Advice for folks who like National Parks, but wish you could experience some of that nature with fewer people around:
Many National Parks are surrounded by a National Forest. National Forests surrounding National Parks are often similarly beautiful. I mean, they're beautiful in a similar way, due to being in roughly the same location on the map...same climate, same fauna, same flora, same geology, though not necessarily on as grand a scale as what they built a fee gate in front of. They're free to enter, often allow overnight camping, and provide an experience mostly free of other people. Of course, there are plenty of reasons to go to the Park, too. I never miss a National Park if I'm going to be anywhere near one. But, the US also has incredible public lands that haven't been elevated by a "National Park" designation and they get far fewer visitors, and if your biggest complaint is "too many people", your solution may be just outside the Park.
+100 to this. Because Yosemite keeps getting called out, I would also mention that Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park is right next to Yosemite, just as spectacular in many ways (e.g., Rae Lakes Loop), and far less crowded.
Colorado is a great example of this. Rocky Mountains national park is good but a bit of a tourist trap and there's so much more to see in CO than that.
Many National Parks are surrounded by a National Forest. National Forests surrounding National Parks are often similarly beautiful. I mean, they're beautiful in a similar way, due to being in roughly the same location on the map...same climate, same fauna, same flora, same geology, though not necessarily on as grand a scale as what they built a fee gate in front of. They're free to enter, often allow overnight camping, and provide an experience mostly free of other people. Of course, there are plenty of reasons to go to the Park, too. I never miss a National Park if I'm going to be anywhere near one. But, the US also has incredible public lands that haven't been elevated by a "National Park" designation and they get far fewer visitors, and if your biggest complaint is "too many people", your solution may be just outside the Park.