Plan B
What to Do When Yellowstone Is Crowded, Closed, or Overrun
When Old Faithful feels like a stadium event, traffic jams form at every bison crossing, or you realize four million people had the same summer vacation idea. Greater Yellowstone has options.
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What to Do When Rocky Mountain Is Reserved, Crowded, or Snowed In
When timed entry reservations sell out, Bear Lake parking overflows by 7am, or Trail Ridge Road is closed for the season. The Colorado Front Range has options.
What to Do When Haleakala Is Clouded In, Sold Out, or Rained Out
When sunrise reservations are sold out, clouds obscure the crater, or the weather at 10,000 feet is not cooperating. Maui has options.
What to Do When the Grand Canyon Is Crowded, Closed, or Snowed In
When parking lots are full, the shuttle line wraps around the building, or you realize six million people had the same idea. Northern Arizona has options.
What to do when parks are closed, crowded, or rained out
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Discover your perfect parkWhat to Do When Olympic Is Crowded, Closed, or Rained Out
When the Hoh Rainforest parking lot is full, Hurricane Ridge Road is closed, or the rain has been falling for three days straight. The Olympic Peninsula has options.
What to Do When Joshua Tree Is Crowded, Closed, or Rained Out
When the heat is unbearable, the parking lots are full, or you just need a break from the desert sun. The Joshua Tree area has one of the best backup scenes of any national park.
What to Do When Mount Rainier Is Clouded In, Crowded, or Road-Closed
When the mountain hides behind clouds, Paradise parking overflows, or seasonal road closures limit access. The South Cascades have options.
What to Do When Great Smoky Mountains Is Crowded, Closed, or Rained Out
When Cades Cove traffic turns the loop into a parking lot, the rain gauge hits 80 inches, or twelve million visitors beat you to the same idea. East Tennessee has options.
What to Do When Grand Teton Is Crowded, Closed, or Rained Out
When Jenny Lake parking overflows, the iconic views are socked in with weather, or you need a break from the trail. Jackson Hole has developed a century of backup plans.
What to Do When Yosemite Is Crowded, Closed, or Reservation-Only
When Yosemite Valley parking is full by 9am, day-use reservations are sold out, or Tioga Road is closed for the season. The Sierra Nevada has options.
What to Do When Zion Is Crowded, Closed, or Rained Out
When the Angels Landing permits are gone, the Narrows is closed for flash floods, or the shuttle line wraps around the visitor center. Southwest Utah has options.
What to Do When Denali Is Clouded In, Booked Up, or Bus-Only
When the mountain hides behind clouds, bus reservations are sold out, or the 92-mile park road is closed for repairs. Interior Alaska has options.
What to Do When Arches Is Crowded, Closed, or Sold Out
When the timed entry reservations are gone, the Delicate Arch trail is a parade, or summer heat makes hiking dangerous. Moab has options.
What to Do When Glacier Is Crowded, Closed, or Snowed In
When Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed for the season, vehicle reservations are sold out, or the summer crowds have you questioning the whole trip. Northwest Montana has options.
What to Do When Acadia Is Crowded, Closed, or Fogged In
When the Cadillac Summit reservations are sold out, fog has rolled in, or every trailhead parking lot is full. Bar Harbor and the Maine coast have plenty to offer.
What to Do When Death Valley Is Too Hot, Closed, or Rained Out
When temperatures exceed 120°F, roads wash out from rare floods, or you realize the park is larger than some states and you cannot see it all. The surrounding desert has options.