Finding Solitude in Yellowstone & the Tetons

It's no secret that America's National Parks have become increasingly crowded in recent years. In an era that has made travel the new fad, it seems that every worthwhile destination is now at the mercy of floods of visitors. And it doesn't look like it's about to slow down anytime soon!

But it doesn't have to be that way.

Anyone who tells you that the parks are too crowded is more than likely just one of the estimated ninety percent of visitors who never manage to venture more than one hundred feet from their vehicle. In fact, most visitors stake out the singular "instagram-worthy" locations, briefly hop out of the car or campervan to snap a photo for their digital followers and then depart as quickly as they arrived... as if they were never there at all.

Backroads Trip Leaders in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks have come to understand that a visit to these iconic destinations doesn't have to mean elbowing for space on the trail or jockeying for your turn to take in the majesty of an unforgettable viewpoint.

What's the secret? Choose to be active!

Backroads Leaders have discovered a surefire way that you can quickly escape the crowds in the National Parks and find solitude amid nature's grandeur. There's just one hitch... sometimes you have to be willing to go the extra mile (literally)! You see, with each step you take away from those carnival-like, car-accessible viewpoints, you'll notice that the crowds begin to shrink and continue to shrink until they've completely disappeared.

Once you scratch the surface, you'll find that most of the crowd-heavy points of interest in the national parks are only an introduction to what these incredible places have to offer when you really get into it. Like anything in life, you get out of an experience what you put into it. As a guest on Backroads Yellowstone & Tetons Walking & Hiking Tour, you can choose from a number of hiking options on almost every day of the trip. This not only encourages you to create your own adventure along the way, it also gives you the freedom to continue on if you're keen to out-explore your travel partner. Flexibility, willingness and opportunity are the keys to making the most of your visit to any national park.

Now, don't think that avoiding the crowds is the only trick that Backroads Leaders know. We can out-think the crowds, too!

One thing we've noticed is that crowds don't seem to care for mornings all that much. As a matter of fact, they don't do mornings at all. Yellowstone sits on top of the world's largest active super-volcano and while its geothermal features are awesome to begin with... they're even more incredible to witness as the sun is rising into the sky and fog is rising off the ground! There are few things in this life more other-worldly than experiencing these hot spots in action during the morning hours without a lot of other people around. And it's not so much the voices and footsteps you may hear at this time of day, it's the incredible sizzle of red-hot water hissing from the earth just begging to be released. As an added bonus, setting out into the wilderness early tends to give you an even better possibility of seeing some amazing wildlife. For instance, when there are no people in sight, bison love to make their way near to the thermal features of Yellowstone in the morning for their own kind of mornin' cup of joe. The tranquility and peace you can find in the morning in a national park is something that will stay with you for a long time.

Now, don't go thinking that you can avoid all of the crowds all of the time. That's just plain crazy. Besides, on any visit to a national park there are certain occasions where NOT avoiding crowds can actually enhance the experience. When we stop by Yellowstone's famed Old Faithful geyser, it's always a memorable experience to share the excitement with others. At the moment that Old Faithful erupts, there is generally a collective outburst of "ooohhs" and "ahhhs" as onlookers react to the dramatic moment. Sure, it would be fine to be hanging out at this historic spot alone. But sharing the moment with a group of strangers offers the opportunity to bond with others before venturing off to see more of the area with a Backroads Leader on carefully-selected and less-traveled paths.

Backroads has forty years of experience taking guests to America's National Parks. With all of our talented trip designers and researchers, we've gained a considerable amount of traction with pinpointing the top-notch hiking trails that will give you epic views along the way and will get you out and about with little more than mother nature herself.

Backroads Leaders strive to give our guests an experience like no other. In Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks there are more than enough trails, routes, and options to find a way to escape the crowds and get you into a space to breathe, connect with nature and rejuvenate. If your heart is set on solitude, just keep hiking... we'll take care of the rest!