How to Find Solitude in the National Parks this Summer

June 4, 2018 Liana Safian

We’re taking a little break from European posts this week to talk about something really important—how to get away from people. I don’t mean you should become a hermit and live in a van down by the river…oh wait…maybe I do? Kidding aside, if you’re planning to explore the national parks this summer, you likely don’t want to spend your vacation shuffling through a mob of sweaty visitors. Instead you’ll want to find solitude in the expansive vistas, quiet trails, and pristine lakes.

We spent a lot of time in the parks last summer and learned a few things about finding solitude—even during the high season—in the busiest areas. Here are some tips on how to find solitude and avoid the crowds in the gorgeous national parks this summer.

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If you’re exploring the national parks this summer, you likely don’t want to spend your time shuffling through a sweaty crowd. Finding solitude in the national parks is becoming harder and harder with increased visitation. We spent a lot of time in the parks last summer and learned a few things about finding solitude even during the high season in the busiest areas. Here are some tips for avoiding the crowds in the gorgeous national parks. — Descending Angel’s Landing with the crowd in Zion National Park.

How to Avoid the Crowds in National Parks

Check for events near your destination and plan accordingly

Before locking in your travel dates, check to see what’s happening in the area. While festivals make great vacations, unexpectedly finding yourself in the middle of the Sturgis Rally may put a damper on your plans for peace and quiet. The best way to find solitude is to visit when the area isn’t inundated with rumbling Harleys or folks lining up for the Amtrak Mooning Festival (for real, it’s a thing). Fortunately, there weren’t any full moons of the fleshy kind (at least that we saw), but some of our time in Moab, UT was crazy busy because of a cycling event. It’s best to check the local calendar of events prior to nailing down your travel plans.

Ask the rangers

Our first stop in a park is almost always the information desk inside the visitor center to have a chat with a ranger. Even if you have to wait in line, it’s worth it. The rangers live here, so the park is essentially their back yard. We always ask what their favorite hike is. We’ve never had them answer one of the most popular hikes. They’ll usually recommend something away from crowds. You can also ask them where the best places to find solitude are. They’ll know the spots that are unknown to most visitors.

Start early or stay late

In parks that have shuttles, try to catch the first one of the day. Honestly, we rarely catch the first shuttle because we usually stay outside the park…and we’re still not really morning people. We do usually ride the shuttle within the first hour of operation though and this gets us ahead of the daily rush. If you can hit the trails and sites before 8 am you’ll likely find them much less busy. Another option is to stay until sunset in the evenings. This isn’t always possible, as some trails close at night, but when you can, staying past 6 or 7 pm will mean that many of the crowds clear out for the day.

Visit the “must-sees” during the week

If it’s your first time at a park you’ll undoubtedly want to visit some of the must-sees—think Angel’s Landing and the Narrows in Zion, Delicate Arch, Cades Cove Loop in Great Smoky Mountains. Of course, things differ from park to park, but overall the weekends are much busier than the weekdays. Our experience has been that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the least busy days. We always try to hit the popular must-sees then and still either get an early start or stay late to avoid the mid-day crowds.

Play in the rain

I’m not saying you should do what we did in Arches, but when the forecast calls for rain and a temperature drop, it’s a good time to explore the popular sites and trails. The non-sunny weather will keep some people away and rain will certainly have folks running for their cars. Just make sure to bring a rain jacket so you’re prepared for the summer showers. And don’t make the mistake we did—getting caught on a wet rock face in the middle of a lightning storm. Oops.

Go to the less visited parks and recreation areas

The best way to avoid crowds is to go where they aren’t. Plenty of national parks and recreation areas have low visitation, but are still jaw-droppingly beautiful, packed with adventure, and offer lots of solitude. Some of our favorite uncrowded destinations are Congaree, Great Basin, Natural Bridges, and Hovenweep.

Stay in the less trafficked areas

If you’ve already made plans to visit a high-traffic park, you can still find solitude by staying in one of the less crowded areas. For example, in the nation’s most visited park—Great Smoky Mountains—we had a spot with nary a neighbor in sight at the Cosby Campground. There were multiple hiking trails accessible right from the campground and the evenings were serene and quiet.

Staying outside the park all together is another way to avoid crowds. Whenever possible, we try to stay at free camp spots. These don’t necessarily mean solitude. Sometimes they’re very open, but other times you’ll find a cozy place in the forest or tucked below a rock face without another camper in sight. The further you drive down dirt roads, the more likely it is you’ll have some privacy. Just be sure to follow the rules and regulations for that specific public land and of course, practice leave no trace principles.

Take the more challenging routes

This applies to both trails and roads. If you’re physically able, then opt for the more challenging hikes with higher elevation changes. While each park is different, it’s amazing how few visitors hike more than a couple of miles down the trails. The challenging ones will also have more rewarding views and diverse terrain.

When it comes to driving, if your vehicle is equipped, take the unpaved roads. These lead to some of the most peaceful areas. Just be sure to ask the park rangers about road conditions, as surfaces can change quickly after storms.

Get into the backcountry wilderness

When we visited Yellowstone, we were told that only 3-5% of visitors venture off the boardwalks and roads into the backcountry. We’ve found the wilderness and backcountry areas in many of the highly visited parks—Zion, Olympic, Yosemite—to be a breath of fresh air (pun intended). The wilderness areas may be indicated on the park map, if not, ask the rangers about them. Look for hikes there and you’ll be rewarded with a whole lotta pure nature.

Hopefully this helps you find solitude in the beautiful national parks this summer. Is there a specific park or recreation area that you’re planning to visit? Let us know in the comments. Also, checkout the top outdoor gear list for our favorite adventure essentials.