A hike through one of the country’s national parks can mean great exercise, sweeping views, and thrilling wildlife sightings—except for when the trail is packed with other people. Thankfully, most parks have several under-the-radar hikes that are just enjoyable, but with way less crowds. Whether you’re hoping to see rushing waterfalls, volcanic craters, or sandstone spires, take the path less traveled next time you’re hiking in a U.S. national park and you’re guaranteed a memorable experience.
Blue Hen Falls along the Buckeye Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
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Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
Popular hike: Brandywine Falls Trail
Less-crowded alternative: Buckeye Trail
Located on the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park may not have much name recognition, but it still garners millions of visitors each year. While the hike to Brandywine Falls can get crowded, the Buckeye Trail to Blue Hen Falls remains mostly clear no matter the time of day or year and offers the chance to spot chipmunk, deer, and even the elusive coyote. On your way up, you’ll pass wildflower fields and scenic ledges before reaching the Blue Hen Falls overlook, where you can watch a 15-foot cascade flow over shale and sandstone, surrounded by towering trees. The hike is three miles roundtrip from the Boston Mill Visitor Center and includes a 580-foot change in elevation.
View from Riprap Trail in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Popular hike: Dark Hollow Falls Trail
Less-crowded alternative: Riprap Trail
The popular, family-friendly Dark Hollow Falls Trail may lead to a 70-foot cascade and shallow pool, but the Riprap Trail has a spring-fed stream and 50-foot-wide swimming hole—plus half the people. It’s located in the less-trafficked South District of Shenandoah National Park and even includes a small section of the famed Appalachian Trail. The entire hike is a challenging, 9.3-mile loop, but you can always hike from the Riprap parking area to the scenic overlook at Chimney Rock and back if you don’t have 4.5-ish hours of hiking in you.
Popular hike: Garfield Peak Trail
Less-crowded alternative: Wizard Island Summit Trail
The Wizard Island Summit Trail requires more effort to access than most other hikes in Crater Lake National Park, including the favorite Garfield Peak Trail, but that’s likely why you can still find some solitude here. To get to the 2.3-mile, out-and-back trail, which is located on Wizard Island in the center of Crater Lake’s deep-blue water, you first have to hike the Cleetwood Cove Trail and then take a boat ride out to the island. Once at the summit, however, you’ll get to circle the crater of the cinder cone that formed Wizard Island and enjoy panoramic views over the lake. You can even climb down into the crater, called the Witches’ Cauldron, which is a popular activity for birders. Visit either in the early morning or late afternoon to ensure your peace and quiet.
Moose in lake at Glacier National Park, Montana
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Glacier National Park, Montana
Popular hike: Avalanche Lake Trail
Less-crowded alternative: Logging Lake Trail
While the Avalanche Lake and Logging Lake trails both lead to breathtaking bodies of water, the latter is one of the least busy hikes in Glacier National Park owing to its longer length (about 11.4 miles to the foot of the lake) and remote location (the west side of the park). It may take a while to reach Logging Lake, but it’s a relatively easy climb with only 477 vertical feet of elevation gain. Along the way, you’ll pass by old-growth conifer forests, a historic patrol cabin, and a couple of campgrounds, and once at the lake, you’ll have spectacular views of the Livingston Range, including Mount Gedhun and Anaconda Peak.
Druid Arch at Canyonlands National Park, Utah
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Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Popular hike: Mesa Arch Trail
Less-crowded alternative: Druid Arch Trail
Even though Canyonlands National Park draws fewer crowds than Utah favorites like Zion and Arches, its iconic Mesa Arch Trail can still feel packed at times. Instead, make the 10.4-mile, out-and-back hike to Druid Arch, located in the remote Needles District of the park. The trail starts at Elephant Hill and runs through scenic Elephant Canyon, passing by the district’s namesake spires. The last quarter mile of the path is pretty challenging (you’ll have to scale a ladder and then scramble up a steep ravine), but it leads to a sandstone bench with awe-inspiring views of Druid Arch, known for its angular profile that wouldn’t feel out of place in Stonehenge.
Bogachiel River, Olympic National Park, Washington
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Olympic National Park, Washington
Popular hike: Hoh River Trail
Less-crowded alternative: Bogachiel River Trail
Olympic National Park’s Bogachiel River Trail is a less-congested alternative to the Hoh River Trail farther south. Both paths go through one of the few examples of temperate rain forest in the United States, but with fewer people on the Bogachiel River Trail, you’ll actually be able to stop and appreciate the hanging moss, ferns, and wetlands along the way. The entire Bogachiel trail, which leads all the way to Seven Lakes Basin and up Bogachiel Peak, is almost 30 miles long, though you can access two shorter sections just outside the park boundary. The one-mile Homestead Loop Trail will take you past the 1890 Morgenroth homestead (the former home of pioneer Chris Morgenroth), while the three-mile Ira Spring Wetland Trail provides access to a moss-covered forest overlooking an active wetlands biome.