From the towering sandstone walls of Zion Canyon to the snowy peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park, visiting a US National Park is the adventure of a lifetime. You’ll be thrilled and challenged, learn new things and make lasting memories – but accessing a National Park carries with it a certain degree of responsibility and if you don’t follow the rules and regulations, you could land yourself in hot water (literally, a geyser for one tourist).
These lands, after all, are managed by the National Parks Service, a federal agency, and exist to protect precious resources. Careless behavior can put those resources – and you – at risk, and may even land you with a hefty fine. Some of these behaviors should seem obvious, such as vandalism, while you might be surprised to learn that other activities are explicitly illegal. Read on to find out what not to do when visiting a National Park to avoid ending up a headline, and ensure that the only mark you make is with your hiking boots, on the trail.
