15 off-the-beaten-track places in the USA you didn’t know existed

We’ve all heard about the most famous tourist attractions in the US featured in famous movies or travel magazines. But just like every other country, the US has a lot of hidden places that many people aren’t even aware they exist. Additionally, a lot of Americans go abroad to travel the world every year without even knowing about these amazing places in their own country. Here are some breathtaking hidden gems in USA that you (probably) didn’t know existed.

Apostle Islands, Wisconsin

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin consists of 21 gorgeous islands in Lake Superior. This is the largest freshwater lake in the world. The islands are filled with lush forests, picturesque lighthouses, and breathtaking caves. Winter is definitely the time to visit this place. The Apostle Islands today is a federally protected area and home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes on our planet. One spectacular sight is the stratified sandstone cliffs on the shore that get encrusted in glittering icicles during the winter. Another amazing sight is the beautiful sea caves that turn into ice caves in the winter. Finally, one of the islands, Stockton Islands is also famous for the phenomenon of singing sands.

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Devils Tower, Wyoming

Many people don’t actually know that this was the first official United States National monument. President Roosevelt proclaimed it as such in 1906. However, in the process the apostrophe in Devil’s tower was dropped due to a typo mistake, and the error was never corrected. Even though it looks like a volcano, and there isn’t anything similar anywhere in the world, Devils Tower is not a volcano. Some theories claim that the tower was formed underground from molten rock (magma). After that, it was eventually pushed up on the surface and it became solid as time passed by. The formation of Devils Tower occurred some 50 million years ago.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

This is another amazing place on the Superior Lake coast, located east of the Apostle Islands. The park extends for 67 km along the coastline. The lakeshore offers some breathtaking landscapes filled with waterfalls, lush forests, natural arches, and sand dunes. The name of the place comes from the mineral-stained sandstone cliffs. These contribute to the vibrant colorful scenery, especially in the autumn.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Tennessee

This is one of the most overlooked, hiking trails in the States. Literally anyone can be a photographer here because of the amazing scenery. Along the trail, you’ll also be able to see some breathtaking sights. One of those would be the biggest and fastest flowing mountain stream in the country. Another breathtaking sight is the rainbow over the Rainbow Falls, a breathtaking 80 ft tall waterfall.

Hamilton Pool Preserve, Texas

This magnificent piece of nature that was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed several thousand years ago. Over the limestones, the pool spills out creating a 50-foot waterfall. At the turn of the century, transportation to the place was practically impossible. Only 5 people had access to it. Nowadays the pool reserve is slowly turning into a tourist attraction. However, there’s still a daily limit on the number of people who can be in the reserve, making the pool one of the best hidden vacation spots in the US.

If you would like to discover more hidden gems in Texas, check out this list of beautiful small towns in Texas.

Garden of the Gods, Colorado

This garden is a biological melting pot where the 3 million-year-old stunning red rock formations meet lush green forests. But that’s not all. This 5.5 square kilometers surface is actually home to five different ecosystems. These are cottonwood-willow, prairie-grassland, mountain shrub, pinyon-juniper, and ponderosa pine.

Another reason to visit this marvelous place is the fact that the entrance is free of charge, as the last wish of Charles Perkins, the owner of the land, was the property to remain open to the public forever. If you’re around Denver, taking visiting the Garden of the Gods is one of the best ideas for a day trip.

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Blue Lakes, Colorado

Comfortably nestled in the breathtaking glacial circles of Mt Sneffels, the Blue Lakes Trail in Colorado is one of the top hiking spots in the US. The journey to the top reveals some spectacular panoramic views of the incredible San Juan Mountain range. The best season to go for this hike is the autumn because of the vibrant colors. When I was there I saw only a few other people on the trail, and I believe this is one of the most underrated places in the US.

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Block Island, Rhode Island

It’s really surprising to me how Block Island doesn’t get more visitors since it’s located close to tourist hotspots like Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Block Island somehow manages to keep a low profile and avoid the hordes of people traveling around the region. This leaves Block Island’s 17 miles of pristine beaches remain almost crowd-free. Block Island is also famous for its distinctive lighthouses and the array of hiking trails spread across the island.

Brainerd Lakes

Minnesota is probably one of the least popular states in the country for tourists (probably due to the cold weather). However, the Brainerd Lakes area is a living proof that Minnesota has a lot to offer. The area has more than 500 lakes with serene water and countless miles of lush forests which makes it great for outdoor enthusiasts.

Fly Geyser, Nevada

A list of the best-hidden gems in USA can’t be complete without at least mentioning the Fly Geyser in Nevada. The geyser was actually created accidentally back in 1961 during the drilling of an artesian well that wasn’t capped properly. The water coming out from the geyser actually comes out in different colors. This is as a result of different mineral deposits, such as Sulphur, Iron, and algae.

These vibrant colors and the unreal shape of the natural steaming spout make this place looks just came out of a fairytale. The well is located in Nevada. You probably know that a large part of Nevada is a desert. You probably don’t know that Nevada has the highest geothermal potential among all states.

Supai, Arizona

Supai Village in Arizona is home to Havasupai, the smallest Indian tribe in the US, and the only place on Earth where mail is still delivered by mules. Millions of people visit the Grand Canyon every year but a large majority of them miss out on Supai and the amazing nature surrounding it. One of the most amazing sites in the area is Havasu Falls but getting there is a bit difficult.

Supai is actually not connected with the rest of the US by road and the only way to reach is by a helicopter, on foot, or with a mule/horse. If you want to go back in time and get probably the most authentic experience anywhere in the US, you really shouldn’t miss Supai.

Are you planning to visit Arizona soon and are looking for a great place to stay? Check out my review of the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa.

Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon

Located around 100 km east of Portland, Mount Hood National Forest extends across 90 km of forested mountains, lakes and breathtaking streams that make it one of the best hidden vacation spots in the US. Take a long walk deep in the forest and you’ll witness the magnificent sight of Tamanawas Falls. This wonder of nature thunders over a lava cliff in the eastern base of Mount Hood. If you’re into hiking, you can climb up the rocks above the falls for the most incredible view this place has to offer.

Thor’s Well, Oregon

Speaking of hidden gems in USA, we have to mention Thor’s Well. Sitting on the edge of the Oregon Coast is Thor’s Well- a giant sinkhole that never appears to fill despite the stream of seawater that flows into it. This is certainly one of the biggest natural wonders I’ve seen and theories claim that the Well used to be a sea cave. At one point in time, it was dug out by the waves before the roof collapsed leaving open spots at the top and the bottom through which the ocean surges.

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Fort Jefferson, Florida

Around 100 km from Key West lies the largest masonry structure in the western hemisphere: Fort Jefferson, composed of 16 million bricks. The tropical beauty surrounding the lonely island fortress makes the place one of the best hidden vacation spots in the US. The fort is still unfinished, but the island is open to visitors. Fort Jefferson was formerly known as Devil’s Island because it was used for criminals of the Union Army and being sent here was considered to be a fate worse than death.

Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska

Finally, this list of hidden gems in USA couldn’t be complete without the Mendenhall Glacier. Spreading across 21 km of crystal ice caves, the most amazing part of the glacier are the ice caves lying beneath it. Waterfalls have carved huge turquoise-colored caves through the ice. This gives them an extraordinary shape and making them look surreal. However, due to the constant melting, the caves have shrunk to one-third of their original size and today, there are warnings not to access the caves because of the constant melting.

Helpful resources for discovering hidden gems in USA

Flying to the US? If you want to get some great deals, use this special offer by Qatar Airways and save up to 20% on all flights to the US.

Do you want to visit some of the most famous cities in the US and experience their highlights in a day or two? Use this special offer to join a Big Bus tour and get a 15% discount.

Do you think you’ll need airport parking at some point during your trip? Use this offer to save up to 15%.

For some great accommodation deals in the US, use this Booking.com special offer and get up to 15% off on all bookings around the country.

Are you planning to visit a lot of galleries, museums, and other popular tourist sights? Consider getting a City Pass and save up to 44% when visiting the most famous tourist attractions in the US.

If you want to get off the beaten track and get to some of these places, you’ll probably need to rent a car. Use this special offer by AutoEurope to get 15% off on all car rentals in the US.?

Finally, if you collect points and miles, did you know that there’s a way to earn more rewards while you travel with fewer points? Just check out points.com. You’ll thank me later.

Looking for some more hidden gems in USA? Check out this list of hidden gems in California.

Finally, don’t forget about your US visa. You can do the complete process through IVisa; a website that can help you get a visa to pretty much anywhere.

These are our favorite under-the-radar places in the US that fall off-the-beaten-track. Do you know of some other hidden gems in USA you think we could add to this list? Let us know in the comments.

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