re: National Parks are too crowded

i hiked the Outer Mountain Loop at Big Bend in late winter, which is nearing peak time to hike it (middle of fall or spring probably the perfect time), and i saw three other people the entire time on the trail.

in 2020, right as we were coming out of the initial COVID lockdown I went to Yellowstone, and the line out of the gate at West Yellowstone was ridiculous, so I bailed. I drove up the highway and jumped onto a trail on the side of the road and hiked up to the Sky Rim and saw five other hikers the whole time. did like a fiteen mile out and back. it was fantastic. you know what I didnt see? Old Faithful with 10,000 other tourists. didnt give a shite.

or go to Denali in AK and get dropped off twenty miles into the park. you wont see a soul.