Nantahala National Forest
(North Carolina)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranks second out of 400 national parks in terms of annual attendance—with 14 million visitors. Adjacent to the south, Nantahala National Forest has similar terrain and 11 million less people up in your business. The largest of North Carolina’s four national forests, Nantahala is Cherokee for “land of the noonday sun.” Its namesake whitewater river runs through a gorge so thick with greenery it only gets direct sunlight in some spots at midday. You can fish, swim, boat, raft, water ski, canoe, kayak, horseback ride and mountain bike in Nantahala—as well as hike over 600 miles of developed paths, including parts of the Appalachian Trail and a 6.5-mile loop to Schoolhouse Falls on Little Green Mountain. Nantahala has great elevation too. Its highest peak, called Lone Bald, is 5,800 feet up. Choose from more than a dozen campgrounds spread out across Nantahala’s 528,000 acres, including six with a reservation system, plus plenty of areas for dispersed camping. Change up the scenery with a visit to the small town of Franklin, NC, which lies within the national forest with a river (the Little Tennessee River Greenway) running right through the heart of town. In the fall, when the weather is still warm and the foliage defies all description, treat yourself to a post-hike flight of beers on the patio at the aptly named Lazy Hiker Brewing.
NANTAHALA HAS SIMILAR TERRAIN—AND 11 MILLION LESS PEOPLE UP IN YOUR BUSINESS.
We know what you’re thinking: There are no safe havens for campers in the state of California anymore. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go; you just need to be smarter than the average bear if you want some space. You can’t get closer to Yosemite than Stanislaus, which lies just to the northwest in the Sierras with Lake Tahoe on the other side. A bustling mining hub during the Gold Rush era, Stanislaus was established in 1897, just seven years after Yosemite, making it one of the oldest national forests in the country. No park entrance fee, long lines or reservations here—just 900,000 acres of Northern California to explore via trails like the Crabtree and Bell Meadow, a 19.5-mile loop that runs through the spectacular Sierra Nevada range, past pristine rivers, streams and alpine lakes. Give yourself a few days to do it and pitch your tent in either dedicated campgrounds or wherever it feels right (dispersed camping is allowed here). About 20 miles from the trailhead is downtown Sonora, one of the oldest cities in California. Post up at Sonora Brewing or do the self-guided walking tour of 21 downtown Sonora landmarks, including the historic Lick Building, a former candy shop owned by the aptly named Lick family.
YOU CAN’T GET ANY CLOSER TO YOSEMITE— BUT WITHOUT THE PARK FEES OR LONG LINES.