I’m guessing a lot of you are like me when it comes to visiting the national parks. Even though we say everyone needs to experience these incredible places, we also hate running into crowds while we’re there. It’s an uncomfortable contradiction. But I crave those precious moments of solitude in nature, and I’ve learned some tricks that help me find quiet places to enjoy them. Here are just a few of my favorite overlooked family-friendly trails.
- Silver Forest at Mount Rainier National Park. This easy 2.6-mile relatively flat trail offers spectacular views of the mountain, beautiful wildflowers, and great wildlife viewing. You actually can’t miss with any of the trails in the Sunrise area of the park, but visitors often skip this one in favor of some of the more glamorous paths like Mount Fremont Lookout and Burroughs Mountain. But the benefits? You’ll have the views to yourself! Back when I worked as a park ranger, I used to pack a snack and a book and find a comfortable spot to sit and watch the mountain. I rarely saw another person, but frequently saw elk, chipmunks, and hoary marmots. Be careful, because the latter two will steal your snack if you’re not paying attention.
- Tuolomne Grove at Yosemite. While everyone else was trekking to waterfalls, climbing the Half-Dome cables, and visiting Mariposa Grove, I opted for the quieter Tuolumne Grove. It’s a little farther to walk than Mariposa–about a 2.5-mile round trip walk (downhill first, and then about 400′ elevation gain on the way back)–but still not difficult. And you won’t spend nearly as much time ducking the crowd.
- “Quiet Walkways” at Great Smoky Mountains NP. If the crowds at Great Smoky Mountains’ popular trailheads are discouraging you, escape down one of these family-friendly trails. The quiet walkways might not have grand vistas, but after a few steps, you’re immersed in the quiet beauty of the forest. It was on one of these non-descript trails that I found a pioneer cemetery and the remains of an old homestead. Each has unique treasures, you just have to keep your eyes open! Another hike I really enjoyed was the Little Brier Gap trail out to the Walker Sisters’ Place.
- The Boardwalks at Yellowstone National Park. Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking! You’ve seen the massive crowds of people clustered around Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring. But the key to escaping crowds at Yellowstone––and most any park, really––is to walk a little farther. Very few visitors go beyond the first stop at any of the boardwalks, and Yellowstone has incredible loop trails with new discoveries just ahead. Yellowstone hosts more than 10,000 thermal features, but the vast majority of park visitors only see a handful. I was shocked how few people were on the boardwalk just ten minutes away from the parking lot. Try it!
Okay, your turn! What’s your favorite “less traveled” trail? I’d love to hear about it! Leave your comments below, and maybe I’ll try your secret spot on my next park visit.