How can the National Park Service deal with overcrowding?/NPS file

Last week on the National Parks Traveler’s podcast we talked with Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly about the state of his park. Part of that conversation touched on crowding and congestion, a problem a number of parks have been dealing with in recent years. It’s a good problem, in that more and more people want to visit these amazing places, but it’s not without its impacts on park resources.

Zion National Park in Utah is another crowded place. Last year 4.5 million people visited the park, marking the second busiest year for Zion. It's not sustainable.

“If we’re looking at record visitation year after year, we really think it sets an unsustainable benchmark for protecting the parks long term,” Cory MacNulty, the National Parks Conservation Association's associate director for the Southwest region, told the Salt Lake Tribune. “These are forever places. If we continue on this growth trend, it’s not sustainable. To ensure protection of the parks or ensure that visitors have really high-quality experiences, particularly for parks like Zion, they are well past the tipping point for their visitation numbers.”

Visitation to Zion National Park has been called unsustainable/NPS file from 2019

Zion staff has been working on a visitor use management plan since 2016...with no end in sight. During a Congressional hearing last December, Zion Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh acknowledged that it has become more challenging in some parks to ensure enjoyable visits because of crowding.

"The past few years have reminded us how important national parks and public lands are to our overall well-being. Ensuring visitors have enjoyable experiences, however, is becoming increasingly challenging in most of our popular parks," said Bradybaugh.

The superintendent said the implementation of reservations for visitors to hike to the top of Angels Landing had improved the visitor experience on that steep and narrow trail, but he acknowledged that one size does not fit all when it comes to managing visitors across the park system, and that park-wide reservation programs might not be needed if congestion is isolated in an area.

When asked why Zion doesn't yet have a visitor use management plan despite launching the effort in 2016, Bradybaugh said engaging all the stakeholders and understanding visitor behavior takes time.

National parks are not alone in grappling with crowds. Many gateway communities surrounding our national parks are notable for their own amazing offerings — natural beauty with tranquil spots for solitude and reflection…and nice venues for dining, listening to live music and pursuing year-round outdoor recreational and leisure activities.  But when the management of visitation in these areas is unchecked, and the very resources that make these places highly desirable destinations are strained, can anything really be done?

The community of Jackson, Wyoming, hopes so.  Recognizing that residents, business owners and visitors all share in the responsibility of preserving the area’s unique character and allure, stakeholders throughout Teton County have put together a comprehensive sustainable destination management plan. The goal is to protect the beauty of the area, preserve a healthy environment and, at the same time, enhance visitor experience, business growth and quality of life for residents.

This Sunday the Traveler’s Lynn Riddick talks with Crista Valentino of the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board to find out what’s in the plan and how it will help. Catch the podcast at this site.