So, have the stories of tremendous crowds at some national parks this summer convinced you to put off your national park adventure until next year? Or have you merely shied away from the iconic parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon, and instead focused on smaller, less traveled units?
Some park staff think the rush to see the national parks will continue into next year and 2018. Of course, you could be strategic with your planning and avoid the busiest seasons, and their crowds, and still enjoy the parks.
So, how are you coping with the crowds?
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Comments
Avoiding them altogether. Enjoying visiting less crowded less costly and off the beaten path wilderness areas.
I'll be heading for Crater Lake, Oregon Caves, Lassen and a few others in southwestern Oregon and northern California in a few weeks. Trying to wait until after the normally heavy season in hopes it will be a bit quieter and easier to find campsites. We'll see. Honestly, I'm not very optimistic in light of experiences late last fall in YELL and GRTE.
I didn't do much traveling this summer, but not because of possible crowding. Had other things going on.
Let's see, in May I went to Keweenaw NHP, Pictured Rocks NL and Sleeping Bear Dunes NL. In June I went to Effigy Mounds NM. This August I went to Harry S Truman NHS, Homestead NM, Scott's Bluff NM, Fort Laramie NM, Agate Fossil Beds NM, Wind Cave NP, Jewel Cave NM, Mt Rushmore N Mem., Minuteman Missile NHS, Badlands NP, and Niobrara NSR.
I had no trouble trouble getting into or moving around in any of them. Wind Cave, Jewel Cave and Mt Rushmore were busy but I suspect that was because my trip overlapped the goings on in Sturgis.
There are a dozen or so parks that you can assume will be busy in any year but that also leaves another 400 parks you should be able to get around in just fine. 400. To coin a phrase, get out there!
My wife and I are in our 70s. We visited more than 20 national parks and monuments in June and July. The strategy that works for us is to be in the parks in the early morning, before the crowds, tour busses and hot temperatures arrive.
Went fewer times than usual due to crowds, no place to park. Hoping things slow up a little in a couple of weeks.
Heading to Mt. Rainier National Park in a couple of weeks. I like to visit the parks either during spring or autumn, not only for the temps and fall colors but also because they currently are less crowded around that time. Like Early riser's comments, I prefer to be up and out the door even before the crack of dawn, not only to get nice sunrise photos but also to avoid the crowds and tour buses. Late evening is a good time too because by then the tour buses have moved on and many people are back in the lodge or campground or hotel. I must admit, I've been avoiding Yellowstone - at least this year and probably next, since my travel plans are already made for 2017 unless something unforeseen occurs, because of all the things I've read and heard about huge crowds and people doing stupid things. Since I am not one to keep my opinions to myself, I figured it would be best for my stress level and peace of mind to just stay away. Maybe someday...
I visited one park so far, Glacier NP. I avoided the more popular areas like Logan Pass and Lake McDonald, so I didn't run into the crowds. Acadia NP is also on my travel schedule, but not until late in the season, October, so I should avoid the summer crowds their.
When you visit Acadia Nat park go over to the Schoodic Peninsula. Some locals told us to go there we were so glad we did it was very very nice and has all been renovated in 2015. Plus NO crouds and very few people. It is also part of Acadic. Enjoy you won't regret it.
George, just an FYI, but October is cruise ship season at Acadia. Can be quite crowded.
I wnt to Yosemite with my brother in April and it was not to bad. I was at Mt Lassen a few years ago and I was talking to a Park Ranger who told me that a lot of Park Rangers consider Lassen a low stress park to work in, because that they don't get anything close to the crowds at places like Yosemite. Also normally, the only real busy time at the the park was the major 3 day weekends
When I was there it was for a backpack over Labor day weekend and in the back country our group saw maybe 6 eople in the whole
weekend. Also, the in Mt Lassen National Park bears stay away from people and they can very easily be scared off, unlike the bears in Yosemite. I have found that a great time to visit the Parks is in the fall and early spring. There is no crowds then.
I've been traveling cross-countries (U.S. and now I'm in Canada) for the last 2 1/2 months (a couple of months to go still), and have visited maybe 20 or so different national park units in the U.S. during that time. The only place I ran into really bad crowds was Acadia. Crater Lake was still pretty empty (and snowy) in early June, and Mesa Verde/Bryce/Cedar Breaks/Capitol Reef were busy in mid-June but not bad (I skipped Zion because I was afraid of crowds). Mammoth Cave was busy in late June, but not to the point where the tours were full. The rest? Were pretty darned peaceful, esp. Great Basin and the smaller historical parks back east.
That said, I have avoided Yellowstone this year, and I suspect I won't ever go back to Yosemite after a fiasco of a trip in August of 2011. So far Canada's national parks that I've been to (Fundy and several eastern historical parks -- I'm headed to Cape Breton Highlands and Louisbourg over the next couple of days before I head west again) have been empty by comparison. It's been lovely.
Send us pictures, Megaera, or post some on our flickr site: https://www.flickr.com/groups/nationalparkstraveler/
Visited Saguaro, Grand Canyon, Jefferson National Expansion and Cabrillio National Mounument on a recent trip. As with others I visted earlier in the day and avoided the biggest crowds. Was dissapointed that at Jefferson Expansion they choose this year to do a major rehab of the arch gounds and museum. Even with this and poor weather, the line to ride to the top was full.
Going to my favorite National Seashore Recreational Area tomorrow for a week and then another National Seashore next month. Over the past decade the dramatic rise of restrictions, closures, regulations and "feel-good" rules have seemed to reduce vistors in the areas we try to go to. But I think that's what the NPS wanted.
We were at the Grand Canyon June 13-14, went down S Kaibab, stayed at the bottom, then up Bright Angel. Saw maybe 20 people each day on the trails, was surprised how few were hiking. Granted it was very hot, we were lucky enough to catch it right after the first extremely week and before the next very hot week and pipeline break.
Bryce and Zion a few days later were way too crowded, but still more than worth it.
Leaving next Friday for Crater Lake. Unfortunately will be there over Labor Day weekend, but can't avoid it because I just learned from the NPS Reports site that the trail to the lake from the rim -- and the boat rides -- will be closed after Sept 5 for construction. But I called Xanterra's campground reservation number and scored a site in Mazama CG with no trouble. Also reserved boat tour -- although there were few of them left. (Xanterra is CG and boat tour concessionaire)
Now it remains to be seen how crowded it will be. But at least I know I'll have a place to lay my little head and a spot on the boat.
Honestly, I was bit surprised I was able to find space available at this late date.
Already went to Yellowstone & Gand Teton in late June. I was surprised that the crowds were less than I expected. This fall I am headed to the Utah parks and N. Arizona.
We will be staying close to home for budget reasons, but luckily home incluses exploring North Cascades Ntl Park, our new home. Next spring will include Glacier and Yellowstone enroute to a nephew's graduation.
I've adjusted my plans this year to avoid the frontcountry (except to pull permits!) and head straight into the backcountry. Total of 31 tent nights and 180 miles in three of my favorite parks this year, and (so far) no crowds, no tour busses - just humbling, awe-inspiring experiences. Our National Parks are incredible places.