[ghaff]

>I do find the crowded parks surrounding major cities to be a turn-off.

Although even there, you can get away from most of the crowds pretty quickly. It won't be untracked wilderness but it won't be crowded.

I was in Acadia National Park last weekend and the standard just-off-the-road spots were mobbed (holiday weekend) and the standard trails were pretty busy. But we hiked a handful of less-common trails and only saw a handful of people except at the beginning and the end.

If you have the skills, you can also go to certain National Parks in the off-seasons. Doesn't work everywhere but when there's access there are far fewer people.