During nearly 50 years of visiting America’s national parks, we have discovered a number of interesting places that for a variety of reasons fail to make the bucket list for many travelers. Some, such as Big Bend National Park, are so isolated travelers are unwilling to make the long drive to get there. In other instances, parks don’t receive much public notice and remain off most travelers’ radar screens. From our perspective, the lack of crowds makes these parks particularly enjoyable to visit.

Below are five national parks we consider underrated. We are confident you won’t be disappointed with a visit to any of the five.

Big Bend National Park (Texas) – The drive south from the small Texas town of Marathon toward Big Bend National Park seems to lead to the end of the earth. It doesn’t, of course. It leads to the Mexican border at the Rio Grande River. Still, the vastness and beauty of this land of mountains, desert and steep-walled canyons is amazing. The park, named for its location on the bend of the Rio Grande, is a favorite destination for birdwatchers, while the more adventurous choose to raft the river or hike some of the nearly 200 miles of trails. Fall and spring are ideal times to visit Big Bend, which can become quite hot during the summer. Chisos Mountains Lodge and several campgrounds are within the park, which is fortunate because several days are required to explore this 800,000-acre treasure. www.nps.gov/bibe

Great Basin National Park (Nevada) – This isolated gem in eastern Nevada protects 77,000 acres of America’s Great Basin, a vast area incorporating western Utah and nearly all of Nevada. The park offers rugged desert, scenic mountains, an extensive cave system and 5,000-year-old bristlecone pine trees that are among the earth’s oldest living things. A park road offers outstanding views as it climbs 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak to an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet. Guided tours are offered at Lehman Cave, one of more than 40 known caves in the park. Great Basin has several campgrounds including three on the Wheeler Peak road. Several creeks offer excellent trout fishing. Limited motel rooms are available nearby in the small town of Baker. www.nps.gov/grba

Lassen Volcanic National Park (California) – Even many California residents seem to know little about this wonderful park that has been a favorite of ours since an initial visit in the mid-1970s. The park centers on Lassen Peak, whose 1914-17 series of volcanic eruptions were the last in the continental U.S. prior to Mount St. Helens in 1980. Hydrothermal features in the park include fumaroles, mud pots, and boiling pools. Much of the park is accessible via a 30-mile paved road that connects the Southwest and Northwest entrances. Hiking the trail to the top of Lassen Peak requires four to five hours roundtrip. The park has seven developed campgrounds, our favorite of which is Manzanita Lake. Lodging at Drakesbad Guest Ranch in the south end of the park is accessible from the small town of Chester. Camper cabins are available at Manzanita Lake inside the Northwest entrance. www.nps.gov/lavo

North Cascades National Park Complex (Washington) – With elevations from near sea level to more than 9,000 feet, the natural features of this park in northeastern Washington are sometimes compared to Europe’s Alps. Glaciers continue to grace some of the park’s mountains. The park complex is comprised of three units including North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. Kayaking, white-water rafting, and fishing are popular activities. Boat transportation provides access to the park’s two lodging facilities, Ross Lake Resort and North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin. Another lodging facility, Stehekin Valley Ranch, on private land surrounded by the park, is nearby. North Cascades Highway (U.S. 20) bisects the park and offers excellent mountain vistas for travelers. Numerous campgrounds for boaters, hikers, and RVers are scattered throughout the park. www.nps.gov/noca

Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota) – Named for our 26th president, who in 1883 bought a ranch here, this 70,000-acre park in the scenic North Dakota Badlands is comprised of three sections. The South Unit near the small town of Medora includes a 36-mile paved loop drive. Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin sits outside the South Unit visitor center. The Elkhorn Ranch unit is 35 miles north of Medora with access via gravel roads. We particularly enjoy the North Unit where a 14-mile scenic drive leads to an overlook of the Little Missouri River. The park is home to bison, elk, pronghorns, feral horses and prairie dogs, the latter of which provide great entertainment. Campgrounds are available in both the North and South units. www.nps.gov/thro