US national parks are crowded – and so are many national forests, wildlife refuges, battlefields and seashores
Retrieved on:
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
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In 2022, U.S. national parks logged more than 300 million visits – and that means a lot more people on roads and trails.
Key Points:
- In 2022, U.S. national parks logged more than 300 million visits – and that means a lot more people on roads and trails.
- Crowding also makes it harder for park staff to protect wildlife and fragile lands and respond to emergencies.
- For all of their popularity, national parks are just one subset of U.S. public lands.
- In contrast, national parks exist solely to protect some of the most important places for public enjoyment.
Alternatives to national parks
- In Western states like Nevada, the federal footprint can be as large as 80% of the land.
- That’s largely because much of this land is arid, and lack of water makes farming difficult.
- Public lands are more diverse than national parks.
- They include all kinds of ecosystems, from forests to grasslands, coastlines, red rock canyons, deserts and ranges covered with sagebrush.
- Many people who love hiking, fishing, backpacking or other outdoor activities know that national parks are crowded, and they often seek other places to enjoy nature, including public lands.
Broadening recreation
- Not all of these activities are compatible, and many have not traditionally been rigorously managed.
- For example, target shooters sometimes bring objects like old appliances or furniture to use as improvised targets, then leave behind an unsightly mess.
- One example, Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area is a nonprofit ski slope 16 miles from Boise, Idaho.
- Creating corridors from the “backyard to the backcountry,” as the Bureau of Land Management puts it, can help create vibrant communities.
A less-extractive view of public lands
- For many years, Western communities have viewed public lands as places to mine, log and graze sheep and cattle.
- While federal control will never be welcome in some areas, Western communities increasingly view federal lands as amenities and anchors for immense opportunities, including recreation and economic growth.
- For example, Idaho is investing $100 million for maintenance and expanded access on state lands, mirroring federal efforts.
- By addressing crowding and the environmental impacts of recreation, I believe local communities can help the U.S. move toward better stewardship of our nation’s awe-inspiring public lands.