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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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.
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.