hike_me t1_jd8tu17 wrote on March 22, 2023 at 5:37 PM

Reply to comment by HIncand3nza in Huge National Park suggested for around Katahdin. by Camooses

The state of Utah spent millions of dollars a year for years promoting their national parks until visitations exploded (Zion is pretty insane now, as is Arches which now requires timed entry reservations during peak visitation times).

All the while their state government kept passing bills asking the federal government to turn over all federal land to state or private owners.

HIncand3nza t1_jd8xf3h wrote on March 22, 2023 at 5:59 PM

Zion isn’t even worth going to. It is absolutely insane. I thought I could sneak in at the crack of dawn and see some stuff but it was already packed. It was May too.

Arches has the potential to show that the restricted access model works. I went last year and it wasn’t too bad. Still very busy but not a complete mad house like Zion. You could actually see things and get away from crowds.

hike_me t1_jd963hp wrote on March 22, 2023 at 6:53 PM

I went to Arches thanksgiving week a few years ago and it was AWESOME. Absolutely no crowds and temps in the mid 50s. Perfect hiking. No waiting at the entrance station. No problem finding parking at popular spots.

Went to Joshua Tree thanksgiving last year and it was really busy (but it still didn’t seem that bad compared to Acadia in summer) so unfortunately that strategy didn’t translate to another park.