The effects could be more apparent when seasonal park workers depart the NPS between September and October. “Weather and avalanche forecasting are a big concern for winter, and we should expect far less grooming of snow parks and winter recreation areas,” says Tania Lown-Hecht, Vice President of Communications & Strategy at Outdoor Alliance, a conservation nonprofit dedicated to human-powered pursuits, like paddling and mountain biking. She says that there is concern over wildfires in late summer and early autumn, especially because many staff who remove invasive plants and reduce wildfire risks have been laid off.
How can tourists prepare for the visit of a national parks in 2025.
With all this in mind, we asked parks experts how visitors can prepare to responsibly—and safely—visit this season.
Start at the visitor center and always think safety.
Steele says knowing your limits this year will be crucial to keeping safe in national parks. This is especially true with the shortage of rescue teams, and visitor centers. “We often talk about preventive search-and-rescue in national parks. You can save someone from serious injury, or even their life, if you prevent a search-and-rescue.
In the past, visitor centers were the first point of contact for visitors to receive park alerts and safety information. Steele fears that if long lines form to enter a park, or there is a shortage of staff at the information desks in crowded parks, visitors may avoid these vital hubs.
It’s time to pack up and go
In the ongoing coverage of NPS staffing reductions, one sentiment has been repeated: that the national park bathrooms will be cleaned less often and stocked with toilet paper. As a result, visitors should bring toilet paper and extra hand sanitizer when entering a national park.
Steele says, “I visited Canyon de Chelly National Monument two months ago.” “And there was literally a sign in the restroom that said, ‘We are only cleaning restrooms every other day due to staff shortages.'”
The bathroom is a great place to start. [of] Olek Cmura, Yosemite’s fired caretaker, says that the campgrounds have been opened and there is nonstop running. It’s going to be disgusting without me or other custodians filling that void. Already, reports have started to circulate that scientists are being diverted to restroom clean up Yosemite is one of America’s most popular and well-known parks.
My hot take It’s It is not necessary to be a member of the? Bring extra toilet paper and sanitizer when you visit a national parks. Yosemite Valley, for example, is often understocked during weekends. Smaller parks could be missing out on important resources this year.
Learn the history of a park—and don’t snitch
It is alarming to note that parks are also being targeted. forced to hang guest feedback signs In restrooms or other areas where visitors are present, it is important to encourage them to report any signs or information that may be negative towards Americans past or present, or which fails to promote the beauty and grandeur of landscapes or natural features. National Parks Conservation Association released a statement expressing their concern that signs like these would encourage visitors to “contradict vital scientific and historical facts”.
