Visiting national parks can be a wonderful event. Full of stunning scenery and impressive wildlife, they are bucket list destinations for many. However, a simple mistake could easily ruin your experience. Fortunately, one park ranger is sharing her experiences working across various states and national parks. Here are the top five mistakes she claims people make when visiting national parks.
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Top Mistakes People Make When Visiting National Parks
Former park ranger Danielle Jackson spoke to Business Insider about the most common mistakes people make when visiting national parks. She is an expert on the subject as her experiences have taken her across various states and parks.
The outlet shared that she used to visit parks when she was growing up. Afterward, she received her undergrad in geology and began work as an intern at a National Park Service site. From there, she spent a season in a state park in California before finally donning the park ranger uniform.
When speaking to the outlet, Jackson shared, ” I worked for many different state and national parks and saw guests make the same mistakes over and over. ” So what are these top mistakes that people make? The first one seems like it would be fairly common.
Jackson argues that most park guests make the incorrect assumption that they will have cell service and access to WiFi while at the park. Jackson quickly pops that bubble, admitting that it is unlikely for guests to have either service or WiFi while enjoying the park. Therefore, she recommends writing down any important navigation information prior to entering.
Additionally, she shared that another common mistake was guests not checking the park’s website or social media pages. While it may seem unnecessary, it can help clear up any confusion before arriving at the park. She admitted to Business Insider that “we had constant road closures due to downed trees, rockslides, and car accidents. Although updates regarding incidents like these were posted on the park’s website, I still found that many travelers didn’t look for this information.”
Keep The Mistakes Coming
Another mistake that people commonly make while visiting national parks is that they stray from designated trails. I know that this one is quite common, just given the number of stories I see on the news. Also, I swear I have written enough pieces about people wandering in Yellowstone that I could have an entire book.
Not only is this foolish because it could be dangerous for you — getting lost, hurt, or encountering potentially dangerous wildlife — but Jackson shares another potential hazard. She shared, “Several areas of these trails were often closed to protect rare or sensitive plant species or to help mitigate land issues, including erosion.”
Finally, the last two mistakes that people often make when visiting national parks are forgetting that they should be wary of local wildlife and failing to properly prepare for a hike. Always remember to be aware of your surroundings and give wildlife plenty of space.
Also, be sure to pack the hiking essentials. Jackson shared a short list of things that should definitely be in your pack the next time you visit a national park.
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Snacks
- Compass or navigation system
- Flashlight
- First-aid kit
- Emergency shelter
- Fire starter
- Knife
- Extra clothes
