Planning a trip to a national or state park this summer? You’ll have plenty of company: In the United States alone, 318 million people visited national parks in 2018. The good news is that it’s still easy to find solitude among Earth’s most breathtaking landscapes. A little planning and an appropriate sense of adventure are all you need to escape the crowds.
The bad news is that some visitors are trashing, trampling and even accidentally setting fire to our parks — usually because they’re unprepared for their trip or unaware of their impact. Many parks around the world are reporting an uptick of visitors excitedly following Instagram geotags to photogenic hotspots. While social media can be a great tool for raising awareness of nature’s wonders, in many areas the foot traffic on these “selfie trails” is eroding vegetation and disturbing wildlife habitats.
1. PLAN AHEAD
When planning your trip, visit the park’s website to review its rules, especially those related to camping, pets and campfires. Familiarize yourself with designated camping areas and trails. Before you leave, call the park to check for any burn bans or closures. And stop at the visitor center or ranger station when you arrive to make sure your plans jive with current weather conditions.
2. STAY ON THE PATH
Grab a park map and stick to marked roads, trails and camping areas. Going off trail disturbs the protective cover of leaves and soil that prevents the erosion of land from wind and rainfall. Over time, these trips down the road less traveled can cause irreparable damage to fragile soils, vegetation and wildlife.
3. PICK UP AFTER YOURSELF
Make it your goal to leave the park better than when you arrived. Don’t litter. Not only does it spoil the view, but trash like plastic bottles and cigarette butts can pollute the soil and make its way into waterways. Pack some trash bags and clean up absolutely everything from your camp. That includes food scraps, which can entice and harm animals. For extra credit, pick up any litter you find during your hikes.
You’ll also need to properly dispose of human waste, which can pollute waterways and spread disease, as well as any soapy water from bathing or dishwashing. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has detailed instructions for waste and wastewater disposal.
4. TAKE CARE WITH CAMPFIRES
Again, consult the park’s rules and current conditions. Consider using a camp stove instead of a campfire to minimize your impact. If you do build a fire, consult Leave No Trace’s guide for reducing its negative effects.
5. RESPECT THE ANIMALS—AND PLANTS
Don’t feed or approach any wild animals you encounter – for your safety and theirs. And keep your food in animal-proof containers, out of reach. When animals lose their healthy fear of humans and seek us out as a food source, they often end up getting hit by cars or wandering out of the park and into hunting territory. They may even get aggressive if they don’t find the handout they’re looking for.
6. DON'T PICK THE FLOWERS
Don’t remove anything you didn’t bring to the park. Appreciate the beauty of plants and rocks, but leave them where they belong.
7. WATCH YOUR VOLUME
Respect the park’s curfews and nighttime noise ordinances. During the day, keep any campsite music low and mellow to avoid disturbing animals or neighbors. Use your earbuds or headphones when you’re out on the trail.
8. MIND YOUR POOCH
If the park allows dogs, keep yours on a leash. Pick up his poop, and tote your baggie until you can find a trash can. Keep his food away from other animals. And if your dog is aggressive or barks excessively, leave him at home.
9. THINK BEFORE YOU SNAP & SHARE
The mantra, “Take only pictures, leave only footprints” is a good one, within reason. Stay on trails or other designated areas when taking photos, and be careful not to block traffic. Watch out for ledges and loose rocks so you don’t slip and fall. If you want to share your shot on social media, leave the geotag off or keep it general – use the park name rather than the exact landmark. This can help prevent the area from getting overcrowded and eroded.
Bonus Tips for Solitude-Seekers
The urge to explore uncharted territory is understandable. Hiking in the early morning is a great way to get some alone time while staying on the trail.
Another idea is to consider visiting a less popular park. For example, if you’re in the Seattle area, why not check out the stunning North Cascades National Park instead of Olympic National Park? North Cascades only had 30,000 visitors in 2018, compared to Olympic’s 3.1 million.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas is one of the least-visited national parks, yet this desert playground is less than 2 hours from El Paso. And you can make it a two-for-one trip: Carlsbad Caverns National Park is just 30 minutes north, across the New Mexico border.
South Carolina’s Congaree National Park is one of the tallest temperate hardwood forests in the world, and this lesser-known park is an easy drive from southeastern cities including Atlanta, Charleston and Charlotte.
For more tips on visiting parks and honing your outdoor skills, visit the National Park Service site or State Parks Directory, review the Leave No Trace Seven Principles or look for classes at your local park or outdoor equipment store.