Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The Mesquite Flat sand dunes at Death Valley National Park Geoffrey Morrison A few weeks ago, a visitor to Death Valley burned his feet on the sand so badly , he had to be driven partially out of the park, and then airlifted because it was too hot for helicopters to reach where he was. Every year, people get mauled by bison at Yellowstone . Heat stroke and dehydration is shockingly common at many parks.
One hike at Zion is labeled as the most dangerous in the the country . I’ve been to 39 National Parks, most more than once, and dozens of state parks. I love National Parks, and it blows my mind how often I see people wildly under equipped or casually participating in dangerous activities.
I’m not trying to dissuade people from visiting a park. They are wondrous. I’m also not saying that visiting any park is more dangerous than, say, the simple act of driving there.
What I am saying is I’ve seen countless examples of people alarmingly underestimating risk. Worse still, often these people are the parents of young children, who are more at risk and even less likely to know something’s wrong. Looking at info from the National Park Service , my anecdotal examples are far more common than I’d feared.
So here are a few tips to make a visit to a National Park as safe as possible, regardless of your skill level, park plans, or time of year. 1) Water White Sands National Park Geoffrey Morrison A few months ago I did a hike in Arches National Park that was as gorgeous as it was hot and dry. The temperature was over 100 degrees, and the trail had basically no shade.
The fine sand made it seem even dryer than it was. I saw one family of 5 sharing sips from a half-full 8oz plastic water bottle. This was 20 minutes from the parking lot and they were headed away from it.
I’ve seen people start on hikes at high altitude ( Haleakalā , at around 10,000ft) with no water whatsoever. This is dangerous . In many parks, the Park Service recommends up to a gallon per person, per day.
Many parks also have water bottle filling stations near trailheads or at worst, at ranger’s stations. Bringing an actual water bottle is the easiest thing. Even if you’re flying to visit the park and don’t want to pack a water bottle, nearly every park has a Target or Walmart between the closest airport and the park entrance.
Larger parks have gift shops with Park-branded merch. Pricey, but now you also have a souvenir. MORE FOR YOU Apple iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro Release Date: New Report Reveals Extraordinary Strategy ‘The Boys’ Dethroned In Amazon Prime Video’s Top 10 List By A New Show Will There Be A ‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3? Here’s What To Know About The Next Chapter 2) Heat The heat in southern Texas can be staggering (and deadly).
Geoffrey Morrison function loadConnatixScript(document) { if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; window.
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render(randId); }); })(); If you’re from the northern US, Europe, or anywhere that’s not typically “hot,” the heat in the desert can be beyond comprehension. I can understand the desire to experience things you’re not used to, but far more caution is required than many people expect. The difference between a hot 85-degree summer day at home and 105-degrees in the desert is significant, especially if you’re trying to hike and (as just mentioned), you don’t bring adequate water.
Bring a big hat! Get sunglasses! Wear sunscreen! These things are practically a given for people who live in hotter climates. People who aren’t used to real heat underestimate how powerful the sun is, and how it can ruin your day (and week, and perhaps more). 3) Adequate Footwear Cholla cacti in Joshua Tree National Park Geoffrey Morrison In the story mentioned above, the Belgian tourist was hiking the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley in flip-flops.
Some have assumed they melted from the heat, or at the very least, expanded enough to fall apart. One of the most horrifying things I’ve seen was two kids running (yes, running) along the chain section of Zion’s Angel’s Landing hike also in flip-flops. The drop off at that part was upwards of 1,000 feet .
The path was just a few feet wide. Several people have died on that hike in the last few years. I’m not saying every park requires $500 hiking boots, or hiking boots at all in many cases, but at the very least some sturdy sneakers (“tennis shoes”) should be considered a necessity.
Sure, if you’re not hiking or are just hitting the scenic overlooks in a place like Yellowstone, footwear is less of an issue. But anything involving a trail, steep drop-offs, or anything that’s not a paved path you should definitely assume you need something decent on your feet. 4) Animal Avoidance A curious elk near the Prairie Creek Visitor Center in Redwoods NP.
Geoffrey Morrison Animals, even the cuddly-looking ones, can kill you. Look, I want to hug a bear just like anyone, but do not hug the bears. Or Bison .
Or anything in a park. Wild animals are wild, it’s right there in the name. I’ve seen people try to get close to bison and moose to get a picture, and thankfully they weren’t harmed, but they got a good fright when the animal made it well known they didn’t want them getting closer.
Some people aren’t so lucky. Being aware of your surroundings and keeping your distance from the animals is not only the obvious thing, not only what the Park Service recommends , but it can also save your life. If you want that epic photo, get a phone with a telephoto lens, or a telephoto add-on lens for your current phone.
5) Cliffs Avoid edges. Geoffrey Morrison Most people are afraid of heights enough that they don’t wander too close to the edge of high cliffs. That’s not always the case though.
Trying to see how far it goes down, trying to get a better photo, or any number of reasons, has led to numerous people falling to their deaths or injury in many parks. You might not even have to get that close to be in danger. Loose sand or gravel could cause you to slip, trees and shrubs could trip you, even the seemingly permanent rocks could give way.
On one hand, it’s great that many parks and overlooks don’t have railings. It makes enjoying the view that much better. On the other hand, it might make some people underestimate the danger.
6) Getting lost The Santa Elena Canyon hike in Big Bend NP crosses the Rio Grande and continues into the canyon. Geoffrey Morrison Major and most minor hikes and paths are well marked. It’s certainly easy enough to accidentally wander off a path, and if you don’t have a great sense of direction, you could get lost.
All the more reason to bring water and at least some snack food. Every year, however, people intentionally head off trails. Not only is this dangerous, but it potentially damages fragile ecosystems.
Stay on trails, and ideally, use a hiking app or even Google/Apple Maps to help guide you if you miss a marker. Safe if you’re safe National Parks are, for the most part, quite safe. The National Park Service estimates that in 2019 (the most recent date they’ve made available, there were “0.
11 death per 100,000 recreational visits.” Compare that to the IIHS’s estimates of 12.8 deaths from automobile crashes per 100,000 people.
However, with attendance on the rise, that still means upwards of several hundred deaths every year, as in, several per week. It’s easy to point the finger at people who put themselves at risk, while participating in potentially risky behaviors we think are safe. Often it’s just a matter of a few misunderstandings that lead to unknowingly risky behavior.
If someone doesn’t speak the language, is too young to know better, or is just too wrapped up in the splendor of the scenery, they could be riding a landslide into danger and not even know it. In other words, if you’re a little careful, you should be fine..
