Wilderness excellence.
Author Wallace Stegner (echoing Englishman Lord Bryce) famously
declared national parks “the best idea America has ever had.”
Travelers wholeheartedly agree: there are nearly 300 million
visits to parks each year. In tough economic times, they’re
one of the best vacation bargains on the planet.
But in summertime, when schools are out and families are on
holiday, the nation’s most popular parks get downright crowded with
motorists, hikers, and sightseers.
Luckily, you can navigate the summer crowds.
In Depth: 10 Best U.S. National
Parks
Advance planning can put you on the right track, especially when
visiting a superstar park like Yosemite in
California . Park campgrounds and hotels fill up fast, says Scott
Gediman, Yosemite park ranger. “Have a good plan and flexibility
regarding accommodations. Advance planning is really important.” If
possible, simply avoid the weekends. “It’s as simple as coming
midweek,” he says.
Avoiding the biggest crowds may be as easy as setting your alarm
clock. At parks across the nation, most people plan on visiting the
most popular attractions beginning at midmorning. Take a hike
shortly after sunrise or plan on viewing the sunset. “Getting up
early and staying out late, you’ll find things less busy,” says
Greg Marsh, ranger at Olympic National Park in
Washington .
Nearly all rangers agreed that a little work will help separate you
from the pack. “Take a hike!” says Al Nash, spokesman for
Yellowstone , America ’s first national park and perennially one of
its busiest. “People tend to focus on just the two or three most
popular areas. So they go where the people are.” Bob Miller, park
spokesman at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
agrees. “Getting even a short distance from your car will get
you away from a lot of the crowds.”
Finally, says Tom Haraden, assistant chief of interpretation and
visitor services at Zion National
Park in Utah , “Slow down and take your time. People tend
to be in such a rush because they have to get on to the next
thing.”
Keep these tips in mind for the future. After Ken Burns' documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea airs this fall on PBS, heading to a park for a vacation will seem like a better idea than ever before.
In Depth: 10 Best U.S. National Parks
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