• I've visited every national park in the US and a few have stood out to me as underrated favorites.
• Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park has some of the most beautiful views.
• Kings Canyon is incredible but sometimes overshadowed by other national parks in California.

The 63 Congress-designated national parks have been touted as "America's best idea" — and with their mile-deep canyons, 3,000-year-old trees, and stunning mountain ranges, it's easy to see why.

However, with great beauty often comes great crowds. Many top-rated national parks routinely make headlines for their confusing timed-entry reservation systems, long lines of cars, and overrun trails.

I've experienced it firsthand, as I've been to every national park in the United States and authored a book about them. I'm here to tell you that Yosemite is beautiful, but a visit is usually not worth the summertime traffic.

This year, I suggest you skip the more famous national parks in favor of these six underrated gems.

I don't think Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is appreciated enough

I think Capitol Reef is the most underrated national park.

Set in central Utah, away from more popular tourist hubs like Zion and Moab, this park is a haven for camping amid crumbling rust-red cliffs, exploring secluded slot canyons, and hiking to enormous sandstone arches.

Book a site at the Fruita Campground or nab a cabin at nearby Capitol Reef Resort for the best red-rock views in town.

Be sure to spend a day ambling around the park's stunning trail system, checking out the easy trek through Grand Wash and the thigh-burning hike up to Cassidy Arch along the way.

Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park is worth trekking to.

Gates of the Arctic is one of the least-visited national parks, perhaps because it takes a flight to Fairbanks, a transfer to tiny Bettles or Coldfoot, and a bumpy ride in a bush plane to get to it.

However, once you lay eyes on the magnificent Brooks Range and its miles of unspoiled tundra, you'll see the journey is worth it.

Rather than a pricey, half-day flightseeing tour, which won't actually get you hiking inside the park, splurge on a river-rafting journey with a guiding service like Alaska Alpine Adventures.

Or, if you're feeling fit, embark on a backpacking trip to the toothy Arrigetch Peaks, which absolutely blew my mind in person.

Located in North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is filled with wildlife.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is one of the best places in the country to view incredible wildlife from the comfort of your vehicle.

On my three-day visit to the park, I witnessed a rattlesnake slither across the trail, spent hours photographing playful prairie dogs, watched coyotes take in the sunrise near a herd of wild horses, and got caught up in a bison traffic jam.

Be sure to get out and stretch your legs on the park's hundreds of miles of trails, too. The Painted Canyon Nature Trail overlooks striking coral- and rust-hued badlands, and the hike to Sperati Point offers a sweeping view of the Little Missouri River and the Little Missouri National Grassland.

West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park is one of my favorites.

If you're the kind of outdoor enthusiast who's a jack of all trades, master of none, New River Gorge might be your new favorite park.

There's something for everyone at America's newest national park, which only just got its designation in 2020. It has world-class rafting and excellent rock climbing, plus forest trails along the ravine that parallels the New River.

Set up base camp in a homey cabin at Adventures on the Gorge. If you're feeling brave, book a death-defying Bridge Walk, which allows visitors to explore the longest single-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

Big Bend National Park is a Texas highlight.

After growing up in flat, humid East Texas, I was shocked to learn that there's a whole wonderland of high peaks and rocky, view-filled trails in the state's far western corner.

A haven for float trips down the mighty Rio Grande, steamy hot springs, and epic camping inside the Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend is a nature-filled oasis, situated just south of the artsy towns of Marfa and Terlingua.

Intrepid travelers will want to make a beeline for Santa Elena Canyon, the park's most famous ravine, and either hike its short, riverfront trail or book an all-day rafting trip to marvel at its honey-tinted limestone walls.

For an up-close look at Big Bend's rocky summits, spend a few hours traipsing around the Window Trail. After a day of big adventures, rest in a chic, modern casita at Willow House or a funky camper at El Cosmico.

I prefer to visit Kings Canyon National Park over its other famous California neighbors.

Set in the High Sierra, between the more famous Sequoia and Yosemite national parks, Kings Canyon is an underrated (and often less-crowded) gem for serious hikers and backpackers.

Although I'd visited the park many times, I first fell head-over-heels in love with it while trekking across its entirety on the John Muir Trail.

Want a shaded day hike with views of a roaring waterfall? Check out the 8-mile round-trip loop out to Mist Falls — and be sure to pack a picnic lunch.

If you prefer an overnight backpacking excursion, hike in from the South Fork of Bishop Creek and wander around the alpine lakes of Dusy Basin.

Either way, pass through the tiny town of Big Pine and head to Copper Top BBQ for the best pulled-pork sandwich in the state.

• I've been to Alpine-style towns in the US that feel like Europe, particularly Switzerland.
• Colorado's Ouray has been nicknamed "The Little Switzerland of America" for many reasons.
• Telluride and Crested Butte also feel like European-style escapes within the US.

Soaring granite peaks, glacier-carved valleys, and a myriad of geothermally-heated hot springs are just a handful of reasons that thousands of Americans venture to the Swiss Alps each year.

However, I've found similarly stunning mountainous landscapes and a thriving food and arts scene in humble Colorado.

The Centennial State is famous for its many adorable mountain towns and ski villages, but as a Colorado local, there are only three that I venture to when I want to rekindle that heart-pounding feeling I felt when I first visited the Alps many years ago.

Here are three of my favorite Alpine-style villages in Colorado.

I see why some say Ouray is a slice of Switzerland in the US

Ouray is one of few towns in the US that's been nicknamed "The Little Switzerland of America."

It's easy to see why with just one wintery jaunt down its main boulevard — towering bluffs of rock and snow jut up in every direction, and historic buildings are everywhere.

There's no need to fly to a mountain resort in Zermatt to get your adrenaline pumping, either. Ouray's Ice Park and annual Ice Festival offer some of the best opportunities to dust off your crampons and go ice climbing in the US.

For a bit of higher-brow culture, stop at the Wright Opera House. It was established in 1888 and hosts a variety of live performances throughout the year, including an annual Yule celebration.

If you visit in the summer or fall, don't miss the Million Dollar Highway, a scenic driving route that winds past cascading waterfalls and tall peaks.

When it's time to refuel, check into the Victorian-era Beaumont Hotel in downtown Ouray. With its antique furnishings and historic architecture, it feels like it belongs in Europe.

Finally, soak your tired bones while enjoying outstanding mountain views at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool or the Historic Weisbaden Hot Springs Spa that give some of Switzerland's a run for their money.

I've enjoyed many European vibes and eats in Telluride

Apart from having an excellent ski and live-music scene, Telluride is also home to incredible European-inspired eateries and architecture.

If you want to recreate a classic Swiss tradition, try the extensive fondue menu at Alpinist and the Goat, which features imported Gruyère and French truffle.

If you're staying slopeside, check out Timber Room, which offers fire-roasted meals and crudité in an elegant, living-room-style setting.

For second-to-none Euro-style digs, head to the lavish Dunton Town House.

It's designed to honor Tyrolean immigrants who came to the San Juan Mountains over 150 years ago — and Austrian ceramics and antiques can be found throughout the historic inn.

Of course, Telluride also has many opportunities for outdoor recreation.

To experience a quintessentially Alps-like mountain hut, visit High Camp Hut near the mountainous Lizard Head Pass. It puts guests at the center of the surrounding snowy peaks, with opportunities for backcountry skiing and sledding.

If you're visiting in the warmer summer months, book a guided day trip along the Telluride's via ferrata, which is reminiscent of similar gear-supported climbing routes in Switzerland.

Crested Butte feels like a mountainous escape

Since it's about a four-hour drive from Denver, Crested Butte's wildflower-strewn meadows and powdery ski slopes tend to offer a crowd-free escape from Colorado's busiest mountain towns.

During winter months, Crested Butte Mountain Resort offers fantastic groomed runs for all experience levels. It's known for its "extreme inbounds skiing," which is reminiscent of Chamonix's famous side-country routes.

I'd also recommend a trip through the nearby town of Gothic, which offers car camping and opportunities to swim in sparkling alpine lakes throughout the sunny summer months. Its striking landscape reminds me of the beautiful and immense summits around Switzerland's Lauterbrunnen village.

After a day of sightseeing in and around Crested Butte, enjoy blistered baby carrots and dry-aged Piedmontese beef at Two Twelve, an elevated eatery in town.

Or, try a fine-dining experience at Magic Meadows Yurt, which diners can only get to by Nordic skiing or snowshoeing.