Safety In The National Parks

Our national parks are popular. They welcomed roughly 327.5 million visits in 2019, and though 2020 was an exception due to COVID, the parks still recorded 237 million visits.

With those crowds come folks unprepared for the hazards and sometimes lacking common sense, increasing the risk of accidents. People falling from cliffs trying to take “selfies” is far too common an occurrence at places like Grand Canyon, and at Yellowstone, more than 20 people have died (and many more have been injured) when illegally leaving the boardwalk and falling into the park’s famous hot springs. Tragedies like these can be prevented with common sense and preparedness for the conditions. With proper planning and situational awareness, you can avoid foreseeable problems and enjoy the incredible views.

The beauty of our national parks is their wildness, but that’s also their greatest danger. While the parks do offer varying levels of infrastructure, on-site services and emergency personnel, your well-being is ultimately up to you. These tips for safety in our national parks and other wild places will help ensure you have a wonderful experience—and return home