6 Hidden Gems Inside National Parks

Sometimes the best destinations aren’t the most obvious ones

Jeff Tomik,

AARP Experience Counts

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Published June 06, 2024

Skull Rock in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Getty Images

With more than 325 million people visiting U.S. national parks last year, it can be hard to find a way to enjoy the spectacular views and natural habitat without the distraction of massive crowds.

While people will always flock to the best spots to capture the Half Dome in Yosemite and Angels Window in the Grand Canyon, there are plenty of less frequented sites that are worth venturing off the beaten path.

Here are six hidden gems in some of the most popular national parks:

1. Skull and Heart Rocks - Joshua Tree, California

heart rock in skull and bones rocks in joshua tree

Heart Rock at Joshua Tree National Park, California

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Whether you’re looking for love or feeling like death, there’s a rock for you in Joshua Tree. Skull Rock, a granite boulder, which has two eroded indentations that resemble eye sockets, is the more popular of these two formations because it’s close to the road.

If you’re seeking more adventure than just a quick pitstop, there’s a 1.7-mile loop trail you could take to see Skull Rock.

Heart Rock, which is 10 feet tall, can be found by taking a short detour on the famous Arch Rock Trail. It’s not marked on any map so you will need to keep your eyes open.

2. Superior Bathhouse Brewery - Hot Springs, Arkansas

superior bathhouse brewery in hot springs arkansas

Superior Bathhouse Brewery in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

Jami Smith/Superior Bathhouse Brewery

Not only does Superior claim to be the only brewery in a national park, but the pub also says it has the only beer in the world that’s brewed from thermal spring water.

From 1916 to 1983, the facility functioned as a bathhouse. Then the building was vacant for three decades before the current owner signed a lease with the Department of the Interior and began building the brewery in 2013.

Now it has 18 beers on tap and a full menu featuring burgers and hot dogs. And don’t worry, Superior says the thermal water from the 47 springs it uses to brew the beers has been tested for safety.

3. Schooner Head Overlook in Acadia – Bar Harbor, Maine

Schooner Head Overlook in Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine

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Acadia has the first sight of sunrise in the United States and if you want to avoid the crowds of Cadillac Mountain, Schooner Head Overlook on the east side of Mount Desert Island offers spectacular views right from the parking area.

The Egg Rock Lighthouse can also be seen from this spot, and there’s a trail that winds down the cliff in case you want to venture out a bit.

4. Cape Royal Point in the Grand Canyon – Arizona

wotans throne in cape royal in the grand canyon

Wotans Throne from Cape Royal, North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

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For spectacular sunset views, it doesn’t get much better than Cape Royal Point, which sits on the southern tip of the Walhalla Plateau. The trek to the overlook is less than a half-mile hike down a paved trail and it’s one of the few spots on the North Rim with views of the Colorado River.

Only 10 percent of visitors to the national park make the journey to the North Rim, so if you’re looking to take in the canyon without the congestion, this is the side for you.

5. The Crow's Nest at the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone – Wyoming

The lobby of the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park Lodges

While it’s not easy to find a room at the park’s most popular lodging facility, which sits right next to its main attraction, it’s even harder to visit the Crow’s Nest. But if you plan months (or even a year) in advance, you can take in one of the most amazing and exclusive views in the country.

The Crow’s Nest, architect Robert Reamer’s fantasy-turned-reality indoor treehouse, sits 76.5 feet above the lobby of the Old Faithful Inn. To use the winding staircases to the top, you need to reserve a tour, which involves you raising or lowering the flags.

Even if you’re unable to book a trip to the top, it’s still worth stopping by the inn to capture one of the largest log-style structures in the world. The stunning cabin on steroids was built from 1903 to 1904.

6. Glacier Park Boat Company in Glacier – West Glacier, Montana

wild goose island in st marys lake, glacier national park

Wild Goose Island, St. Mary’s Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana

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This company, which has been in business in Glacier National Park since 1938, offers scenic boat tours at four different locations: Lake McDonald, Many Glacier, St. Mary Lake at Rising Sun and Two Medicine.

Depending on the tour, there’s a range of ticket prices ($20 to $40) and availability, with Lake McDonald being offered in mid-May and the rest starting in June. All four run through mid-September.

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The west entrance is the more popular side of the park, so the St. Mary Lake at Rising Sun tour on the east side along the Going-to-the-Sun Road is the best option to capture beautiful views while taking advantage of the less popular part of the park. The 90-minute tour includes a five-minute hike to see Baring Falls Waterfall. Wheelchair seating is also available on this tour.

Bottom line

Choosing somewhere a little different in America’s wonderful national parks can be very rewarding – and give you bragging rights when you return and tell your friends about where you’ve been.

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Jeff Tomik graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. in journalism and worked for publications in the Washington, D.C., area from 2007, spending 11 years at The Washington Post, where he was a multiplatform editor. He is currently an assistant editor at PhillyVoice.

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