The Thorofare is perhaps the most remote place in the contiguous United States--farther from a road than anywhere else, at 25 miles or more. That means that a backpacking here puts you among the country’s most vast wilderness outside of Alaska, but only by putting in your dues. The 34-mile trail delivers you to the heart of this territory, then you still have to get back out.

The Sky Rim is quite unlike most other hikes in Yellowstone. Instead of a meadow or valley trail, it’s an airy traverse of mountaintops and rugged ridgelines. At the border of Yellowstone National Park and Gallatin National Forest, it is far from the national park crowds, and the wild, elevated terrain makes it feel truly a world away.

This 6.1-mile hike will take you through meadows, ancient forests, and burnt areas until quickly ascending the enormous 10,566-foot summit of Avalanche Peak. From the summit, you’ll be rewarded with expansive views of the landscape below. The Tetons and Mount Sheridan lie to the south, Yellowstone Lake to the southwest, and the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains to the east.

The trail takes you to a lookout over Upper Geyser Basin, which has incredible views of Old Faithful and many other impressive geysers.

The Mount Washburn Trail is one of the most popular summit routes in Yellowstone National Park. There is wonderful wildlife in this area, like bighorn sheep, as well as beautiful wildflowers, and awesome views from the top. Its central location and relative isolation from other peaks mean that Mount Washburn affords epic views across Yellowstone.

Yellowstone National Park was the world's first national park. Here you'll find bison, grizzly bears, erupting geysers, bubbling mud pots, and technicolor hot springs in this massive 3,500-square-mile expanse of protected land.