6 Awe-Inspiring Destinations on U.S. Public Land, but Not in National Parks
America’s national parks attract millions of visitors each year, largely thanks to natural wonders like Yellowstone’s geysers and Yosemite’s granite monoliths.
But the more than 540 million acres that are not part of the national park system — managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies — also abound with awe-inspiring sites, often without crowds.
Many of these places, especially those in designated wilderness areas, may lack staffing and amenities like restrooms or campgrounds. But if you’re willing to be self-reliant, you’ll be rewarded with delights that most travelers never see.
There’s no shortage of magical destinations like these on U.S. public land, but here are six to get you started:
New Mexico
Covering 45,000 acres in northwestern New Mexico, the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, is home to thousands of striking formations with irresistible names like Alien Egg Hatchery and Hoodoo City.
The area’s stone pillars (called hoodoos), formed by erosion, are especially beautiful at dusk and dawn. You can also find petrified wood and fossils in these bizarre badlands.
As with other designated wilderness areas, you’ll have to hike or ride a horse to get around, and routes are rugged and mostly unmarked. Bring plenty of water, and download or print maps in advance — cellphone coverage is sparse.
Free; open year-round, though spring and fall are recommended.
Washington
Put on your headlamp and step into a subterranean lost world at Ape Cave in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, about 63 miles northeast of Portland, Ore. This 2.5-mile lava tube, formed about 2,000 years ago, stays a constant 42 degrees, so bring a jacket — and at least two reliable sources of light per person (not cellphone lights).
Visitors have two hiking options: the easier Lower Cave route, a 1.5-mile out-and-back trip through a wide, flat tunnel, or the more challenging Upper Cave, 1.5 miles inside the tube and an aboveground return section of the same length. It requires scrambling over dozens of boulders and climbing an eight-foot stone wall, so bring a fit, fearless friend.
Timed-entry reservations are $2 at recreation.gov; open mid-May through October.
Utah
With their soaring walls and cathedral-like spaces, slot canyons are best experienced intimately. Wire Pass, a quietly spectacular slot canyon in the B.L.M.-managed Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area of southern Utah, draws far fewer visitors than nearby Instagram favorites like Antelope Canyon.
Allow four hours for this 3.5-mile out-and-back, easy-to-moderate route that will take you to and through an undulating, striated half-mile canyon. At the end, you’ll reach the canyon’s confluence with Buckskin Gulch. Linger to marvel at the ancient petroglyphs.
Day-use entry is $6 per person at recreation.gov; open year-round.
North Carolina
Covering nearly 12,000 acres of jagged peaks and rugged cliffs in the Pisgah National Forest, 60 miles northeast of Asheville, N.C., the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area looks a lot like a Blue Ridge Grand Canyon.
The Hawksbill Mountain Trail, a moderate, two-mile out-and-back trip leads to commanding views of the gorge and — on clear days — the Charlotte, N.C., skyline, 90 miles away.
Wisemans View, reached via a quarter-mile, wheelchair-accessible path, offers a panorama of the gorge and surrounding mountains. Stay past sunset for a chance to witness the Brown Mountain Lights, mysterious floating orbs that many locals have claimed to see.
Free; open year-round.
Alaska
Shaped by warm air and flowing water from melting snow in the summer (when it’s not safe to enter), the cave features blue-green walls of wavy, filigreed ice.
For intrepid winter adventurers only, the flat, mile-long hike along frozen Castner Creek takes about 45 minutes each way. With no cellular service and potential subzero temperatures, proper winter gear is essential — consider a guided tour.
Free; recommended visitation season runs from October to April.
Georgia
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, encompasses 400,000 acres of primeval wetlands. The swamp teems with at least 200 types of birds and 36 varieties of snakes, as well as bobcats, foxes, river otters and an estimated 15,000 alligators. You’ll also find pitcher plants, sundews and other carnivorous flora. All this helped make the Okefenokee a UNESCO World Heritage site this summer.
Paddling excursions and guided boat tours typically outshine hikes here, but the Chesser Island Boardwalk is a popular, 1.5-mile round-trip walk through cypress forest and wetland prairie leading to the Owl’s Roost Tower, a 40-foot observation platform. Bring bug spray.
Day-use entry is $5 per vehicle, good for seven days, at recreation.gov; open year-round.
