Hundreds of millions of people visited the National Park System last year, and at times it no doubt likely seemed you were surrounded by most of them. But you probably found a way to avoid the crowds on occasion. Which brings to mind a question: What tips do you put to good use when you visit the parks?
Is there a favorite campground that you know won't be crowded? Have you figured out how to snag a room in the lodge at the last minute? Where have you found great success in wildlife watching?
The Traveler is intended to be a great community and resource for park travelers, and we hope you'll share a secret or two that has made your national park adventures exceptional.
Comments
We've been able to avoid the crowds in all the years we've been going to Acadia National Park, by taking these steps: Get to the trailhead early or late, pick a trail in the less crowded part of the park, or go in May or June or after Labor Day, and avoid 3-day weekends.
We shared some of these things plus other tips in a blog post last year, which can come in handy for the upcoming Columbus Day weekend: http://acadiaonmymind.com/2014/08/5-top-tips-avoid-crowds-labor-day-in-a...
I agree, the biggest thing for me is to hike early in the morning. I also hike in the evenings sometimes. I've noticed that the farther you hike from a trailhead the more the crowd thins out. Even a mile-long hike will be far less crowded than a scenic vista or turnout.