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10 Best U.S. National Parks
Greg Breining July 6, 2009
Wilderness excellence
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See our slideshow of the 10 Best U.S. National Parks.
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.
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.
See our slideshow of the 10 Best U.S. National Parks.
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.”
To help you plan your national park vacation, we’ve tapped experienced rangers and workers in 10 of the best and most popular national parks across America to recommend the best ways to see the parks this summer, including the must-see attractions (often the most popular and crowded), the best campsites, and finally, the hidden gems that many visitors overlook or don’t know about.
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.
See our slideshow of the 10 Best U.S. National Parks.
