If your next outdoor adventure usually involves the same old national park, you might as well consider trading the well-trodden route for a less-traveled road.
From Scotland’s mountain country to South Korea’s glimpse into the Silla kingdom, these 5 destinations offer striking scenery, unusual ecosystems, and cultural history without relying on the usual bucket-list titles.
1. Swap Canada’s best-known mountain destinations for Kluane National Park
In southwest Yukon, Kluane National Park and Reserve is home to Mount Logan, Canada‘s highest peak at 5,959 meters, as well as the country’s largest ice field.
Its glaciers and rugged mountains provide a dramatic setting for hiking, rafting and wildlife watching, with mountain goats and Dall sheep among the animals visitors might spot.
Summer brings wildflowers, cycling, and kayaking on Kathleen Lake, while winter activities include dog sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
The park also offers an opportunity to learn about the Southern Tutchone and Kluane First Nations people at the Da Kų Cultural Centre in Haines Junction.
2. Trade the usual South Korean city itinerary for Gyeongju National Park
South Korea‘s only historical national park offers a different kind of outdoor escape.
Spread across eight districts in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongju preserves landmarks from the Silla kingdom, which ruled from 57 BC to 935 AD.
Hiking routes pass temples, pagodas, statues, and ancient rock carvings. Nearby, in Gyeongju’s historic core rather than inside the national park, the Daereungwon complex of grassy royal burial mounds is a defining sight.
Visitors can also explore Bulguksa Temple and the Gyeongju National Museum, which houses about 30,000 archaeological artefacts and artworks.
3. Choose Judbarra/Gregory over Australia’s more famous national parks
The Northern Territory’s second-largest national park covers about 13,000 square kilometers of rugged ridges, limestone formations, and river valleys.
The Escarpment Walk offers views over the Victoria River, while the Nawulbinbin Walk passes galleries of Aboriginal rock art.
Judbarra is also rich in cultural history, with several First Nations groups recognised as traditional owners and joint managers.
At Gregory’s Tree, visitors can see the date carved into a boab tree by explorer Augustus Charles Gregory in 1856. Birdwatchers should look out for Gouldian finches, while anglers head to the park’s rivers and campgrounds.
Saltwater crocodiles inhabit the region, so fishing and swimming require care.
4. Replace a conventional Colorado nature trip with Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde National Park combines dramatic scenery with an extraordinary archaeological record.
The 21,240-hectare site in southwest Colorado contains more than 5,000 archaeological locations, including the cliff dwellings built by Ancestral Pueblo people over centuries.
The park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Visitors can explore viewpoints along the Cliff Palace Loop, follow the Petroglyph Point Trail, and learn about Puebloan history through the Mesa Top Loop Drive audio tour. Its designation as an International Dark Sky Park also makes it a destination for stargazing.
5. Skip the Lake District crowds for Scotland’s Cairngorms
Britain’s largest national park spans 4,528 square kilometers between Perth and Inverness.
The Cairngorms are known for high plateaux, lochs, castles, and wildlife, including red squirrels and the UK’s only free-ranging herd of resident reindeer.
The SnowRoads scenic route links villages and historic sites with mountain views. Along the way, visitors can stop at castles, distilleries and traditional bothies, or seek out opportunities for wild swimming near Glas Allt Waterfall.
The park is also an important breeding area for birds in northeast Scotland.
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