These Stunning U.S. National Parks Are Only Reachable by Boat or Plane

"Out in the ocean west of Key West and the start of the U.S. Route 1 is Dry Tortugas National Park, which consists of seven islands, the world's third-largest barrier reef, and a lot of water. (In fact, 99 percent of the park's protected area is located underwater.) For that reason, the park is known for its snorkeling, diving, and sea life-including turtles and colorful fish."

"As the northernmost national park in the U.S., Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve's very location makes it hard to get to. It sprawls north of the Arctic Circle and has no roads (or trails or campsites). The only way to get there is by hiking in (a true endeavor since there are no trails) or taking an air taxi into the park's 8.4 million acres of untouched tundra and boreal forest."

The United States contains 63 national parks and roughly 640 million acres of public land, and park visitation has risen, especially at easily accessible sites. Parks that require boat or plane access naturally limit crowds and offer more solitude. Remote national parks include numerous Alaskan preserves with no roads and island parks off California, Florida, and Michigan reachable only by water or air. Dry Tortugas National Park lies west of Key West, comprises seven islands and a largely underwater protected area, and is prized for snorkeling and diving. Gates of the Arctic sits north of the Arctic Circle with no roads, trails, or campsites, reachable only by hiking or air taxi into vast tundra and boreal forest.

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