3 Tips For Safely Visiting A National Park

Visiting a national park is a great way to experience the beautiful nature that is around us while also getting some exercise and fresh air. However, with everything that’s been going on this year, you’ll want to take some extra precautions if you choose to travel in this manner, or travel at all.

To help you in doing this, here are three tips for safely visiting a national park, both this year and in future years. 

Take Coronavirus Safety Measures

First of all, you’ll want to take the right safety measures regarding coronavirus. To do this, Emily Pennington, a contributor to Outside Online, recommends that you bring hand sanitizer with you as well as a mask for when you’ll be around other people in the national park.

In some national parks, it will be easy for you to find ways to safely recreate without being in close proximity to others. But in other national parks, keeping six feet of distance between you and other visitors may be challenging at times. So to give yourself the best chance of staying safe and away from anyone that might be sick, try to research which areas of the parks have the most space and will make it easy for you to stay apart from other groups. 

Bring The Right Gear

Coronavirus isn’t the only safety concern that you should have when visiting a national park. 

Depending on which park you’ll be going to, you’ll want to ensure that you bring the right gear with you to help you stay safe. According to Katia Hetter, a contributor to CNN, this should include things like layering your clothes, taking enough water with you, and wearing sunscreen. Additionally, if you’ll be doing a lot of hiking, especially on rough terrain, you may also want to get some trekking poles to help you maintain your balance and footing. 

Be Smart When Doing Activities

Being outside and doing something active can put you in a situation where you do something that could physically hurt you. If this were to happen, you’d likely need to get help so that you could seek the medical attention that you need. But during the pandemic, there are less resources in the national parks as well as in hospitals that are trying to help those that are sick. Knowing this, Anna Mazurek, a contributor to the Washington Post, recommends that you don’t try anything too challenging or risky so that you don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger. 

If you’re wanting to take a trip, going to a national park could be a great way to get away in a relatively safe environment. However, since no national park is completely safe, consider using the tips mentioned above to take all necessary safety precautions as you venture out.