The past six months have been ripe with stories of idiocy in the American National Parks System. At Yellowstone alone, there was the Chinese tourist fined for collecting water from the thermal springs, the Canadian YouTubers who went off the path at Grand Prismatic, the American man who died falling into the Norris Geyser Basin, and the family who picked up a baby bison and took it back to the ranger station, only to have it later be euthanized.
And that doesn’t include the woman who graffitied the rock formations at Crater Lake and other parks or the celebrities who carved their names in the rocks in Sedona (albeit a national forest, not a park) or similar carvings at Arches.
One thing is for certain when it comes to bad behavior in the national parks: no nationality is immune. I recently spend two weeks visiting three national parks (Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Rocky Mountains) and wanted to speak out regarding what I witnessed.
America’s Best Idea
Heralded as “America’s Best Idea” by writer Wallace Stegner, the American national parks system is something truly unique and forward-thinking. Setting aside land that is significant geologically and zoologically, and allowing it to be open to the public is something that isn’t common in other countries with a few notable exceptions.
They tell stories of our nation’s history, from the national battlefields to the national historic sites. They include iconic landmarks like the El Capitan, Denali, and Moab and tracts of land that date back to the founding of our country.
This year has been especially high in incidents partially because of the rise in visits for the parks’ centennial. People are traveling from all over the country and the world to see these places, especially the big parks like the ones I visited. And with an entry fee of around $40 per day or $80 for an annual pass, people want to get their money’s worth. Some have been dreaming of this trip for years.
False Sense of Security
Driving around the national parks can lull visitors into a false sense of security. Most people have never seen creatures any closer than their local zoo or even a computer screen, so it can seem surreal to see them firsthand. But these are not animatronic figures you might see at Disney World and these are not trained animals like you might see at the circus.
These are real, living wild animals that aren’t necessarily used to seeing humans, let alone interacting with them. It’s like Jurassic Park. You can put them in a habitat and allow visitors to drive around, but that doesn’t make them any less wild. Remember: you’re in their home, not the other way around.
Every year, visitors are injured or even gored by bison. The woman who posed for a selfie with one this year is lucky she didn’t meet that fate. Respect the creatures’ space and follow the advice of park rangers by keeping a distance of 25 yards from bison and at least 100 yards from bears.
And since the parks are open air without many fences, people take the boardwalks as a suggestion, not a rule. Respect the park’s boundaries for your own safety. Not only do your off-trail walks damage the precious ecosystems within the parks, but you can also put yourself in danger.
There have already been a handful of injuries this year because of people getting burned by the thermal springs as well as one death. Just read this story on Outside to see what I mean. Stay on the boardwalks and don’t go on trails that have been partitioned off. This is usually for the benefit of wildlife that may not want human interaction or harsh conditions.
Common Sense and Decency
The parks are a gift to us as Americans and visitors to the country so we should treat them like we would our most precious belongings. The rules put in place by the National Parks System, as well as the signs and printed information distributed to visitors, isn’t just a suggestion.
They are set to protect both the parks and their residents as well as visitors. As mentioned earlier, heed their warnings. Signs are printed in multiple languages as are brochures. Knowledge is power, even in the national parks.
Also consider your environmental impact of your visit. Last year alone, Yellowstone had 4 million visitors. Think of the trash each person creates and fuel they consume. If nothing else, clean up after yourself. Trash containers are located throughout the parks and campgrounds. I can’t tell you how infuriating it is to see plastic bags in the geothermic pools.
If you’re camping, responsibly dispose of your trash and food items to make sure bears and other creatures don’t get into them. Limit your carbon output as much as possible by carpooling or taking the shuttle in places like the Rockies. Staying in an RV might seem great, but when you have to fuel it up, drive it through the parks, and dispose of waste, it can become a problem.
Driving is its own problem in the parks, as most are designed in a modified loop. “Bear jams” or any sort of wildlife will stop cars and create traffic. People get out to snap photos and leave their cars. It’s important not to get road rage in the parks, especially as there’s nowhere else to go when you veer around someone going slow.
If you see an animal or something you want to stop and see, pull over only in the designated areas like paved pull-offs or parking lots. Don’t stop suddenly in the middle of the road.
Use common sense and respect when visiting the national parks. It’s how the parks have lasted 100 years and how we will let them exist undisturbed for another 100.
Have you been to America’s national parks?
This is the first of many stories to come on my visit to the national parks but in the meantime, I worked on a story on Hot Springs National Park for BBC Travel’s parks centennial section. Read the entire guide here.
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