Without the Crowds.(International Edition; SPECIAL REPORT: TRAVEL)(national parks)

Byline: Jaime Cunningham

In some of the world's most remote--and stunning--national parks, it's just you and the wildlife.

The world's national parks offer fresh air, wildlife, scenic vistas and breathtaking topographic formations. And that is why so many of them--from Yosemite to England's Lake District to Thailand's Khao Yai--are mobbed in peak season. But there are parks that have somehow slid beneath the radar of the photo-snapping masses. For travelers looking to really get away--far, far away--from it all, these are well worth the trip.

Located on the Seward Peninsula and named after the land link between North America and Asia, Alaska's Bering Land Bridge National Preserve is home to more than 100 species of birds. Situated on 1.1 million hectares, the preserve also hosts caribou, arctic fox, moose and, along the coast, humpback whales and seals. Part of what puts Bering Land Bridge off the tourist map is its inaccessibility: no roads lead there. Visitors can arrive only via boat or small plane departing Nome, or by snowmobile or dog sled during the winter months (nps.gov/bela/contacts.htm).

The National Park of American Samoa is just as remote. Distributed across three South Pacific islands created by extinct volcanoes, the park features unspoiled beaches and coral reefs perfect for snorkeling and diving, as well as flying foxes, fruit bats and sea turtles (nps.gov/npsa).

Panama's Darien National Park is the largest national park in Central America. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's filled with swamps, beaches, mountains and dense jungle. It's also home to the only missing stretch of the Pan-American Highway that goes from Chile to Alaska. Brimming with wildlife, this 579,000-hectare rainforest is the natural habitat for jaguar, harpy eagles and parrots. Because of its challenging terrain, most visitors choose to hire a guide or join a tour operated out of the region's main city, La Palma ...