Though I've been visiting Yellowstone National Park for a few decades and hiked many of the park's trails, in truth I've only scratched the surface of the backcountry paths that wind through this incredible landscape. So on my latest trip I packed four guidebooks and three maps with plans to discover a new one. And the one I did was practically out the door of my cabin.

There are two ways to get to Lone Star Geyser from Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park: Drive down to the parking area for Kepler Cascades and walk 2.4 miles down the paved trail, or take your time and enjoy the scenery while hiking down the Howard Eaton Trail from the inn.

In a park known for its majestic peaks and brilliant lakes, perhaps the most enchanting trail in Banff National Park clings to a canyon above a curving, crystal-clear river with a handful of picturesque plunges just 15 miles west of Banff townsite. Johnston Canyon, one of the area’s most popular hikes, features a pair of large waterfalls along with a handful of smaller cascades as Johnston Creek carves its way through the limestone walls.

Though you'll need a raft, canoe, or kayak to reach this trail, the hike up Water Canyon to the Doll House in Canyonlands National Park and back down to Spanish Bottom and the Green River is time well spent.