A study looking at all U.S. national parks that received fewer that 750,000 visits last year has compared visitor volumes, reviews and ratings to unearth which of these spots are the most underrated — and North Cascades in Washington state tops that list.

At roughly 500,000 acres, North Cascades is less than three hours from Seattle and features a large blue lake and jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers. It scored 89.7 out of 100 on the rating scale.

Isle Royale, a peaceful and rugged isolated island just off the Michigan peninsula in Lake Superior, placed second in the study with a score of 86. This island is a have for hikers and backpackers.

Coming in third was Dry Tortugas, west of Key West, Florida, with a score of 84.6. This park is mostly water and comprises seven islands that are only accessible by boat or seaplane. The area is known for its coral reefs and thriving marine life. 

 Parks were awarded a higher score for fewer visits, fewer reviews, and a high ratio of reviews to visits and for higher ratings. The study was conducted by vacation rental platform Lake.com.

National parks are areas that a national government has set aside to preserve the natural environment and are known for their beauty and wildlife.  May, June and July mark the peak season for many national parks, so with groups looking to take advantage of nicer weather, this study sought to highlight the parks which are hidden gems.     

Rounding out the Top 10 were: Gates of the Arctic, Wrangell-St. Elias (the largest national park in the U.S.), Great Basin, Katmai, Lake Clark, Guadalupe Mountains and Congaree.

“While avoiding crowds may appeal to some, it can sometimes leave you more vulnerable as fewer people are around to help should you encounter difficulties,” said David Ciccarelli, CEO of Lake.com. “That’s why it’s important to pack essential things and consult safety recommendations before visiting a national park.”