Why bother with National Parks?
We're new to RVing and have just bought an older Class C. My wife wants to take a trip touring many of the western United States' National Parks. I've been doing some research and this is what I'm f...
Forum Discussion
More To See wrote:
I'll cut the OP some slack. He presented his case a bit forcefully but I suspect a lot of old timers don't go back to the National Parks hardly ever anymore because of what he has brought up.
One example. Yosemite. That place is a zoo in the summertime. they should allow no more than about 20 or 25% of the current crowd going in there. Go in the dead of Winter.
About the only way to truly enjoy many of the National Parks is to visit in the shoulder seasons most likely with snow on the ground.
But you can't limit access to any park because all the local business interests are friendly with their local power brokers and it would get nipped in the bud real quick. So don't blame the National Park Service for the problem.
For most people who have never been to the National Parks they just overlook or don't notice everything the OP mentioned but with wisdom comes the knowledge that you don't revisit midsummer (depending on your sensitivities to such stuff).
The great thing about Yosemite is that the crowds don't align with the best time to visit. Sure, you'll fight snow or crowds at Yellowstone but Spring thaw in Yosemite is the best time for water falls and wild flowers and the crowds are easily manageable because school hasn't let out. Ditto Fall. I will agree partially about snow on the ground though - my favorite weekend in Yosemite is when I got into the valley ahead of a storm and got 8" of snow overnight. Beautiful! Didn't try to camp though. Just stayed in Curry Village.
