The Best Hidden Gems in Yellowstone
Yellowstone is one of the most popular National Parks in the United States. It’s also one of the
largest, encompassing over 2.2 million acres. This means as a visitor, there is a lot of ground to
cover! You could spend days visiting all the ‘top places to visit in Yellowstone,’ but those top
places will also always be the most crowded. As local Yellowstone tour guides who bring visitors
to the park nearly every day in the summer, we’ve curated a list of our top hidden gems in
Yellowstone to add to your list!
The Best Hidden Gems in Yellowstone for 2025
1. Brink of The Falls
Located in the popular Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, the Brink of the Falls is an overlook many
Yellowstone visitors miss. The .07-mile trail is short but steep, dropping 265 feet down to the
brink of the lower falls. Looking over the edge of this view is sure to make your stomach drop!
2. West Thumb Geyser Basin
There are many popular geyser basins in Yellowstone National Park, such as Midway Geyser.
Basin and Norris Geyser Basin. However, we recommend taking a Yellowstone Tour that takes
you to the lesser-known basins. Especially in peak season, the most popular geyser areas are
often filled to capacity and have long lines for parking. West Thumb Geyser Basin is one of the
most scenic in the park, sitting of the shores of Yellowstone Lake, and has some features you
won’t want to miss.
3. Dunada Falls
If you’re up for a long trek into the backcountry, Dunada Falls is a 16.7-mile out-and-back hike
that offers some pretty cool perks. The falls itself are pretty spectacular, but there are also hot
springs at the base of the falls where it is legal to soak. The only hot springs within Yellowstone
National Park you can do so!
4. Morning Glory Pool
Some of the most scenic geyser pools aren’t located along the tourist path. That’s why we always
recommend booking a Yellowstone tour through a local company. Our guides know all the best
spots! Morning Glory Pool is the perfect example of a stunning spring that you can enjoy all to
yourself, even when the park is packed.
5. Lake Butte Overlook
Unless entering from the east entrance of Yellowstone (which is the best entrance, by the way!),
most visitors miss one of the best scenic views in the park. From the Lake Butte Overlook, one
can see Grand Teton on a clear day. You’ll also see clear across Yellowstone Lake, which is
one of the most remote wildernesses in the entire country.
6. Sedge Bay
Another wonderful hidden gem of Yellowstone located along Yellowstone Lake is Sedge Bay, which is ideal for a mid day picnic or scenic sunset spot after a long day of exploring. The bay includes a perfect pebble beach, great for relaxing. It is also a common location for spotting buffalo, elk, bald eagles, and bear. Rumor has it there is a bald eagle nest in the area, but only Yellowstone guides know the exact location.
7. Firehole Spring
A short detour from the main Yellowstone loop, but one that is worth the stop. Firehole Spring is one of many springs located in the area, all of which mimic other geysers throughout the park but with less visitors. When we take groups on our guided Yellowstone tours, many of them say that they would’ve missed the hidden turn-off easily if they tried finding it on their own!
8. Firehole River Swimming Area
In the same area as Firehole Springs is Firehole River swimming area, the perfect place to cool
off and take a plunge on a hot summer day. Parking here is extremely limited, which is why we
recommend getting there early or asking your driver to drop you off before finding a place to
park. It is one of the few areas in Yellowstone that is safe for a swim, so we always encourage
visitors to take advantage of it!
Discover The Best Hidden Gems in Yellowstone with CoveredGround Tours
If you’re a traveler who enjoys going beyond the typical tourist track and wants to see all the best-hidden gems AND all the most iconic locations, we’ve got you covered! Our Upper Loop Tours and Lower Loop Tours offer the perks of seeing all the best the park has to offer while offering the flexibility to see all those little side areas along the way; all our guides are local to Cody, Wyoming. We encourage you to test them and ask for those hidden gems!
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