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Gates of the Arctic National Park, AlaskaGates of the Arctic is one of several national parks in remote, roadless areas of Alaska. This northernmost national park in the U.S. is visited by only a few thousand people a year, making for great wildlife viewing.

Photograph by Alaska Stock Images, National Geographic

8 Gorgeous National Parks You've Never Heard Of

Celebrating the diversity of protected lands.

January 27, 2016

America’s National Parks: Gates of the Arctic premieres on National Geographic Channel Sunday January 31 8/7c, featuring the farthest north of the U.S.'s 408 national parks.

We took a look back at our archives and found these photos of little-known parks, from Gates of the Arctic and beyond. The National Park Service protects far more than icons the Grand Canyon and Yosemite, and these parks are a testament to the agency's diversity and the breadth of what many call "America's best idea."

This story was updated on January 27.