10 Tips for Visiting a National Park
There are more than 400 national park properties across the United States and its territories. The most well-known parks (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Arches, Rocky Mountains, Acadia, etc.) fall into the national park category. There are 59 of those. The remaining 350 or so are are either national monuments, national historic parks, national battlegrounds, national memorials, wild and scenic rivers, national recreation areas, national lakeshores, mountain parks or national seashores. (I may have forgotten a few other categories, but you get the picture.)
I’m currently on a quest to visit all 413 national park properties across this great land. There are still plenty of sights for me to see — I’m only 120 in so far. But along the way, I’ve picked up some common-sense tips that should help make your national park visits more enjoyable.
(One side note. I’m writing this from a tent outside Arches National Park in Utah. Yes, I brought a laptop to go camping at a national park. That should probably be one of my tips — don’t bring a laptop while camping at a national park. Regardless, many of the examples I’ll use come from the past couple of days at Arches.)
1. Do your research — Let me be clear, I’m all about flexibility. I would never advise anyone to have every second of every minute of every hour planned out. But I would tell you to do a bit of background research before you arrive. The national park service has fantastic websites with all the information you’ll need — maps, trails, hours, etc. You don’t want to waste an hour at the visitor center staring at a map, especially if your time is limited.
2. Ask questions — Saying that, I do believe in the value of talking to the rangers at the visitor center. I ask three simple questions every time I arrive at a park:
What’s your favorite part of the park? What I’m looking for here is some gem that might be out of the way or not well publicized.
Where’s the best place to watch the sunset? I’m a sunset chaser. My favorite 20-minute period of any day in a park is the 10 minutes before and after sunset.
Where’s the best place to watch the stars? Stargazing is one of my favorite hobbies. Many parks are dark-certified, meaning you should get a great view of all the stars and the Milky Way on a clear night.
3. Know the rules about pets — This one hurts, because I love to take Lucy everywhere. But, as a rule of thumb, dogs are not allowed on the trails in national parks. There are a couple of simple reasons why. First, dogs can present a danger to the wildlife that call the park home. They can also be a danger to other guests or themselves, depending on the scenery in the park. And there are always those owners who choose to not clean up after their pets. Just yesterday I saw three dogs on trails where they shouldn’t have been, and the owners failed to pick up after the dogs did their business. Fellow hikers eventually shamed the owners to reconsider. Most parks will allow you to bring your dogs in, but they must stay accompanied in the car at all times. Some parks, like Shenandoah National Park, will allow dogs on the trails. National recreation areas also tend to be very dog-friendly. It just depends. Do your research, and know before you go.
4. Be prepared — If you’re going hiking, make sure to be dressed for the occasion. Today I witnessed a man in dress slacks and dress shoes attempting to climb the slickrock trail to Delicate Arch. (“Attempting” would be the key word there.) Make sure to bring hiking shoes, a hat and plenty of water. Don’t assume parks will have drinking water available for you or even for sale.
5. Don’t drive like a maniac — Drivers in parks tend to fall into two categories: Way too slow or way too fast. I usually find myself in that first category — taking everything in before realizing I’m going six miles an hour. If that sounds like you, please use the pull-outs as much as possible to let other drivers pass. There’s no need for road rage in a place of serenity. If you are more of the heavy-footed variety, there’s probably not much I can say to persuade you to slow down. But I would remind you that driving above the posted speed limits can be incredibly dangerous on certain roads in certain parks — particularly winding and steep roads. You also have to remember that hikers or bicyclists could be around any corner. And there’s also the slow drivers to think about. Tailgating someone who may stop at any second to take a picture raises the potential of ruining your day in the park. As a hiker told a family struggling to get their kids up the path today, “Take your time. It’ll be there when you get there.” That applies to our time on the roads, as well.
6. Be nice — I say hello to every person I come across on the trails. It’s amazing how good a smile, a nod or a few words can make you feel. Responses tend to fall into three categories:
Friendly: Most people will say hello back and ask how you’re doing. I’ve made some good friends over the past couple of years by striking up conversations on a hike. I also love to take time on the way down from a summit to provide encouragement to those heading up. A simple “It’s so worth it!” can go a long way.
Oblivious: Others will simply ignore you. There’s nothing you can do about that.
Shocked: Perhaps the funniest response is from those who are shocked that a stranger said hello. These people tend to be from New York. (Just kidding, New Yorkers.)
On the flip side, don’t be mean. Today I watched a man in his 50s scream at anyone who would listen that we needed to get out of his way and stop ruining his experience. His wife embarrassingly turned around and said, “I’m sorry. My husband doesn’t like people.” She must have the patience of Job.
7. Treat the land with respect — Several parks feature sensitive vegetation just inches away from the path. I realize many of us think our Instagram submissions will look so much better if we get just a few feet closer, but you’re running the risk of damaging the ecosystem by going off the trails. In addition, don’t do anything silly like carving into rocks or taking rocks home with you. Then there’s littering. I’m constantly amazed that, in 2016, we still have people who litter. My biggest pet peeve, however, is with smokers. It’s none of my business if you smoke. But when you smoke while hiking on a trail, there’s a 99.99% chance that cigarette butt is going to end up being thrown on the ground. That creates a fire risk and is incredibly disrespectful of the land and your fellow guests. Yesterday I followed as two guys smoked while on a hike. (I mean, seriously — there’s no way that’s enjoyable.) They threw their butts on the ground and sheepishly turned around. I’m guessing my disgust was visible, because one of them shrugged his shoulders and shot a “What can I do?” glare my way.
8. Embrace the night — Parks can be fantastic places to visit after dark. For starters, the crowds are usually long gone. I love the solitude that goes along with being in a huge park after the sun goes down. I often wonder where the next closest human being — or animal — is in relation to myself. Plus, you can’t beat those night-time sky views in most parks. Just be careful when hiking at night.
9. Soak it in — Remember to take a deep breath, put down your phone occasionally and take a minute to appreciate your surroundings. I was taking picture after picture of the sunset tonight when a loud wind began to rumble through the canyons. That was my wake-up call. I leaned up against my car, closed my eyes and took in that moment.
10. Tell others — Share your stories, pictures and memories with anyone who will pay attention. Tell your family, friends and coworkers about your trips. Inspire them to hit the road, as well. The parks are our lands. We should be their best ambassadors.
