, according to the National Park Service.

Hiking, biking, boating, and camping, are all popular activities for visitors to Montana's Glacier National Park during the warmer months, while those who like the cold can take in the stunning scenery on cross country skis in the winter. One of the park's signature attractions is Going-to-the-Sun Road, a 50-mile scenic byway that cuts through the park.

According to the National Park Service, the caves at Carlsbad Caverns National Park were formed "when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone."

Visitors can explore the underground caves and see the wildlife inside, including 17 different species of bats.

Home to diverse wildlife and scenic landscapes, Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota offers visitors prime hiking and camping opportunities, according to the National Park Service.

According to the National Park Service, Crater Lake formed 7,700 years ago when the peak collapsed due to an eruption. Now, visitors can marvel at the pristine water and gorgeous scenery of the mountaintop lake.

Utah's Capitol Reef National Park is a great spot for hiking and camping, but some of the greatest sights in the park come after dark.

According to the National Park Service, Capitol Reef National Park is designated as a "Gold Tier" park by the International Dark-Sky Association, meaning that it has the highest-quality views of the night sky.

According to the National Park Service, the Badlands are filled with fossils of animals that once roamed the South Dakota expanse, like saber-toothed cats, rhinos, and horses. Now, the park is home to bison, beavers, bobcats, prairie dogs, and many other types of animals.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to more than 400 different species of animals, including snakes, lizards, mountain lions, foxes, and black bears, according to the National Park Service.

Like many of the other national parks on this list, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a great spot for hiking, backpacking, and camping, the National Park Service says on its website.

Hiking, biking, boating, fishing, camping, and climbing are all common activities available at North Cascades National Park, but perhaps the park's most unique attraction is a hidden village tucked into the mountains that's only accessible by plane, boat, or foot, according to the National Park Service.