Dangerous National Parks

[Alanymarce]

Perhaps the article should be retitled National Parks ranked by most number of unprepared visitors or stupid visitors.

It's akin to the signs which say "Dangerous bend ahead" (or something similar) - the bend's not hazardous, it's just sitting there - the danger is incompetent drivers.

Our visits:

1. Grand Canyon National Park
3. Kings Canyon National Park (the one north west of Uluru)
5. Rocky Mountain National Park
9. Olympic National Park
10. Arches National Park

I'd like to know how "danger" is measured - is it number of deaths per thousand visitors, number of deaths per visitor day, number of deaths per visit, % ICU occupancy adjacent to the park...?

 

[BCMoto]

Its too much of blanket statement saying dangerous, it all depends what you think danger is in the first place.

 

[OkieDavid]

Been to all 10, agree with other posters about context and percentage, etc. but I have always considered the most dangerous part of the trips to be the drive out there and back.

 

[kristine]

5 of 10, just wondering what makes them the "most dangerous"?

 

[Speric]

Sequoia and King’s Canyon are separate parks. Although geographically close, they are as different from each other as they are from Yosemite, which is also close by. Therefore I’ve been to those 3, and Arches.

 

[socal66]

I’ve been to all 10.

My guesses for their top dangers:

1. Grand Canyon National Park = Tourists especially in the summer months that easily hike down to the river or it’s overlook on Bright Angel Trail and don’t bring enough water and/or underestimate the effort required to hike back up.
2. Yosemite National Park = Rock climbers and/or road rage during peak traffic season.
3. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park = PCT hikers failing to make it through before snow hits because they don’t have the proper cold weather gear.
4. Yellowstone National Park = Tourists trying to get a closer photo of the bison by the roadside.
5. Rocky Mountain National Park = Hikers caught out above tree line when the afternoon lightning storms hit in summer.
6. Zion National Park = Angels Landing hike and/or road rage during peak traffic season.
7. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area = Drunk campers at night on the pontoon boats out on the lake.
8. Grand Teton National Park = Tourists trying to get a closer photo of a moose during rut.
9. Olympic National Park = Hikers caught without the necessary rain gear.
10. Arches National Park = Hikers without enough water during the warm months.

 

[KS_Explorer]

If you were to assemble a list of National Parks ranked by numbers of visitors per year I suspect it would correlate well with a list of the parks ranked by danger.

I just try to stay away from people.

Based on 2020 census data, these are the 25 most visited National Parks:

1	Blue Ridge Parkway	15.9 million
2	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	14.1 million
3	Golden Gate National Recreation Area	13.7 million
4	Gateway National Recreation Area	9.1 million
5	Lake Mead National Recreation Area	7.6 million
6	George Washington Memorial Parkway	6.8 million
7	Natchez Trace Parkway	6.4 million
8	Lincoln Memorial	5.8 million
9	Gulf Islands National Seashore	5.5 million
10	Zion National Park (6 on "Dangerous" list)	5 million
11	Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park	5 million
12	Yellowstone National Park (4 on "Dangerous" list)	4.9 million
13	Grand Canyon National Park (1 on "Dangerous" list)	4.5 million
14	Rocky Mountain National Park (5 on "Dangerous" list)	4.4 million
15	Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area	4.3 million
16	Acadia National Park	4 million
17	Cape Cod National Seashore	4 million
18	Grand Teton National Park (8 on "Dangerous" list)	3.9 million
19	World War II Memorial	3.7 million
20	Vietnam Veterans Memorial	3.6 million
21	Yosemite National Park (2 on "Dangerous" list) (8th largest National Park in the U.S.A.)	3.3 million
22	Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area	3.3 million
23	Cape Hatteras National Seashore	3.2 million
24	Indiana Dunes National Park	3.2 million
25	Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (7 on "Dangerous" list)	3.1 million

I also looked at and noted the 10 largest NPs in the US. Only one is on the most visited list.

My take is that the "Dangerous" moniker is is more related to the type of visitors than number of visitors or park size. They all seem to be parks that attract a more adventurous visitor who wants to push their gear and skillset but needs a certain amount of accessibility to begin their adventure. In other words, people like me that watch to many outdoor survival shows and get themselves in trouble by not spending enough time working on skills before going on adventures.

 

[Tundracamper]

Kudos for looking up that data. Very insightful. Really surprised the first two are out east - but maybe that’s why they are so popular. Utah, for example, has five with an easy drive.

 

[Anak]

Based on 2020 census data, these are the 25 most visited National Parks:

1	Blue Ridge Parkway	15.9 million
2	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	14.1 million
3	Golden Gate National Recreation Area	13.7 million
4	Gateway National Recreation Area	9.1 million
5	Lake Mead National Recreation Area	7.6 million
6	George Washington Memorial Parkway	6.8 million
7	Natchez Trace Parkway	6.4 million
8	Lincoln Memorial	5.8 million
9	Gulf Islands National Seashore	5.5 million
10	Zion National Park (6 on "Dangerous" list)	5 million
11	Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park	5 million
12	Yellowstone National Park (4 on "Dangerous" list)	4.9 million
13	Grand Canyon National Park (1 on "Dangerous" list)	4.5 million
14	Rocky Mountain National Park (5 on "Dangerous" list)	4.4 million
15	Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area	4.3 million
16	Acadia National Park	4 million
17	Cape Cod National Seashore	4 million
18	Grand Teton National Park (8 on "Dangerous" list)	3.9 million
19	World War II Memorial	3.7 million
20	Vietnam Veterans Memorial	3.6 million
21	Yosemite National Park (2 on "Dangerous" list) (8th largest National Park in the U.S.A.)	3.3 million
22	Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area	3.3 million
23	Cape Hatteras National Seashore	3.2 million
24	Indiana Dunes National Park	3.2 million
25	Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (7 on "Dangerous" list)	3.1 million

I also looked at and noted the 10 largest NPs in the US. Only one is on the most visited list.

My take is that the "Dangerous" moniker is is more related to the type of visitors than number of visitors or park size. They all seem to be parks that attract a more adventurous visitor who wants to push their gear and skillset but needs a certain amount of accessibility to begin their adventure. In other words, people like me that watch to many outdoor survival shows and get themselves in trouble by not spending enough time working on skills before going on adventures.

Nice job putting that together.

Looking at the list in that fashion I am struck by the fact that of the top 25, those that are not also on the "dangerous list" appear to be much closer to population centers than those that are on the "dangerous list".

 

[David C Gibbs]

"Most Dangerous" is from the Search & Rescue data!

 

[Tundracamper]

"Most Dangerous" is from the Search & Rescue data!

Yes, but I think based on the locations, number of visitors, and other data, some of us are scratching our head wondering why those parks have so many SAR calls relative to others.

I would venture to guess it’s based on the physical size of the park (the ability to be really remote), but Zion doesn’t fit that mold.

 

[KS_Explorer]

"Most Dangerous" is from the Search & Rescue data!

I noticed that. I think our yard might be more dangerous than National Parks based on the number of SAR actions per visitor. Seems like I am constantly searching for one or more of my kiddos and/or having to rescue them from each other or tall trees.

 

[Anak]

I noticed that. I think our yard might be more dangerous than National Parks based on the number of SAR actions per visitor. Seems like I am constantly searching for one or more of my kiddos and/or having to rescue them from each other or tall trees.

You need a dog. Particularly a dog of the shepherd flavor.

When I don't know where a Varmint is, all I have to do is pay attention to where the dogs are paying attention. Then I know which way to go.

 

[KS_Explorer]

You need a dog. Particularly a dog of the shepherd flavor.

When I don't know where a Varmint is, all I have to do is pay attention to where the dogs are paying attention. Then I know which way to go.

I would love to have a dog again, but I have 11 children. Adding another living being that needs training, nurturing, and feeding just is not in the cards for me right now.

 

[Anak]

No wonder you are always looking for a kid.

I can easily imagine how you need your own SAR team.

My hat is off to you for taking on such a challenge.

You have been blessed with many arrows in your quiver.

 

[KS_Explorer]

I can easily imagine how you need your own SAR team.

We kind of have that with the older kids.

My hat is off to you for taking on such a challenge.

You have been blessed with many arrows in your quiver.

Thank you. I am truly blessed to have such a quiver full. Each and everyone of them has been a blessing that I do not deserve.

 

[Alanymarce]

You need a dog. Particularly a dog of the shepherd flavor.

When I don't know where a Varmint is, all I have to do is pay attention to where the dogs are paying attention. Then I know which way to go.

Good plan, as long as you're not travelling internationally, or at least between certain nations.

 

[Ramseyr]

According to a post on the Smarter Travel web page; these are the 10 most dangerous National Parks, based on Search & Rescue data. We added our tenth, last year with a trip to Olympic National Park.
1. Grand Canyon National Park
2. Yosemite National Park
3. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
4. Yellowstone National Park
5. Rocky Mountain National Park
6. Zion National Park
7. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
8. Grand Teton National Park
9. Olympic National Park
10. Arches National Park

How many OB's have been to all ten?

DCG

I’m only missing Olympic. Strangely, it’s the closest one to my house. Go figure.

 

[David C Gibbs]

I’m only missing Olympic. Strangely, it’s the closest one to my house. Go figure.

We have tried for 20+ years to get to the Olympic, we plan to go back this fall. Hurricane Ridge was awesome.

 

[Ragman]

We have been to all of the listed parks and came out without a scratch. I would be curious to see how the numbers have changed graphed alongside the growth of Instagram etc. I don't know how many times I have seen people climb over fences and out onto ledges so that they can get a picture that makes then look like they are a great adventurer but are really about 20 feet from the sidewalk...but I digress.