Compared two hiking trails in Yosemite last weekend and one was clearly better

I did the Mist Trail up to Vernal Fall and then the John Muir Trail on the way down. The Mist Trail was way more crowded with people stopping every 10 feet to take selfies, but the John Muir Trail gave us those massive open views and hardly any foot traffic at just 1.5 miles longer. Has anyone else found a quieter route in a popular park that beat the main path?

3 comments

3 Comments

walker.julia1d ago

Yeah, the hidden path is almost always better. Same with coffee shops, honestly.

the_sean1d ago

But is the hidden path really "better" or is it just that people like feeling like they found a secret nobody else knows about, @walker.julia? I mean, think about it - once a coffee shop gets popular online, suddenly it's not hidden anymore and the magic fades. Same with trails and hikes too, right? What makes a hidden path actually better? Is it the solitude, the surprise of finding something unexpected, or just the bragging rights of being "in the know"? Because I've been on some "secret" trails that were honestly just okay, but everyone acted like they were life-changing. Kinda makes you wonder what we're really chasing sometimes.

wright.leo1d agoTop Commenter

Went to a quiet beach in Big Sur last year. @walker.julia the parking lot was empty and the waves were perfect. But no bathrooms or cell service. Felt like I stumbled into someone's private backyard. Turns out it was just a 30 minute walk from the main lot everyone ignores.