{"id":306,"date":"2020-06-09T16:02:08","date_gmt":"2020-06-09T23:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/?p=306"},"modified":"2025-06-15T06:19:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-15T13:19:21","slug":"solitude-hiking-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/09\/solitude-hiking-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Want Solitude When Hiking? Follow These Nine Tips…"},"content":{"rendered":"

Want solitude in the wilderness, whether day hiking or backpacking?<\/strong> Sure, many trails are often crowded, but you can find lots of space to roam away from the crowds by following these nine tips.<\/p>\n

\"You
You can find solitude while day hiking or backpacking. I hiked cross-country to reach this secluded lake in Northern California, a place that probably sees fewer than a dozen visitors a year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

Hiking Solitude Tip #1: Hike Less Popular Places<\/h2>\n

I do most of my hiking in Northern California, and Northern California has some extremely popular trails in some extremely popular places. The last time I hiked to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall from the Yosemite Valley floor, the entire trail was a line of people going up and a line of people going down. Never again for me!<\/p>\n

\"You
You won’t find solitude at Vernal Fall in Yosemite National Park. This was on a weekday hike in early September in 2010. The trail to here was a long line of people. We were never more than 10 feet away from another person.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So go explore the places the herds avoid. For example, instead of the hikes in and around Yosemite Valley, take Tioga Pass Road and explore the many trails there, or come into the park from the east via Highway 395. Better yet, stay out of the park altogether and hike into the Sierra high country on national forest lands.<\/p>\n

Typically, 95-99% of hikers congregate on 1-5% of the trails: don’t hike on those popular trails if you want to be alone!<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can also choose areas that are more remote and see fewer visitors overall. Staying with our Northern California theme, Lassen Volcanic National Park has many trails<\/a>, but, outside of the truly popular ones like Bumpass Hell, Kings Creek Falls, Cinder Cone, and Lassen Peak, most of the paths see relatively few hikers, especially when you get a few miles from the trailhead. For example, I prefer climbing Brokeoff Mountain to summiting Lassen Peak<\/a>; Brokeoff Mountain sees only 1-2% of the foot traffic that Lassen Peak does.<\/p>\n

\"Brokeoff
View of Lassen Peak (lots of people) from the summit of Brokeoff Mountain<\/a> (nobody when I was there!)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Also consider more remote areas, such as the Mount Shasta area<\/a> or the Trinity Alps Wilderness<\/a> in upper Northern California.<\/p>\n

Hiking Solitude Tip #2: Hike on Weekdays<\/h2>\n

The same reason this may not work for some of you is the same reason it will work for the rest of you, and the key here is the other main meaning of work, i.e., a job. Most people have jobs<\/strong> that keep them occupied Monday through Friday. That means they aren’t on the trails on those days, leaving more room for you — if you don’t have to work, that is.<\/p>\n

Hiking Solitude Tip #3: Hike Early<\/h2>\n

Beat the crowds by getting to the trailhead at dawn, or as early as you can in the morning. Most people aren’t early risers<\/strong>, so you can have a normally crowded trail all to yourself by starting while they are still in bed or getting ready for the day.<\/p>\n

\"Little
Sunrise at a high-mountain lake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hiking Solitude Tip #4: Hike Late in the Day<\/h2>\n

Conversely, wait until late in the day, when most people have already left the trail and headed home for dinner. Just make sure you time it right so you’re back to the trailhead by dark<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Find Solitude through Dispersed Camping<\/h4>\n

\"Camp<\/p>\n

My book shows you everything you need to know to find and enjoy secluded dispersed camping\/boondocking spots in the backcountry:<\/strong><\/p>\n