Man Who Has Been to Almost Every U.S. National Park Picks Most Underrated

A seasoned traveler who has explored nearly all of the United States' national parks has weighed in on which one he believes is the country's most overlooked.

James Ian, the 56-year-old founder of Parks Collecting—a website offering detailed guides and itineraries for U.S. national parks—has spent the past 35 years traveling to 83 countries across all seven continents. He has published nine national park itinerary planners and been featured several times in the annual print-only National Parks Special Edition from USA Today.

Originally from Australia, Ian moved to the U.S. about two decades ago and has since dedicated himself to visiting every national park.

"I've visited most of them, but none of the Alaskan ones—yet," Ian told Newsweek.

Admitting that it's hard to choose, he said his favorite is "probably Zion" in Utah.

Ian described the views as spectacular and said the park has "two of the most interesting hikes in the country." They include The Narrows, where you hike in a river through a narrow slot canyon, and Angels Landing, which has a narrow section with steep drop-offs on both sides, he said, adding: "I always feel happy when I'm there."

The Most Underrated National Park

While his favorite is Zion, he believes another one deserves far more attention.

Asked which national park he considers the most underrated, Ian pointed to North Cascades National Park in Washington state.

He added that he has no idea why it is among the least visited parks. "The mountain scenery is breathtaking—there are bright green lakes, jagged mountain peaks, woods. I mean, it has it all and hardly anyone goes. It's one of life's mysteries to me," he said.

Ian explained that the park's remote location in the northern mountains makes it best suited for visits from July to early September, when everything is accessible. "There are four distinct sections to the park and, by far, the most popular and easiest to access is the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. It's a corridor along the main North Cascades Highway with beautiful lakes, some of the best hiking trails and a scenic drive."

And Which One Is Most Overrated?

Though he loves all the parks for their unique qualities, Ian admitted that if he had to pick one that felt a bit underwhelming, it would be Shenandoah National Park in Virginia—"Just because the scenery is not so different from the Hudson Valley, which I go to all the time," he said. "But in the fall, it's spectacular."

A Good Place To Go If You're New to U.S. National Parks

"It's best to start with a more self-contained park with a shuttle bus, a gateway town with plenty of accommodations nearby and a variety of different activities," he said.

Acadia, which was Ian's first national park, offers a mix of experiences. "There are things for everyone—scenic drives, easy trails, challenging trails, beaches, tide pools, kayaking, sailing, great food, historic carriage rides, great for cycling and carriage rides and popovers at Jordan Pond," he said.

"It gets crowded in summer, but the free shuttle has multiple routes around the entire area, making it easy to get around without needing to drive."

Best Time To Visit U.S. National Parks To Avoid the Crowds

"I know this isn't possible for everyone—and it can vary depending on the park—but in general, I prefer to travel in May and September," he said.

"May works for the southern parks, not for the ones that get covered in feet of snow in winter because the snow hasn't melted then. September is great for almost all parks."

Ian added that while services in some parks begin to shut down by mid-September, "those first two weeks of September, just after Labor Day, are the sweet spot. But now that I've shared this, maybe everyone will try to go then."