Going hiking this weekend -- dodging the crowds

I live in an area that is incredibly popular with tourists and campers. Yesterday, the highway was bumper to bumper with angry and impatient city folk (and frustrated locals trying to get home.)

The funny thing is, they all head for the same areas. The same campsites, the same roads for dispersed camping, the same hiking trails, the same scenic views, the same lakes, the same creeks.

I'm planning on going about twenty miles up the road from the popular areas ... same basic area, same scenery, same wildlife, etc. There's an established campground in the area (with picnic tables and pit toilets) that will probably have nobody at it. My plan, however, is to walk in about half a mile and set up camp beside a lazy creek with big swimming holes and fish and wild berries and big sandy, grassy meadows.

I don't expect to see many people except on the roads in. Wouldn't surprise me if I didn't see anyone. (Saw zero people over Labor Day in the same area.)

What are the tourist crowds like in your area?

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Going hiking this weekend -- dodging the crowds