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The East Coast is rich with beauty and history, but its national parks seem to be overshadowed by world-renowned sights in Western parks, like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. With fewer crowds than their counterparts, the sights on the East Coast can be equally jaw-dropping Here, we’ve highlighted East Coast National Parks .
Location: Eastern Maine
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The majority of this coastal park’s 49,000 acres lie on Mount Desert Island, which features lush woods behind granite cliffs that overlook the wild Atlantic ocean. Established in 1916, Acadia National Park was the first recognized national park east of the Mississippi and was named after early French settlers who had once inhabited the area. Sounds intriguing? Have a look at the ten best hikes in Acadia National Park.
While you’re there, make sure to visit Cadillac Mountain, one of the first places in the country to see sunlight each morning. You can hike a moderate four-mile trail, or drive to the summit. Just make sure you get there early because the parking lot fills up!
Location: Homestead, Florida
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Only an hour away from the concrete jungle of Miami, you’ll find 33 emerald islands surrounded by a water wonderland. Biscayne National Park is almost entirely underwater, so bring your bathing suit.
Take advantage of the otherworldly snorkeling and boating opportunities. Paddle along the park’s Maritime Heritage Trail and discover a vibrant, underwater ecosystem full of mangroves, sea turtles, dolphins, manatees, and six shipwrecks. The park's most popular island is Boca Chita Key, where you can visit the 75-year-old lighthouse and Stiltsville, a row of small shacks built above stanchions in the water.
Location: Barnstable County, Massachusetts
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Technically not a national park, this stretch of sandy seashore is protected by the U.S. National Park Service, as directed by the late President John F. Kennedy in 1961.
Notorious sandbanks along the outskirts of the peninsula caused thousands of shipwrecks in the 1800s, resulting in nearly two dozen lighthouses. Built in 1857, Highland Light is the oldest and tallest, and it's still in operation today.
In addition to the relaxing shoreline, Cape Cod National Seashore boasts 43,607 acres of fresh-water ponds, woodlands, marshes, sandy dunes, and even half of the nautical town of Wellfleet.
Location: Hopkins, South Carolina
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Due to the area’s long growing season, moisture, and nutrients from the Congaree River, this park is home to the oldest and largest “champion” trees in the country. You'll find many of the largest individual trees of its species, including several cypress trees that are more than 500 years old. For this reason, Congaree National Park is protected internationally as a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve.
You'll also find turtles, otters, birds, horned forest owls, alligators, and even glowing fungi that grow on decaying logs and branches. Kayak or canoe through the Cedar Creek swampland, or hike the strenuous 11.7-mile Kingsnake Trail.
For two weeks between May and June, the park hosts a firefly festival, where visitors can view the mystical, synchronous flashes of thousands of fireflies as they search for a mate.
Location: Ohio, between Cleveland and Akron
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Originally designated a national recreation area, Cuyahoga's 33,000 acres of understated scenery were promoted to national park status in 2000.
What Cuyahoga lacks in epic mountains, it makes up for with the winding Cuyahoga River and Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. A sight to see, the railroad offers four-course dinners, murder mystery rides, and other themed trips. The park also has dozens of waterfalls, as well as plenty of hiking, biking, and kayaking possibilities.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is especially gorgeous in autumn, when the leaves silently burst into subdued earthy oranges and reds.
Location: The border of North Carolina and Tennessee
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With 11 million annual visitors, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited park in the country. It also boasts the most biodiversity with more than 19,000 species inside the park, including commonly spotted black bears, turkeys, and elk. During the spring, you’ll find an explosion of wildflowers, from trout lilies to wild geraniums to orchids.
There are more than 800 miles of hiking trails (including 71 miles along the Appalachian Trail), but many visitors drive the Cades Cove Loop and Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail, for ease in accessing supremely scenic views.
For perhaps the most scenic view of all, climb to the top of Clingmans Dome, where a spaceship-like observation tower sits on the 6,643-foot peak. The smoky fog actually comes from a gas emitted by the land’s vegetation and is called isoprene. Isoprene interacts with other air molecules and creates the look of blue smoke.
Location: Garland County, Arkansas
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Previously called the “Valley of the Vapors” by indigenous peoples who used the land for its healing properties, this unique park is home to three thermal pools where visitors can experience 143°F water.
The park’s main area is located downtown Hot Springs, but there are also 26 miles of hiking trails nearby. In town, Bathhouse Row is home to eight historic bathhouses built in the late 1900s, two of which still operate.
Location: An Island on Lake Superior
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Only accessible by boat or plane, fewer visitors means peacefully wandering through the park’s secluded beauty. It’s estimated that Isle Royale’s annual visitors equates to Yellowstone daily visitors. However, getting to Isle Royale National Park isn’t convenient, and the most common access is a five-hour boat ride from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
There are plenty of sightseeing tours offered nearby, some of which dock on isolated islands for ranger-led hikes. A popular multi-day hike called Greenstone Ridge Trail runs about 45 miles from Lake Superior to an overlook named Lookout Louise, and generally takes three to five days to complete. Tour one of the three lighthouses, keep your eyes peeled for moose, and float along one of the many canoe routes on the eastern half of the island, perhaps venturing off to a few of the 400 satellite islands included in the park.
If scuba diving is your passion, Lake Superior’s cold temperatures have kept many sunken shipwrecks intact, making these underwater vessels ideal for exploration and underwater photography. Read our Insider’s Guide to Isle Royale National Park here.
Location: West-central Kentucky
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At 415 miles of explored terrain, this underground World Heritage Site is the largest cave in the entire world. Thousands of years ago, Native Americans ventured into the cave to collect minerals, such as gypsum, selenite, and epsomite, leaving behind artifacts like torches, shoes, bowls, and petroglyphs that are now on display in the free visitor center.
Take one of the many cave tours offered, which vary in length and topic concentration. Above ground, you’ll find campgrounds, kayaking, horseback riding, and more than 80-miles of hiking and biking.
Location: A section of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia
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Running along the ridgeline of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park is very long and narrow. Cruise 105 miles along Skyline Drive, and stop at more than 75 overlooks with options for short trails or lengthy but memorable hikes.
The local favorite is the 9.4-mile round-trip Old Rag trail. Visitors scramble up boulders to reach the very top for panoramic views of the park’s 196,000 acres. Shorter trails like Whiteoak Canyon Trail and Dark Hollow Falls offer picturesque views and even a few swimming holes along the way.
The National Park System encompasses 423 sites across the United States and its territories, covering more than 84 million acres. When you venture into the wild, always pack a first aid kit, food that fuels you, and clothes that make you feel your best. Shop some of our top-reviewed collections below.
Featured Image: Sunset in the Shenandoah by lorimcm.
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