A typical summer scene at Old Faithful points to the crowding problems at Yellowstone National Park/NPS, Neal Herbert
Yellowstone National Park visitors sound like an unhappy lot, judging by comments they provided to consultants.
They find other visitors are rude and even "stupid," there are too many bad drivers on the roads who either speed or stop in the middle of the road to watch wildlife, it's too expensive to stay in the park, ranger-led hikes are a thing of the past, and there are "not enough wild animals."
The litany of complaints collected during 2016 -- and released Thursday as part of the park's Visitor Use Study -- perhaps shouldn't be too surprising, considering that a record 4.25 million people toured Yellowstone last year. But at the same time, the complaints reflect a growing problem facing park managers: How many people are too many?
Yellowstone managers know they have a people problem. Earlier this summer, they opened a gravel parking lot near the Fairy Falls Trailhead to take the pressure off the parking lot for Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin.
Yellowstone is not alone, as you've read in the Traveler many times in the past. Glacier National Park officials in Montana are asking visitors for patience this summer and putting a time limit on parking at Logan Pass. Zion National Park staff is considering a reservation system to gain entry to the park in southwestern Utah. Yosemite National Park is experimenting with parking reservations, and Acadia National Park managers are considering reservations, visitor quotas, building more parking lots, and other alternatives to better manage crowds.
For many, the solutions likely won't be implemented quickly enough. Zion officials are taking public comment on their reservation proposal, Acadia is just digesting public comments on the problem that park faces, and Yellowstone officials see a couple more years of studies before even identifying potential solutions.
"This is our first step in building a strong foundation of information, and more information we have to gather really has to deal with resource impacts," Yellowstone spokeswoman Morgan Warthin said Thursday evening.
While Yellowstone officials know park resources are being impacted by crowds of visitors, they want to collect more focused data on the extent and type of damage, she said.
Taken randomly, comments that visitors provided the consultants from Resource Systems Group, a Vermont-based firm that worked with Park Service personnel and Washington State University staff in gathering and crunching the data, reflect a great deal of unhappiness with visiting what arguably is the crown jewel of the National Park System.
Among the complaints:
- A lack of wolf and bear sightings
- Unsafe drivers
- Not enough law enforcement or traffic enforcement
- A lack of ranger-led hikes
- Too many Asian tour groups
- Crowded trails
- High prices for lodging, dining, and Wi-Fi
- Expensive camping
- No separate bike paths along roads
- Dirty, smelly restrooms
- No cell phone reception
- Lack of accessible trails
- No free shuttle service
- Wildlife jams on the roads
"Two-thirds of the visitors think that parking is a problem, and over half think that the amount of roadway traffic and congestion are problems," Ms. Warthin said. "And over half of visitors think there are too many people in the park."
Very possibly much of the problem at Yellowstone, and other parks in the system, is that while visitation has grown in leaps and bounds for many parks, staffing levels have not, as this chart demonstrates:
While annual visitation to Yellowstone National Park has grown significantly since 2000, full-time staff has not/NPS
And yet, the Trump administration wants to cut the National Park Service payroll by roughly 1,200 employees. Whether Congress goes along with that proposal remains to be seen. Also yet to be seen is a plan for how Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke intends to reorganize his department, including the Park Service, in such a way that staffing and funding cuts don't further impact the visitor experience in the National Park System.
Comments
@ cici, I too have witnessed poor behavior from Asian tourists just as I have from American tourists when in Asia. It is a cultural learning opportunity. I myself was guilty of taking a photo in Asia when I sign clearly stated (in Chinese) "No photos". I was embarrassed even though I don't read Chinese. I think the tour opperators could do a better job of educating the Asian tourists on both acceptable culture here and manners, as well as do's and don't specific to the parks. Pushing and shoving is a way of life in much of Asia. Get to know the people, most mean no ill intent and like myself, would be highly embarrassed to know they offended someone or broke a rule, but like people everywhere there are both good and bad.
Agreed. It only seems like an Asian invasion if you are a white guy looking at 43 Asian folks descending off a bus. I've seen the other side of that in the two Asian nations I've visited.
It might help if filmmakers took a break from making films/documentaries on the wonders of Yellowstone and other US parks. I enjoy watching them as much as anyone, but most result in increased interest and thus visitation, which is definitely not needed.
Whitedog, I agree with that also. Ken Burns' series on the national parks was one of his best and once the great recession ended and gas prices dropped, people decided national parks were a place to go.
Just visited the Park for 10th time in September. Park is over run with vehicles and people. I was shocked as it should have been slowly down this time of year. The Park is being destroyed by the masses. Very few Rangers, none writting tickets and which are too nice about violations of Park rules. You should write this place off on your trip itinerate. That is in less you love crowds, clogged roads and stupid tourists. God save the Park! But frankly I feel it is too late. If you want to see how it once was buy a book. The Yellowstone I once visited is forever a wonderful memory. Goodbye, Wonderland, God Bless.
I have lived very close to the southwestern part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for most of my life and make 10-15 trips to Yellowstone National Park each year. There are not many places in the park that I have not visited over the years. I still thoroughly enjoy each visit to the park, am still learning some of the more unique and interesting facts and places to visit, and make it a goal to help others who are visiting the park to enjoy their trip maybe a bit better by pointing out some of those "unique and interesting" facts and places to visit, and things to do. In doing such I have found by far that most of the visitors I interact with are also pleased to be in Yellowstone and grateful for the"pointers" I offer. Further, I have learned so much from taking the time to visit with these good folks, from all over the world, about their lives, their stories, and their place of origin. So, from that standpoint I will attempt to also respond to the chief complaints rendered about the first national park in the world.
A lack of wolf and bear sightings. It is rare for us not to see bear and wolves on each of our trips to the park. Granted, I belive we know good spots for a higher probability of spotting these animals having visited it so many times each year. Also, it is important to do your research online to learn where these areas are and learn of the groups of animal watchers that are out and about almost every day the park is open and can usually direct you to the most recent spottings. www.OutdoorsConnected.com has a blog that has been helpful in yellowstone trips preparations.
Unsafe drivers. I can't think of a trip I have taken to a big city where I didn't feel this was the case. Whether it be distracted by animals or cell phones, this may just be a consequence that one must learn to deal with, and maybe by really practicing defensive driving at all times when in the park.
Not enough law enforcement or traffic enforcement. Yeah, but I always get a kick out of when a park ranger shows up at a site where folks have spotted a bear and works to keep traffic moving and visitors kept at a safe distance from the animal, that folks get frustrated they were asked to move one, keep a safe distance, or simply know that they are there and "watching" their behavior.
A lack of ranger-led hikes. Again, I would kindly recommend that folks do their homework before coming to the park and learn of the myrid hikes available and then buy some bear spray and venture out on the trail for their own adventure. Also, when out on these trails you will undoubetedly cross paths with others on the hike and they can be a source of information about the trail. So, go take a hike - and enjoy it.
Too many Asian tour groups. I have found that there are always those in these groups who speak english and enjoy interacting with "Americans", and I have enjoyed interacting with them. I also find it enjoyable to learn that when they come to Yellowstone they are looking to purchase something that is "American, Western, and Native to the area", giving some boost to local economy inside the park and in surrounding areas - like where I live:)
Crowded trails. I have never had enter my mind the work "crowded" on the trails I like to hike in Yellowstone and I don't think you will either if you will venture out beyond trails are positioned near to highly populated spots. And, when you get to that place in the trail where you can deviate a bit off the trail and enjoy some real wilderness, well, take advantage of it and go exploring.
High prices for lodging, dining, and Wi-Fi. Yeah, probably. But, I recently had a business trip to New Orleans and I think my Yellowstone prices are worth it especially since I am more of a tent or trailer camper. I absolutely love visiting with folks in the next campsite over, inviting them over for some dessert, or simply enjoy learning their story. Infact, these are some of my fondest memories while I am enjoying the beauty of nature and its wildlife.
Expensive camping. Again, in comparison to other places, like those I have visited in places like Utah and Colorado, the Yellowstone camping fees are quite reasonable.
No separate bike paths along roads. I don't bike when in the park so I don't really have an opinion on this. But I will say that when I come across bikers when I am driving I realize that they are enjoying the park in their way as I am mine and I choose to be courteous to their right to enjoy the park in an approved way.
Dirty, smelly restrooms. Like a previous comment made, I have experienced both, but more of well kept bathrooms as compared to unkept. Also, the time of the year can make a difference here as it can in many of these complaints.
No cell phone reception. Thank you wilderness for making this possible. As such, you increase my enjoyment and help fulfill the purpose for which I go tripping to the park.
Lack of accessible trails. No, I can't agree or simpathize with this at all.
No free shuttle service. Ah, the sense of entitlement seems to reach far and wide, even into God's country - the wilderness. Not meant to offend.
Wildlife jams on the roads. Again, thank you wild animals of Yellowstone and I can't blame you for wanting to take a little smoother, easier trail every now and then.
I would hope that every one could enjoy the park as much as I do - the animals, the scenery, and the personalities and stories of those who come there to enjoy spending time in this wonderful national park.
I have visited the Park 10 times. I had some great times. Not any more. I will never go back. It is so over crowded now that it is not worth going. The Park will be distroyed. I have seen people throwing rocks into the themal pools. Walking off the board walks. Throwing trash out of their cars. Petting elk. The traffic is terrible. Parking is nearly impossible at the geyser basins. The only solution is to raise entrance fees say $100 USD per person per day and have a reservation system. Allow no more than 2M visitors per year. Also add shuttle buses. No cars on the roads except to thier lodging or cabin. Ban all motor homes in the Park. Also loud motor cycles. Lastly hire more Park Rangers and enforce violations with stiff fines and throw them out of the Park for life.
I have loved going to Yellowstone for my whole life. my family goes there once a year. But over the past 7 years I have noticed that the amount of tourists had gone insane. It used to just be old faithful and midway gyser basin. Now it's hard to find a quite place int he park. We used to go to the waterfalls but now you can't. You can't go anywhere it seems like. Most of the tourists that come to the park now just want to take some good selfies, but they do not follow the rules they think they can go anywhere, do anything, and stuff. I have seen many tourists throw stuff into the gysers/hot springs, go off the path, attempt to pet/feed animals, not drive safe, litter, vandalize and so much more. When these tourists brake the rules they don't get ticketed often. There are not enough rangers law enforcement and workers in the park. I feel like the Yellowstone ecosystem is being ruined. One thing that I have noticed with the larger amounts of tourist is less animal sightings because of the large amounts of tourists, but huge traffic jams when people see an animal. tourists are getting extremely rude. We need to limit the amount of people that can go to Yellowstone. There are way to many people and we need to educate people on how you treat the environment. The national parks were made to protect these gourgeous natural beauties but when there are too many people who don't know how to treat the natural environment.