21 Underrated National Parks for Avoiding Summer Crowds

19. Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska): Arctic Solitude & Sand Dunes

For ultimate summer solitude, head above the Arctic Circle. Kobuk Valley is famed for the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes – active dunes creating a surreal Arctic desert landscape. Summer is the prime (and often only feasible) time to visit, accessible only by charter plane. Experience 24-hour daylight, witness part of the massive caribou migration, float the Kobuk River, or hike the dunes in near-total isolation. Visitor numbers are incredibly low, guaranteeing an escape from crowds amidst truly unique and remote Alaskan wilderness.