Secret Spots in Popular National Parks

Enjoying the splendor of some of America’s most breathtaking national parks can be tough when you’re dealing with crowds of tourists. Thanks to their massive size, these national parks are home to mesmerizing corners and corridors that most travelers never get the chance to explore. We spoke to former National Geographic travel photographer Jonathan Irish, who visited every national park in the U.S. last year with his partner, Stephanie Payne, to find the top hidden gems in popular spots around the states. “Our goal was to celebrate what these parks mean for us, so it was important for us to dig into every park and not just hit the main points, but to get to the heart of the park and find the places that most people don’t get to,” Irish stated of their trip. From hikes that lead into craters to campsites in the Everglades that sit right in the water, here are some of their top finds.

The Kolob Canyons in Zion National Park

Those in search of a quieter section of Utah’s Zion National Park, where they can explore more than 20 miles worth of hiking trails while taking in views of the soaring Navajo sandstone peaks, should head to the Kolob Canyons section of the park.

Here, you’ll find majestic peaks, cliff walls that soar as high as 2,000 feet, and the opportunity to hike through the breathtaking desert terrain in tranquility.

Visitors must exit the main area of the park and drive further down the road to enter this district, which is why most people don’t venture here. However, Irish encourages them to explore this hidden gem.

The location is home to one of the pair’s favorite hikes, the Subway hike, which weaves you through a trail that follows the Virgin River, taking you through boulders and incredible canyons before reaching the Subway—a sandstone formation that has been carved over the years to resemble a long subway tunnel.

The hike requires a permit and can be challenging, but it’s worth it to get to this fascinating site while enjoying views of soaring plateaus and colorful sandstone formations.

The Sliding Sands Trail at Haleakala National Park

One of the most famous sites at Haleakala National Park in Maui is catching the sunrise atop the Haleakala volcano. Indeed, visitors now must make reservations for this experience. For Irish, the true magic happens when you descend into the volcano.

“It blew my mind to see that everyone leaves just after the sunrise and goes back to the beach, because one of the reasons why it’s so beautiful to watch the sunrise from there is you can look down into the crater and see all these old cinder cones and incredible formations left there from the old volcano,” Irish remarked.

That’s why he suggests taking the Sliding Sands Trail, which winds down to the crater floor, letting you explore its surreal landscape.

“It’s like walking on Mars,” Irish said of the setting. “You get a mile down there and strangely find no one around, which is what makes this one of the best trails.”

The Needles District in Canyonlands National Park

Thanks to a series of flowing rivers, Utah’s Canyonlands National Park is divided into different districts, each with unique offerings. Most travelers tend to spend time at the Island in the Sky district, since it’s the easiest to visit in a limited time.

However, if you’re willing to venture some 60 miles south, you’ll discover the Needles district, which Irish describes as an otherworldly landscape.

“As soon as you get off the trail, you’re suddenly transported to this different world, surrounded by these pink sandstone formations,” Irish noted.

But the needle formations themselves aren’t the only impressive sight you’ll witness. “The same water erosion that formed these needles has carved out valleys and slots, making the hike more challenging. Nevertheless, this beauty grants you a trail to yourself through incredible scenery,” he added.

One of their favorite locations within the district is the Chesler Park Loop, where the needles are particularly well formed, and a hike allows you to descend into a giant slot canyon.

Cathedral Valley in Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park, also located in Utah, features geological formations like cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges that extend for close to 100 miles.

To see some of its most impressive—and rarely captured—formations, head to Cathedral Valley, located north of the park’s main area, accessible by a 57-mile dirt road.

Although conditions can be tricky on the road in spring and summer, the journey feels rewarding once you reach the softly-colored hills in varying shades of brown, red, purple, green, and gray.

The formations, created during the Jurassic period, produce astonishing shapes that blend with their surroundings to create a stunning view. “You look up to see a pink sky and look down to see these formations jutting out, like sharks swimming underneath the sand,” Irish described. “It’s the highlight and why you go out there, and it’s a view most people don’t get to see.”

Visitors can also camp in the area, and since the park has been designated a Gold Tier “International Dark Sky Park,” you are promised prime stargazing.

Camping on a Chickee in the Mangrove Trees in Everglades National Park

To truly get away from it all and explore Florida’s Everglades National Park traditionally, head to the park’s backcountry camp sites featuring chickees—elevated camping platforms sitting right in the water.

As you canoe or kayak through the trails, you’ll encounter everything from crabs and frogs to a variety of birds, and even dolphins on the horizon. However, you’ll need a permit and a reservation well in advance, according to Irish, but once you do, you’ll tour the park and its sites on water, stopping along the way at your own man-made miniature island surrounded by mangrove trees.

The park provides GPS coordinates, but Irish recommends bringing your own GPS navigator for safety. Some chickees have enough space for two campsites, allowing the opportunity to meet fellow travelers during your adventure.

The Schoodic Peninsula in Acadia National Park

There’s plenty of historic territory to wander through in Maine’s Acadia National Park as you explore its granite peaks and rugged coastline.

To see stunning rock scenery without the crowds, head to the Schoodic Peninsula, where you can explore miles of scenery by foot, bike, or car.

You’ll enjoy spectacular views of Mount Desert Island and even a lighthouse that sparkles at night—a gem that Irish says most people don’t realize is there.

Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park

Hetch Hetchy Valley remains hidden within the northwest corner of California’s Yosemite National Park, offering visitors an array of majestic sights throughout the seasons.

In spring, visitors can witness two of North America’s tallest waterfalls cascading down thousand-foot granite cliffs, while early spring brings trails bursting with flowers, wildlife, and high-country lakes to explore.

According to the National Park Service, John Muir once referred to Hetch Hetchy as “a wonderfully exact counterpart of the great Yosemite,” a reminder of why Irish is so drawn to it.

“It’s an amazing place because it looks like a miniature Yosemite valley with waterfalls. Yosemite is one of the busiest parks, so Hetch Hetchy offers a chance to experience a quiet side of this stunning area,” Irish shared.

Today, the area is home to a reservoir supplying drinking water to San Francisco residents, making it one of the largest single bodies of water in Yosemite.

Bright Angel Campground in Grand Canyon National Park

Thanks to its immense popularity, the main canyon area of Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park can pack in anywhere from 1 to 2 million people daily, leading Irish to prefer heading down to the Bright Angel Campground, where crowds begin to thin out as you venture farther down the trail.

The hike down is extensive, and he advises not attempting it all in one day, as you may tire yourself getting back up. However, once you reach the campground, you’ll be rewarded with a unique setting few visitors experience.

“It’s another world compared to Grand Canyon where you can get up close to the Colorado River—the very river that carved this magnificent canyon,” Irish expressed.

The Racetrack in Death Valley National Park

The Racetrack, located in a remote valley between the Cotton and Last Chance Ranges, is known for its mystery, particularly the bizarre phenomenon of moving rocks.

In Death Valley National Park, rocks seem to glide across the dry lakebed, leaving long trails of sand behind them, contributing to their enigmatic nature.

Research suggests these mysterious movements result from a combination of rain creating slippery conditions and wind pushing the rocks from above. Consequently, this area has garnered fame, yet remains uncrowded due to the difficulty of access; only a Jeep or 4×4 can manage the rough terrain.