Off the Beaten Path: 9 Ways To Find Great Trips that Aren’t Instagram Hotspots

One of my guilty pleasures is scrolling through Instagram reels of travel, backpacking, and outdoor content. Social media has spurred me to get out more often and try new things like mountain biking. While I hope it does the same for others, I know online content has a dark side. Influencers carefully curate shots to avoid showing the overcrowded reality of many popular destinations.

A 2024 study of national park visits confirmed what many of us have suspected for several years: increased social media exposure leads to increased visitation. While this may help more people spend time in nature, it can also lead to overcrowded trail conditions, litter, and habitat degradation, particularly in sensitive areas.

I love hiking with good company, but I mostly head to the woods to enjoy nature and a bit of solitude. Over the years, I’ve gotten good at finding hikes off the beaten path. These are my strategies.

9 Ways To Find Great Hikes Off the Beaten Path

1. Go Analog 

You guessed it, we’re going back to paper. I can already hear the “okay boomer” coming, but with most people heading to apps and social media to find their trails, there are some excellent, overlooked hikes in trail guides, maps, and regional guidebooks. Libraries are great places to find regional guidebooks if you don’t have extra cash. Be sure to look at statewide guides, county guides, national forest guides, and national park guides. 

Keep in mind that some of these books will likely contain dated information. Be sure to check the publishing date and reference modern maps when possible.

I also always check the paper maps and guides that are typically available for free at state and national park visitor centers. A few of the small state parks local to me in West Virginia have at least ten trails, while only three to five show up on apps like AllTrails and in Instagram searches.

2. Don’t Overlook City Parks

City parks may be underrated trail hot spots. In the area where I live now, there are at least six city parks within an hour’s drive that feature around 90 miles of trails for hiking and biking. On these trails I’ve seen wildlife like eagles and owls, visited waterfalls, cliffs, and unique rock formations, spotted Native American artifacts, and spent peaceful time running and biking through gorgeous woodlands and along clear brooks. 

I’m blessed to live in a beautiful place. But while I see locals making full use of these trails, visitors tend to stick to the more well-known state and national parks. If you’re planning a trip, always search for smaller city and town parks in the area.

3. Visit Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)

From Florida to Montana, many US states also have wildlife management areas (WMAs). These conservation areas are typically set aside for hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor recreation. 

WMAs tend to be more rugged and offer fewer amenities than state parks, but they usually still have some hiking trails and camping available. Like city parks, I’ve found that they are often overlooked in favor of state and national parks. 

The conditions you’ll find can vary widely. For example, G. Richard Thompson WMA in Virginia features a well-marked section of the Appalachian Trail, while the Edward Sargent Wildlife Area in New Mexico has no named or marked trails but still allows you to hike along old logging roads and creeks through some stunning, remote elk habitat. 

I’ve found that visiting these WMAs outside of peak fishing and hunting season means I practically have them to myself. Plan before you visit, and check on hunting seasons and regulations. Many WMAs still allow non-hunters even during the season, but it’s best to stay on the trail and wear blaze orange.

4. Talk to People

Another great park resource is the rangers and other land management officials. They have in-depth information on the park and weather conditions, so they can make great recommendations for your visit. 

Locals are another key resource and are often happy to share, especially if you’re supporting their business. Skip the Starbucks and Chipotle in favor of local coffee shops and diners on your next trip. 

Other outdoorsy friends, colleagues, or acquaintances can also be great resources when looking for your next favorite hike. Hikers always want to talk about hiking. My best friend’s boss shared one of his favorite hikes to a waterfall and swimming hole with us. It was a bit difficult to find but is now one of my favorite spots.

If you don’t already have a good circle of hiking friends, getting involved with outdoor organizations and trail maintenance crews is a good way to expand your circle. You can help give back, learn about your area, make friends, and get some good recommendations for hikes off the beaten path at the same time.

READ NEXT – A Thru-Hiker Shares Their Favorite Spots on the Appalachian Trail

5. Go Off Trail

Many TikTok-famous trails have a few things in common. They’re easy to find directions to, well-marked, and easily accessible. Finding destinations that lack nearby parking, well-maintained or marked trails, or good GPS directions can help you get away from the crowd. 

You can also go even further and do some off-trail hiking or bushwhacking. It’s important to stay on the trail in some locations to protect sensitive habitats, but some amazing destinations allow or even require off-trail hiking. 

Denali National Park in Alaska is one of the most famous hiking destinations with few established trails. The Bisti Wilderness and Great Sand Dunes National Park in New Mexico are similar. Mount Rainier National Park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Olympic National Park, and Wind Cave National Park also feature large trail-less sections. Some of these still require permits. However, unlike the popular well-traveled areas, permits for these wild sections are usually easy to get.

National and state forests in your area may also offer similar experiences. No matter where, always check with the land managers to ensure that off-trail hiking is allowed. 

This style of trip is less popular for a reason. You will need more skill and experience if you want to hike off-trail, and it isn’t recommended for beginners. Bring a map and compass and know how to use them. 

These days, most people also want to bring a GPS, but it’s important to practice with it before you go. Know how to navigate with your GPS, how long the batteries typically last, and how to send an SOS with it, if applicable. 

You should start simple and opt for a shorter hike. If you’re used to 15+ mile days on trail, plan to make about half that distance in the backcountry.

6. Welcome a Bit of Imperfection

A couple of years ago, I read a novel by Taylor Brown centered around the 137-mile Altamaha River, sometimes called Georgia’s Little Amazon. I was enchanted and quickly started planning a trip.

Few people thought this was a good idea. The river has few designated campsites, and there’s an active paper mill near the end (yuck). But my heart was already seton the Altamaha, so I dragged my best friend and dad down to Georgia anyway.

It ended up being one of my all-time favorite paddling trips. We fished, saw massive alligators plunge off the banks, watched rare seabirds soar over ancient cypress forests, listened to owls, and camped on sandy beaches. Despite the paper plant, I wouldn’t change the trip for the world.

Learn to accept and seek out imperfection. That paddling trip was perfect in many ways because few others were interested. The guy who gave us a shuttle had never heard of anyone paddling the whole river in a kayak. We had so little information that the entire trip was an adventure. 

Stay curious about the outdoors. Look into places you hear about, even if they aren’t listed on major hiking apps.

When you are on apps like AllTrails, check out trails that have low numbers of reviews or low ratings. They could be awesome spots that get less love because they’re tough to get to, have a lot of blow-downs, or, sadly, have a lot of litter. Bring a bag to collect trash, a can-do attitude, and get out there anyway.

When you’re OK with imperfection and a few less-than-Instagram-worthy shots, you can find locations that offer wild and weird adventures.

7. Leave the Mountains Behind

The mountains are amazing, but too much focus on peak bagging can mean you miss some great hikes. Don’t forget to check out the rainforests, deserts, canyons, rivers, coastal areas, bogs, dunes, and geological formations the world has to offer. While some of these are also popular, many get overlooked. 

A few cool ones my friends and I have visited include Starved Rock State Park in Illinois, the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest (part of Inyo National Forest) in California, the arches in Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky, Shawnee National Forest in Illinois, Summersville Lake State Park in West Virginia, and Isle Royale National Park in Michigan.

Other amazing places to visit and hike include man-made features like ghost towns, battlefields, Native American sites, and ruins from old estates, mines, railroad tunnels, canals, and lighthouses. Just be sure to treat all these areas with respect and make sure visitors are allowed.

8. Visit Off-Season or Off-Hours

What if you’ve already got your heart set on an Instagram destination? I get it. There is a reason these spots get all the social media views. They are incredible. My advice in this situation is to go if you must, but do it wisely.

Many Instagram-worthy destinations are only popular at a certain time of day, like sunset, or during a certain season, like summer or autumn. 

Planning your hike at odd times and hours can give you the freedom of solitude. Grab your headlamps for that sunrise hike, take in the views on a drizzly day, or conquer your fears and get out there in early spring or winter.

When hiking the off-times, take extra steps to be prepared. Pack a headlamp with extra batteries and bring extra layers for winter hikes. Do your research and make sure your skills and gear match the trail you’ll be visiting. Many trails that feel like a walk in the park in summer can be a harrowing ordeal in winter without proper knowledge and equipment. 

Some trailheads close during the winter while the trails themselves may still be listed as open. If you’re willing to do some road walking or maybe cross-country skiing, you can still access them.

9. Explore Nearby Alternatives

A couple of years ago, my husband and I decided to take a camping trip in Ohio. While planning, we came across several posts complaining about the overcrowded conditions at this popular state park. We almost reconsidered, but in the end we just slightly modified our plans. 

A quick Google search turned up a state forest just a few miles down the road. Though not as well-marked or popular as the state park, it had some equally amazing trails and similar geological features. We only ran into a couple of other hikers. Who knew Ohio had such incredible cliffs and caves?

The World Beyond Instagram

When we see our favorite hikes and dream destinations filled with milling crowds, it’s easy to feel hopeless. Don’t forget that the world outside Instagram is still a vast and incredible place. Hopefully, these ideas help you find a bit of solitude on your next adventure.

Featured image: Photo via Jordan Charbonneau; graphic design by Zack Goldmann.