31 Bucket List National Parks That Are Surprisingly Underrated

14. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado): Dramatic Depths

Prepare for vertigo-inducing views into one of North America's steepest, narrowest, and most dramatic canyons. The Gunnison River carved this deep, dark chasm, plunging over 2,000 feet in places. While challenging inner-canyon exploration requires permits, rim drives (North and South) offer accessible, jaw-dropping overlooks like Painted Wall – Colorado's highest cliff. It's also an International Dark Sky Park, offering spectacular stargazing. Less visited than nearby Rocky Mountain NP, Black Canyon delivers raw geological power and breathtaking verticality.