The “Big Three” national parks in the U.S. are Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.
They’re not the largest (the top three are all in Alaska) and they’re not most heavily visited (in 2024, they were, in order, Great Smoky Mountains, Zion, and Grand Canyon), but they’re considered the crown jewels for their size and their world-famous status.
This also means they can get really busy.
Parking can be a nightmare in all three, and actual driving can be slow and frustrating. So how can you experience their beauty without feeling as though you’re on a crowded city street?
Here are some ideas:
Grand Canyon: Point Sublime
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High clearance is recommended for this 18-mile unpaved road, but a lot of passenger cars can make it with careful drivers. You’ll get an unforgettable view of the Grand Canyon from the North Rim, and you’ll have a very good chance of sharing it with only a few others or no one else at all.
Grand Canyon: Cape Final
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Because you can drive all the way to Cape Royal and then hike short, easy trails to spectacular views of the Grand Canyon, relatively no one bothers to stop along the way and hike to Cape Final, also on the North Rim. Enjoy the views that you’ll share with maybe a handful of other people at most.
Grand Canyon: Toroweap
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Most people have no idea this place exists. Access is not from within the park but rather from BLM lands near Fredonia, Arizona. A long, bumpy, and unpaved drive leads to this spot on the North Rim where the Grand Canyon is much narrower and where sheer walls drop 3000’ to the Colorado River.
Grand Canyon– Rim Trail
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The drive-up overlooks on the South Rim are usually clogged with people, even in winter. What many people don’t know is that the Rim Trail runs along much of the South Rim, and you usually don’t have to hike too far from one of the parking areas to be by yourself.
Yellowstone: Trout Lake
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Located near the Northeast Entrance, the short and easy hike to this lake is worth a stop. It frames nice views of rugged peaks, and because the parking area is small, this destination rarely feels crowded.
Yellowstone: Specimen Ridge
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Also in the northeastern section of Yellowstone, Specimen Ridge is a visual treat that flies below the radars of most people. The vast majority of Yellowstone visitors are there for roadside attractions, and getting atop Specimen Ridge requires an actual hike. Up there, you’ll have views of mountains and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and you’ll also likely see petrified wood, colorful rocks, and elk antlers. All are illegal to remove, but photographing them isn’t.
Yellowstone: Norris Geyser Basin
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Norris is a major destination, and you won’t be all along there. However, although it’s the hottest and most active geothermal area in the park, it doesn’t have geysers such as Old Faithful that erupt on a regular basis. There are also two main areas of the huge basin, so Norris never feels as mobbed as most of the other roadside geyser basins do.
Yellowstone: Bighorn Pass
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You can get to this pass from either U.S. 191 on the park’s west side or from the east within the park. Either way, you end up high in the Gallatin Range, and you’re probably more likely to see a bear than you are to see another human.
Yosemite: Elizabeth Lake
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The trailhead for Cathedral Lake is almost always full. It’s not so for Elizabeth Lake, and the hike is shorter and easier. This lake also has a fantastic view of Unicorn Peak, which is a fun climb if you’re up for some adventure.
Yosemite: Pothole Dome
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From the parking lot in the Tuolumne Meadows area of the park, a trail leads to the base of this dome and then stops. If you can find the way up, which isn’t that hard, you’ll find awesome views and, if it’s rained recently, the namesake potholes.
Yosemite: Tuolumne Grove
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A lot of people associate sequoias with the national park of the same name, but they also live and grow in Yosemite. Since Yosemite is known for its cliffs and waterfalls, it’s easy to forget her ancient and beautiful sequoia groves.
Yosemite: Yosemite Falls Trail
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The viewing area for Lower Yosemite Falls is mobbed for most of the day. Nearby, a steep trail snakes its way up the cliffs all the way to the brink of the Upper Fall, where it all begins. You’ll also have great views of Yosemite Valley, and the steepness of the trail will keep the crowds away.
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