Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded – Yogi Berra
The huge post-COVID increase in crowds is evident to everyone who spends time outdoors. My hometown of Austin is in the process of being overrun by crowds of new people. Gone are the days of being able to just show up at Barton Springs Pool on a Saturday (need an entry pass) or spending hours training on the Hill of Life (limited paid parking). These are not local phenomena. The National Park Service is experiencing record visitation, straining basic infrastructure to the breaking point. Many parks have already or are in the process of adopting day pass systems to preserve visitor experience. What is one to do?
As with any problem, acceptance is the first step. The crowds are not going away any time soon. So we need to adapt. Four tried and true strategies to deal are to go early, go far, explore something new, and plan ahead.
Go Early. People are lazy. Even the most crowded outdoor spots – like the South Rim of the Grand Canyon or Old Faithful in Yellowstone – are almost empty at sunrise, even in the middle of July. By 10 a.m. those spots are Disney World. I know, its hard getting up early. But it is the only way to see the famous bucket list spots and have those to yourself.
Go Far. People are lazy. There are simply fewer people willing to through the effort to get to remote places. This summer I planned a small backpacking trip in Colorado for my older kids and their cousin. Rocky Mountain National Park was out because of red tape and crowds. Wilderness areas were on the list, but we avoided those within a 3-hour drive of Denver or I-70. We ended up going to a wilderness area (which shall remain nameless) with a trailhead down a 38-mile gravel road. We saw only two other parties in 5 days and caught all the naïve trout we wanted, in a place with scenery (picture at the top of this post) that compares favorably to the more famous destinations.
Explore Something New. People are lazy. They are much more likely to google Top 10 destination lists than explore an area for hidden gems. National forests, BLM lands, and state parks often have scenery and adventure potential on par with much more famous (and crowded) destinations.
Plan Ahead. People are lazy. More parks are moving to entry passes and reservations. This has the upside of improving the in-park experience if you are Johnny-on-the-Spot enough to get a permit. Recreation.gov and your analogous state park reservation systems are your friend. Better to have a reservation that you cancel than not have a reservation. Also, plan for off peak days and times. One can find solitude on the Barton Creek Greenbelt in the middle of Austin on most Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m., while on a Saturday there are thousands of people on the trail. Also consider visiting parks during shoulder seasons. If COVID has taught us anything it is that school is optional so take the kids on that trip in October! I kid. Kind of.
With crowds here to stay, at least until the cruise ships and Vegas get back to full capacity, a little creativity is all we need to keep finding those awesome experiences.
Vamonos Baby! 