Prepare for excessive temperatures this summer in the lower elevations of Grand Canyon National Park / Rebecca Latson

There’s quite a bit of news going on in U.S. National Parks. News that might help you with your planning and preparations before hitting the road or taking to the skies. Here's some of the latest.

Baby, It’s Hot Out There!

Early June and the temperatures are already high and creating issues for hikers and park staff, alike. According to a Facebook post by Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, June 3-5 saw excessive heat in the lower elevations with search and rescue teams responding to six heat-related emergencies and 33 hiker assists. One hiker found unresponsive on the South Kaibab Trail during midday had a core temperature measurement greater than 107 degrees Fahrenheit and was short-hauled off the trail and flown to Flagstaff Medical Center in critical condition. Temperatures at Phantom Ranch reached or exceeded 110 degrees Fahrenheit (approx. 43 degrees Celsius) in the shade each day. Rangers at Grand Canyon strongly advise against hiking the inner canyon when excessive heat warnings are in effect.

While still on the subject of excessive heat, Highway 180 north of Flagstaff is closed due to the Slate Fire burning nearby, with no expected time for reopening. If you are traveling to or from the park, consider using Highway 64 for access the South Entrance, or Highway 89 to access the East Entrance. 

Stakes Are Not Just For Vampires

Staff at Bryce Canyon National Park’s resources division are conducting surveys to install fencing to protect and restore sensitive vegetation areas. This involves placing stakes at intervals along the trails, around vegetation the park is trying to protect. Unfortunately, a person or people have been ripping out the stakes and throwing them on the ground, in bushes, and otherwise littering the area with them. Due to these actions, park staff must re-survey large stretches of trail, greatly prolonging the process and increasing the cost of implementation. The park is asking that people please leave the stakes where they find them. If visitors see someone tampering with the stakes, explain why those stakes are there and discourage their behavior, or notify a park ranger.

Don’t Forget To Pack Those Snowshoes And Prepare For Some Road Delays

Monday, June 7, was a snowy day at Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park/NOAA

Heading out for some play time in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state? Make sure you’ve got your snowshoes with you and leave those sandals behind. Early summer on the mountain looks much different from early summer in the lower elevations, where the forests are green and the waterfalls are gushing from snowmelt. Up at Paradise, there’s still several feet of snow burying the majority of the landscape, including popular trails.

Oh, and if you are planning to drive the now-open Stevens Canyon Road, be prepared for 15-minute delays along the way. Crews are working on winter road damage along that route and there’s road construction work on Washington State Route 123 leading to the park’s Stevens Canyon entrance.

Zion National Park has been designated an International Dark Sky Park/Jason Benton via NPS

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Hey, congratulations to Zion National Park in Utah on being named an International Dark Sky Park by the National Park Service and International Dark Sky Association. To celebrate this certification, the park is hosting a number of night sky programs and activities through June 12th. Check out Zion National Park’s Facebook Page for posts and information not only on the programs but to also share your own night sky shots.

Those Summer Crowds

Memorial Day weekend was busy for many national parks – a “no duh” statement – with four-hour long waits to hike the Angels Landing Trail in Zion National Park and a full-up Bryce Canyon National Park leading to closure of vehicles for a time. Speaking of crowds, Yellowstone National Park visitation (based on park-wide vehicle entries) over that weekend showed a 50 percent increase over the same weekend in 2019 (due to Covid, 2020 saw only Wyoming park entrances open). If you are planning to visit this particular national park, pack your patience, some extra snacks and water for the car, and maybe a Plan B.

Busy Buffalo National River

June 5th was a busy weekend for Buffalo National River rangers, as they responded to multiple medical events, including a medical emergency, a broken hip, and a death. Let’s be careful out there, Travelers.

And, if you are planning to visit America’s first National River, located in Arkansas, then be aware that the Arkansas Department of Transportation will be demolishing the old Highway 7 bridge at Pruitt in Newton County. For the safety of all visitors during the demolition, Buffalo National River will enforce a temporary closure of a safety perimeter around the demolition site. This temporary closure will include the Buffalo River from Ozark to below the Lower Pruitt river access and is a coordinated effort between the National Park Service, ARDOT, the Newton County Sherriff’s Department and the Arkansas State Police. For more information, go to the pinned post on Buffalo National River’s Facebook page.

Dust Abatement Activities

The unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson road in Grand Teton National Park will be temporarily closed for seasonal dust abatement beginning 4 a.m. June 15th and ending 8 a.m. June 17th. The routine dust abatement application happens several times during the summer on the approximately one mile of unpaved section of the seven-mile road.