Deserted Trails, No Lines, and a Sky Big Enough for Everyone

Where the desert feels infinite and the crowds are nowhere to be found

I’ve spent enough time in national parks to know that sometimes, the hardest part of the experience isn’t the hike—it’s finding a parking spot.

It’s standing in a line at a shuttle stop, weaving through crowds at an overlook, or waiting for a moment of quiet that never quite comes. Don’t get me wrong, the parks are popular for a reason. But sometimes, I …