You’re not imagining it: There are way more people on the trails these days than there used to be. It’s been five years since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global . Since the pandemic, we’ve seen the number of new recreationists grow each year. In fact, in 2024, more than 175 million Americans participated in outdoor recreation鈥攁 new record. Over the last five years, diehard outdoorspeople have had to adjust and make space for the newbies.

But increased crowding and new demographics aren’t the only sources of friction at trails and crags these days. Park reservation systems, mandatory shuttles, and new technology鈥攆rom Bluetooth speakers to e-bikes鈥攁ll mean there are more tricky situations to navigate than ever before. And while some organizations offer etiquette guidelines, they don’t always tell you what you really want to know.

Here at 国产吃瓜黑料, we figured it was high time those etiquette rules got a refresh. Here are the etiquette tips鈥攕orted by sport鈥攖hat you probably won’t get from your local park ranger.

Trail Etiquette Tips from Our Editors

Skiing

• Never play a bluetooth speaker on a hiking trail鈥攂ut the ski resort is fine.
• Don’t open a beer on the lift if there’s a kid on it.
• If there’s a short person partaking in the shot ski, be courteous: all must crouch to their level.
• The women you meet on the lift don’t want your number; save it for apr茅s.

Camping

• Don’t subject your camping group to your guitar playing unless you know for a fact that you’re really good.
• You can poach a reserved campsite, but you should leave if the original bookers arrive.
• If you’re sharing a tent, lay off the beans.
• Camp chairs belong to the people: If you stand up, your seat is fair game for anyone else.
• Bring enough snacks to share.

Biking

• Pull over to let E-bikers pass on uphill trails, but you absolutely don鈥檛 have to going downhill.
• It’s proper for your outfit to match your bike, but we withhold judgment for the underdressed.
• If you see someone with a flat, offer to help.
• Mountain bikers should always step aside for other users on multi-use trails. It sucks to stop your bike when you’re going uphill, but you’re the one who chose to bring a big, heavy machine to the singletrack on the weekend.

Hiking and Running

• If you say hello to a dog on the trail, you should probably also say hello to its owner.
• When passing, follow the inseam rule: The shorter inseam gets the right of way (but jorts trump all)
• Group pace is determined by the slowest person hiker, and if you started the day as a group you shouldn’t break up into smaller group.
• Used dog poop bags stay in-hand or in-pack; leaving them on or near the trail is never OK, even if you have the best of intentions to retrieve them later.
• If you get stuck behind a big group, ask to pass, but be polite about it. No group size is morally superior to another. (And if you’re in a big group, be aware of your surroundings, and move aside for faster parties.).

Climbing

• Ask other climbers before you pass them on a multipitch. If you get anything less than an enthusiastic yes, wait your turn.
• Unless someone is about to make a life-threatening mistake, keep your advice to yourself.
• Always tip your guides 20 percent.
• Drinking should happen聽补蹿迟别谤听you’re done belaying for the day.
• You can leave your quickdraws on your project overnight, but for the love of god please take your rope home.
• If someone finds your bail gear and posts it on Mountain Project, you absolutely owe them a six-pack.
• Do the naked lap. Just make sure there aren’t any other people around first.

The post These New Rules of Outdoor Etiquette Will Save You This Summer appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

国产吃瓜黑料 editors know the importance of taking a break any time of the year, but summer trips hit different. Where are we traveling this summer? Some of us have plans to escape the heat waves in U.S. for winter in Cape Town, South Africa, which has no shortage of outdoor thrills within its city limits. Another editor is heading to one of Washington state鈥檚 most remote and quirky towns to cool off on alpine-lake trails. While others are taking a runcation through Chamonix鈥檚 glacier-dotted mountains, and exploring a sci-fi-themed desert outpost in Utah.

Haven鈥檛 dialed in your summer vacation yet? With our always-online days, it鈥檚 more important than ever to put your phone in airplane mode and get a dose of nature’s healing vibes. Even if it鈥檚 just for a few hours while you visit your closest national park (pro-tip: visit natural parks with swimming holes). As always, the most important thing is to simply get outside.

Here are the trips we鈥檝e booked.

Chamonix, France聽

When I learned I鈥檇 be shipping off to Paris on assignment in late July鈥攁nd that I鈥檇 have a few extra days to myself once the work was done鈥擨 immediately started making plans to visit Chamonix, which lies聽tucked amid glacier-encrusted peaks and serrated ridgelines in the heart of the French Alps. I鈥檇 always known Cham was a global climbing epicenter, but it wasn鈥檛 until last year that I learned it was a trail-running paradise, too. I was getting back into running at the time and stumbled upon about some of the best trails in the area. Now, I鈥檓 training for a 40-miler in Telluride this summer, and I can鈥檛 imagine a better place to sneak in some last-minute training. On the list: the Petits Balcons trails (I hear there鈥檚 a good ice cream shop along the way), and sections of the iconic Tour de Mont Blanc.

鈥擟orey Buhay, 国产吃瓜黑料 interim managing editor

Exploring Around Utah聽

My home state of Utah never fails to amaze me. There are new destinations, trails, and campsites I鈥檓 constantly adding to my list and checking out for the first time. We鈥檝e been ticking off a number of staycations, including finally visiting the new sci-fi themed OutpostX resort in the sagebrush country of Beryl, Utah.

Loosely inspired by Star Wars films, OutpostX lets guests travel endlessly around the desert landscape by sand cruiser (kind of like the landspeeders in the film, except they don鈥檛 hover or go fast). Beyond this headline amenity, we got to marvel at installation art plopped down in the middle of a dried lakebed, stay in a bohemian-styled Viking Tent, and watch the sunset from an聽onsite hot spring.

On the same trip, I also fulfilled a long-held dream of visiting , an aspen clonal colony that鈥檚 considered the world鈥檚 largest living organism. Each tree in this 9,000-year-old aspen grove is genetically identical and connected by a massive root system. We camped amid Pando and mountain biked around nearby Fish Lake.

Later this summer, we鈥檒l be spending a couple nights with friends up at Castle Peak Yurt in the Uinta Mountains. We鈥檒l be SUPing at nearby high-alpine lakes, where I plan to attempt the SUP jumprope challenge, then unwind聽in the yurt鈥檚 cedar sauna.

鈥擬aya Silver, Climbing editor-in-chief

Cape Town, South Africa聽

This summer I鈥檓 headed to Cape Town where it will be winter. I know escaping summer for winter sounds strange, but there will be fewer crowds and milder weather (and no heat waves). And I scored an incredible stay so I can visit friends. Years ago, I was in South Africa on safari, but this is my first visit to its coastal capital where there鈥檚 no shortage of outdoor thrills within the city limits.

From Cape Town鈥檚 defining Table Mountain which dominates the skyline, to the two oceans that meet here, the Atlantic and the Indian, dramatic nature emerges in every direction. While this is a place known for shark diving, I鈥檇 rather do a mellow dive in Cape Town鈥檚 kelp forest, the dreamy undersea world where My Octopus Teacher was filmed. I plan to drive one of the most jaw-dropping coastal roads in the world, Chapman’s Peak, which is a bucket list for many cyclists to ride as well.

At the , I鈥檒l try to spot an ostrich by the sea. And no trip to Cape Town is complete without seeing African penguins at Boulders and hiking up Table Mountain. While the sun sets here now before 6 pm, that doesn鈥檛 seem so bad if I can watch it from the top of Lion’s Head Peak, taking in the incredible view of the dazzling coast below.

鈥� Kathleen Rellihan, 国产吃瓜黑料 travel and culture senior editor

Keystone, Colorado

Back in the mid-eighties, my father-in-law Tim bought a studio unit in one of the then-new condominium buildings at Colorado鈥檚 Keystone Resort. Nearly forty years later, the 500-square-foot space has become a godsend for my wife, my daughter, and me. It鈥檚 our sanctuary from the Mad Max-style driving chaos that occurs on Colorado鈥檚 Interstate 70 on most afternoons. We鈥檙e lucky鈥攚e don鈥檛 have to drive to and from Summit County every day, and can instead sleep overnight and wait for mellow periods to do our commute.

Ski trips to the Keystone condo are a breeze in the winter, but the place is even more magical in the summer. I鈥檒l admit, the condo has dulled my old desires for roughing it-style backcountry adventures. And no, a trip up to Keystone is hardly exotic or adventuresome. But traveling there with a young child takes a lot of the headache and stress out of a vacation. The hiking and biking trails start right out the back. The blue-green water of the Snake River is just a five-minute walk down the path. And yeah, there鈥檚 a pool and a hot tub. My wife has fond memories of family outings to the condo, and our five-year-old daughter is already making her own. This summer we are planning on a two-week trip to the condo in late July. I can鈥檛 wait for the trip to arrive.

鈥� Fred Dreier, 国产吃瓜黑料 articles editor

Nantucket, Massachusetts

This summer, I鈥檓 swapping my usual multi-day backpacking grind for something a little softer: a first-time trip to Nantucket (one of 国产吃瓜黑料‘s Best Summer Weekend Trips for 2025). I鈥檒l be staying on the west end where I plan to spend slow mornings biking the island鈥檚 35+ miles of paved paths, walking into town for a decaf coffee, and down to the beach with a towel slung over my shoulder. I鈥檓 hoping for daily ocean swims (maybe watching the surfers at Miacomet) and afternoons spent fishing.

There鈥檚 no summit to reach here, and that鈥檚 exactly the point. Lately, I鈥檝e been reminding myself that getting outside doesn鈥檛 have to mean high mileage goals or big objectives. Sometimes it just means following the coastline on two wheels, letting my phone battery go dead, and watching the sunset while eating oysters in the sand. I鈥檒l always love the mountains (and will spend as many summer weekends in them as possible), but this trip, I鈥檓 chasing a different kind of reset鈥攁nd letting Nantucket show me how good the mellow can be.

鈥� Sierra Shafer, 国产吃瓜黑料 editorial director, Lifestyle

Chanhassen, Minnesota

I鈥檓 planning to visit Paisley Park, located in Chanhassen, Minnesota, with my twin sister. While we鈥檙e聽 both fans of Prince, she is a superfan. We鈥檝e (read: she鈥檚) always wanted to check out his massive home and studio which is nearly 65,000 square feet and rests on about nine acres of land. I鈥檓 excited to explore his 鈥渃reative sanctuary.鈥� I鈥檝e also never been to Minnesota before, and I鈥檓 more than ready to explore a new state that feels totally foreign to me.

We also want to check out in Saint Paul. I’m the outdoorsy twin, so this one is for me. The park is about a 30-minute-ish drive from Prince鈥檚 estate. There鈥檚 a scenic waterfall tucked away on the trails. The last waterfall I saw was near a cenote in Mexico in 2016. Before that, sometime in the early 2000s, I swam in a lagoon under a massive waterfall in Cura莽ao. I鈥檇 say I鈥檓 due for another waterfall.

Since we plan on renting a car, I鈥檓 more than happy to drive two hours south of Chanhassen to visit the Spam Museum. I鈥檝e never eaten Spam because the look of it repulses me, but I need to know why it鈥檚 so loved. Plus, I want to see how it鈥檚 made. Maybe, I鈥檒l taste some. But probably not.

鈥� Ayana Underwood, 国产吃瓜黑料 senior health editor

Stehekin, Washington

I鈥檒l be heading to one of Washington State鈥檚 most remote towns: Stehekin. Nestled in the heart of the North Cascades, this mountain community is full of retired hippies, magic makers, and wanderers. With a permanent population of barely a 100 residents, there are no roads in, so outsiders (like me) must take the ferry to reach town. I鈥檒l first drive to Fields Point Landing in Chelan, then ferry across the lake to the middle of Stehekin where I鈥檒l begin my trek to Purple Point Campground where I鈥檒l camp.

On my first day, I鈥檒 explore all the quirky things that make Stehekin unique. On day two, I鈥檒l climb up McGregor Mountain, an iconic spot that looms over the valley. It鈥檚 8-miles to the top, but I鈥檒l stop at the 7-mile mark where the trail ends since I have zero experience in rock climbing to make the summit.

Day three I鈥檒l hike Purple Creek Trail near the campground. It reaches out to just about 10 miles, but I鈥檒l stop at the 8-mile mark at Purple Pass. I鈥檒l bed down for the night and make the trek back the next day. Once back from my second day hike, I鈥檒l pack up my gear, grab a beer with friends, and hit the road back to Spokane.

鈥� Emilee Coblentz, 国产吃瓜黑料 packages editor

Southern Oregon

While my big adventure in Japan is coming this fall, summer will find me dipping in Oregon鈥檚 enchanting rivers which are, truthfully, a major reason why I moved here.

, a campground and farm in Cave Junction, has become an annual jaunt, and for good reason. With 60 campsites spread over 100 acres along the Illinois River, the land is the ultimate spot for a river rat respite (it’s also the top-rated in Oregon). Each year, Cedar Bloom plays host to the , but the opportunity to spend a few nights on this stretch of land sans thousands of other people is pretty special. Private beaches and swimming holes abound鈥攁nd not to get all woo-woo, but the energy is awesome.

Whether on the drive there or back (or both), I鈥檒l be pulling off I-5 to swim in the Umpqua, McKenzie, and Willamette Rivers. An explorer鈥檚 mindset is key here: pull up a map, trace the tributaries, keep your eyes open, and expect to find some of the most unreal swimming holes you鈥檝e ever seen or swam.

鈥� Calin Van Paris, Yoga Journal editor

Need more inspiration to plan your next summer adventure? Check out our picks for the best long summer weekend trips for 2025.

The post Where 国产吃瓜黑料 Editors Are Traveling This Summer appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

It’s only been four months since the federal government laid off 5 percent of the workforce in our national parks and offered to buy out nearly a thousand more employee contracts. The layoffs have sparked fears about crowding and reduced services in parks. But they’ve also triggered a tremendous wave of support: In response to the layoffs, nature lovers on both sides of the political spectrum have rallied to step up for wilderness areas.

Some public lands nonprofits, like the National Park Trust, have reported double to triple the amount of inquiries this year from hikers interested in volunteering to maintain the trails they love to frequent. The regular flood of summer tourists isn’t slowing down, either. Places like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite expect to see that surpass 2024’s record stats.

Traveling to a national park during peak season, especially if it’s your first time, can be overwhelming. Amid all the changes this year, it’s extra important to have your strategies dialed. To better equip you, editors at 国产吃瓜黑料 have rallied to offer their most helpful tips for navigating parks with ease.

Click here to explore the new rules for visiting national parks.

Tips for Navigating Peak Season in National Parks

• Greet everyone you pass on the trail. It might be crowded, and you might get stuck behind a slow party. But a “Hey, howdy. Nice day, ain’t it?” does wonders in reminding folks that we’re all out here for the same reason, and we’re all in it together.
  – Corey Buhay, Interim Managing Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Don鈥檛 be that guy blaring music on the trails鈥攐r in camp. There鈥檚 nothing more annoying than finally lying down in your tent after a long day of hiking and adventuring and hearing everyone else鈥檚 conversations all night. Be respectful of your fellow campers, and their need for shut-eye, and abide by the quiet time rules (usually around 10 pm to 6 am). This goes for turning off music and keeping lights to a minimum.
  – Kathleen Rellihan, Travel and Culture Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Always cut your tent capacity in half for longer stays. For example, if a tent fits six, plan on piling three people in comfortably.
  – Emilee Coblentz, Packages Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Learn to love dawn patrol. Waking up early isn’t easy, but if you can be on-trail before sunrise you’ll beat the crowds, beat the heat, and get the sun’s first rays all to yourself. There’s really no better way to experience a national park鈥攅specially during summertime.
  – Corey Buhay, Interim Managing Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Connect with friends and family before you depart for inspiration. The national parks have been backdrops for stunning photos for years. Check in with friends and family before you head out to see if any of your loved ones have any well loved photos from their time in the parks. You can try to recreate them, or send a postcard back. National Parks are a special place for so many, so let the people in your life know you鈥檙e thinking of them when you visit.
  – Jamie Aranoff, Digital Editor, SKI
• Get on your bike. As national parks get more crowded, a bike is your ticket to escaping the woes of long lines at park entrances, scenic drive traffic, and full trailhead parking lots. This is especially true at Zion, where riding a bike lets you escape the mandatory shuttle ride during peak season. Check ahead to see if the park you鈥檙e visiting has bike lanes, bike lock stations, paved paths, or similar cycling-friendly amenities. Be sure to bring plenty of water, reflective clothing, and a bike lock so you can park your bike if you want to hike or check out an overlook. – Maya Silver, Editor-in-Chief, Climbing
• Plan on purchasing trekking poles for children under 10 no matter the difficulty level of the trails you plan to hike. This added support for kids helps on busy trail days.
  – Emilee Coblentz, Packages Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Go beyond the ‘Gram. You might show up to a national park with a tick list of marquee views, but if it’s a busy day, you might have a way more fun鈥攁nd adventurous鈥攅xperience if you leave the bucket-list spots to the crowds. Pop into a visitor center and ask a ranger for their favorite off-the-beaten-path trail. You’ll probably find a view that rivals anything you’ve seen on the internet鈥攁nd you’ll have it all to yourself.
  – Corey Buhay, Interim Managing Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Keep wet wipes in your pack if exploring with kids. Bathrooms will have lines and sometimes there just isn’t enough time. Plan for pee. Lots of it.
  – Emilee Coblentz, Packages Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

The post 国产吃瓜黑料 Editors Share Tips for Navigating Peak Season in National Parks appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.