Tips For All Parks

Get A National Park Pass
The New National Park Pass available from the National Park Foundation for $50 will give you unlimited entrance to any and every National Park for an entire year. It's one of the best values available anywhere in the world. Even better the money goes back to the parks to help them.

Steer Clear of Crowds at Lesser-Know National Parks
This ABCNews.com report on National Parks where you won't have to battle the crowds this summer has some great advice and links to other resources. Their Top 6 uncrowded park tips: Lassen Volcanic in California, North Cascades in Washington, Capitol Reef in Utah, Wind Cave in South Dakota, Shenandoah in Virginia, Isle Royale in Michigan and Kenai Fjords in Alaska. Click here to read the ABCNews.com story

Get Out of Your Car
(from the Wall Street Journal, Takeoffs & Landings, by Michelle Higgins April 28, 2000)
In an effort to curtail traffic jams inside overcrowded parks, the National Park Service is rolling out mass transportation in some of its most popular spots. Next month, Zion National Park in Utah will close its popular Canyon Drive to cars, allowing only park buses to navigate the six-mile scenic route. Sightseers must abandon their own vehicles at the Park's visitors' center or at parking lots in nearby Springdale before hopping on the bus. Yosemite is testing a similar plan next month voluntarily. By late 2003, visitors to the Grand Canyon's popular south rim will have to ditch their cars outside the park and board a train bound for the information center. Once there, they will either have to ride buses, bike, or hike to other park destinations. Costs are the same. The Park Service says the buses will help keep pollution to a minimum inside major parks, where visitors total about 286 million annually. But some travelers aren't thrilled by the prospect of sojourning with strangers. "It's definitely less appealing," says Evan Goldstein, 23 years old, who visited more than 10 parks last summer while driving across the country. His travel companion, Sarah Ries, adds, "You'd be on the buses' schedule and might miss seeing some of the wildlife." Also read the ABCNews.com article from August 21, 1999 by clicking here. It has some great Ranger Advice on Beating the Crowds.