In winter, Yellowstone National Park is a geothermal wonderland of steam, snow, and ice. Visitors on snowmobiles and snowcoaches are afforded remarkable opportunities to experience the park's interior in midwinter, but this type of visitation has not been without controversy. Motorized over-snow...

This chapter identifies and reviews the potential impacts that outdoor recreation can have on park resources (soil, vegetation, water, wildlife, air, natural quiet, natural darkness, and historical/cultural resources), the quality of the visitor experience (crowding, conflict, and depreciative...

On peak summer days, thousands of hikers can be found along the extensive and diverse trail system in Acadia National Park. The collective use by so many visitors can take a toll on trail resources. Some visitors alter and build rock cairns; walk off-trail to avoid rocks, roots, and wet spots; and...

Years of uncontrolled use at a camping area along the Appalachian Trail resulted in widespread damage to soil, trees, and other vegetation; a decimated firewood supply; and visible signs of human waste (Impacts to campsites; Impacts to soil; Impacts to vegetation). The camping area was also crowded ...

A wondrous display of synchronous fireflies at Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws many visitors to the park each spring. However, the small viewing area and limited number of days over which this natural event takes place challenges the National Park Service to prevent associated resource...

Visitor use of Arches National Park has grown dramatically in the past few decades and now exceeds 1 million visits annually. But this use has had several important impacts in the park, including trampling of fragile soils and vegetation (Impacts to soil; Impacts to vegetation) and crowding on...

This chapter identifies and reviews the potential impacts that outdoor recreation can have on park resources, the quality of the visitor experience, and park facilities and services.

On peak summer days, thousands of hikers can be found along the extensive and diverse trail system in Acadia National Park. The collective use by so many visitors can take a toll on trail resources. Some visitors alter and build rock cairns; walk off-trail to avoid rocks, roots, and wet spots; and...

Years of uncontrolled use at a camping area along the Appalachian Trail resulted in widespread damage to soil, trees, and other vegetation; a decimated firewood supply; and visible signs of human waste (Impacts to campsites; Impacts to soil; Impacts to vegetation). The camping area was also crowded ...

Visitor use of Arches National Park has grown dramatically in the past few decades and now exceeds 1 million visits annually. But this use has had several important impacts in the park, including trampling of fragile soils and vegetation (Impacts to soil; Impacts to vegetation) and crowding on...