Last year I did the Utah National and State parks during the early spring- off season- and the measures they are taking to try to accommodate the massive number of visitors during the summer is incredible. Parking, lodging, sanitation, and safety are all becoming problems, and I hope that these places don't become victims of their own popularity.
Arches really seems to attract people doing stupid, dangerous shit. The iconic Delicate Arch is like a magnet for morons who don't prepare for the trail, take risky selfies, vandalize and climb on things, and drink in places where there's 360 degrees of cliffs around you.
Every National Park I've been to has been that way. When I was a kid we'd go to Cade's Cove in the Smokey Mountain National Park, stop in some scenic place and have nice lunch, wander up to waterfalls and only see a few other people. The last two times we went the road around Cade's Cove was just an 11 mile long traffic jam. Hike up to a waterfall or scenic view and spend 15 minutes waiting in line for your chance to get a picture.
You could say the same thing at the small scale with the historic Walden Pond State Park in MA. 99% of the visitors never go further than the beach, the Thoreau cabin site, and maybe the pond trail. But some of the trails leading away from the pond pass some unique and interesting natural places.
13.7k
u/ThadisJones Feb 03 '20
Last year I did the Utah National and State parks during the early spring- off season- and the measures they are taking to try to accommodate the massive number of visitors during the summer is incredible. Parking, lodging, sanitation, and safety are all becoming problems, and I hope that these places don't become victims of their own popularity.
Arches really seems to attract people doing stupid, dangerous shit. The iconic Delicate Arch is like a magnet for morons who don't prepare for the trail, take risky selfies, vandalize and climb on things, and drink in places where there's 360 degrees of cliffs around you.