I'm a former park ranger. I always saw visitors make these 5 mistakes at state and national parks.

As a former park ranger, I know there are lots of mistakes visitors should avoid making at state and national parks.Danielle JacksonOver the past six years, I worked as a park ranger at US state and national parks.I saw guests make common mistakes when visiting the parks, like assuming they'll have cell service.Many guests also strayed from marked trails and came unprepared for hikes. I've always been fascinated by state and national parks. Growing up, I visited places like the Grand Canyon and spent a lot of time camping in small, local parks.In 2017, I received my undergraduate degree in geology and began my career as an intern at a National Parks Service site. I also spent a season working at a state park in California.However, I dreamed of being able to wear the coveted flat hat and get my foot in the door as a park ranger. Eventually, that dream became a reality when I became a park ranger at my first national park in 2021.Since then, I've worked for many different state and national parks.Here are five common mistakes I saw guests make while visiting the parks.Assuming they'll have cell service and access to WiFiDanielle JacksonWhen I worked in the parks, visitors sometimes (incorrectly) assumed they'd have access to WiFi and cell service during their visit. However, this wasn't usually the case.That's why I always recommend visitors write down important navigation information before their visit. Not checking the park's website and social media pages before visitingDanielle JacksonWhen I worked for my last park, we had constant road closures due to downed trees, rockslides, and car accidents. Although updates regarding incidents like these were posted on the park's website, I still found that many travelers didn't look for this information.Before entering a park, it's important to call the visitor's center or check the park's social media pages and website for up-to-date information.Straying from designated trailsDanielle JacksonWhile working at the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, we had several well-marked trails for hikers to enjoy and take in the beautiful scenery.However, several areas of these trails were often closed to protect rare or sensitive plant species or to help mitigate land issues, including erosion.Unfortunately, as a park ranger, I saw folks jumping off the designated path all too often. Many visitors don't realize that trail markers are there for their safety, as well as for the safety of the park itself.Forgetting that many national and state parks have wildlife to be aware ofjo Crebbin/ShutterstockMost national parks have wildlife that visitors should be aware of.While working at a national park, though, I often saw people's eyes grow large as soon as I mentioned that our park was saturated with black bears.In general, it's best to give wildlife plenty of space. I remind guests to make themselves look as tall as possible — and never run — if they come across a bear.Failing to properly prepare for a hikeDanielle JacksonWhen working in the parks, I saw many guests who did not come prepared for a hike.So, I always tried to educate visitors on what the National Park Service calls the 10 essentials. These include things like sunscreen, water, and snacks that visitors should always have with them on a hike.Other essentials include a compass or navigation system, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, an emergency shelter, a fire starter, a knife, and extra clothes.This story was originally published on February 2, 2024, and most recently updated on August 12, 2025.Read the original article on Business Insider

Comments

Business News

Designer apologizes for Adidas sandal design

ABC News

Cristiano Ronaldo Proposed With 50-Carat Diamond Worth An Estimated $3 Million: Here’s How It Compares With Other Famous Wedding Rings

about 2 hours ago

How Fantasy Football Can Provide Real Workplace Benefits

Forbes

I built a media business after starring on '16 & Pregnant.' But I'm still afraid that I could lose my financial success in an instant.

about 4 hours ago

insider

Investigation finds $13 million US military Reaper drone crashed into the sea after an unexplained failure saw its propeller fall off

about 4 hours ago

insider

Tesla is willing to pay up to $33.66 an hour for robotaxi test operators in NYC. Here's what the job entails.

about 4 hours ago

insider

Netflix is taking its fight with Disney to a new arena: sing-alongs

about 4 hours ago

Comments

Similar News

I built a media business after starring on '16 & Pregnant.' But I'm still afraid that I could lose my financial success in an instant.

I'm stuck between expensive teens and aging parents. I won't have a carefree time in my life.

M&S’s £10 perfumes are back with two new scents being called ‘summer in a bottle’

I'm a mom and food writer. Here are 12 things that make my Costco executive membership worth it.

I'm shocked by the sneaky trick the banks are pulling... you must act NOW to rescue your hard-earned cash, says SYLVIA MORRIS. If you have one of these accounts, move fast

M&S Bank's digital push punishes elderly, say campaigners

Seoul-based Datumo raises $15.5M to take on Scale AI, backed by Salesforce

M&S brings back popular service four months after cyber attack

I'm a millionaire dad who started investing for my 3 kids when they were born. Here's my advice for other parents.

M&S click and collect returns 15 weeks after cyber attack

'Delicious' M&S afternoon tea shoppers can have delivered for £5 with deal stack

I became a first-time mom at 46. Being an older parent is a gift because I'm the best version of myself.

'I’m a single mum with 7 kids - £5 B&M buy helps my ‘no spend’ summer holidays'

'I'm a coffee snob, I tried the new L'OR machine that makes iced or hot drinks from 40p'

Number of people paying dividend tax DOUBLES in two years to hit record 3.7m

Four ways to sidestep tax on savings that'll hit a record 2.6m

M&S click and collect finally returns months after cyberattack

'I'm trying to eat more healthily and one product is making life so much easier'

I'm a personal stylist for wealthy men in tech. Here's how I help them elevate their uniform.

I'm experimenting with AI in my 70s. I've had to adapt to new technologies my entire career &mdash; those who embrace change survive.

Business News

Designer apologizes for Adidas sandal design

Overseas travel to US continues to tumble as Trump imposes travel bans, tariffs

Trump blasts Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon over bank’s tariffs warning: ‘Focus on being a DJ’

Only 12% of people find Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ‘great jeans’ ad offensive: poll

IBM, Google claim quantum computers are almost here after major breakthroughs: ‘It doesn’t feel like a dream anymore’

Restaurants from IHOP to Chipotle sound alarm over tariffs spooking customers into staying home

More Evidence Your Doctor’s Working Harder Than Ever

Cristiano Ronaldo Proposed With 50-Carat Diamond Worth An Estimated $3 Million: Here’s How It Compares With Other Famous Wedding Rings

How Fantasy Football Can Provide Real Workplace Benefits

Can We Talk? Joan Rivers Honored With ‘Joke File’ Exhibit At The National Comedy Center

AI Firm Perplexity Makes $34.5 Billion Bid For Google’s Chrome Browser

EuroMillions draw LIVE: Massive £185million jackpot up for grabs tonight

The DIY cage armor in Ukraine keeps getting weirder, wilder &mdash; and more 'Mad Max'

Every 'Alien' movie and TV show ranked from worst to best, including 'Alien: Earth'

Elon Musk said Apple made it 'impossible' for non-ChatGPT AI apps to top the App Store. DeepSeek would like a word.

What it's like to shop at Menards, the Midwest home-improvement chain owned by a Wisconsin billionaire

What a drop in new building permit values means for your hopes to buy a home

Home resales in Canada will drop 3.5% by next year, forecast says

Trump's pick to lead economic data agency floats ending monthly jobs report

Toymaker drops lawsuit against Sylvanian Drama creator

Crypto Entrepreneur Who Caused 2022 Market Crash Pleads Guilty to Fraud

FTSE 100 boosted by US-China trade extension

Spirit Airlines sounds the alarm on its future ability to stay in business

Vernon food plant pleads guilty after nitrogen leak kills two workers

Perplexity AI makes wild $34.5B all-cash offer for Google Chrome browser

Will The Supreme Court Overturn Same-Sex Marriage? Maybe—But It Hasn’t Done Anything Yet.

Northern Lights Forecast: 10 States Might See Aurora Borealis Tonight

Jimmy Kimmel Says Trump Presidency Drove Him To Italian Citizenship

Oasis Sends Several Albums Back To The Charts As The Band’s Reunion Tour Continues

James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ New On Streaming This Week, Director Says

Olivia Rodrigo Makes It To A Special Milestone — Again

Democrats Condemn Trump’s D.C. Takeover Plans As Federal Agents Begin Patrolling Capital

Reneé Rapp’s Superstar Moment Has Arrived

CPI, Jobs Report Leave Fed Little Choice But To Cut Rates

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Sing-Along Version Coming To Theaters

Lenyn Sosa Quietly Leads A Step Forward For White Sox Hitters

Taylor Swift Shares A Major Hint About Her New Album

Hulu’s Best New Show Has A Near-Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score

Danielle Spencer, Child Star Of ‘What’s Happening!!’, Dies At 60

What Time Does ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Season 3, Episode 6 Come Out?

Trump Might Greenlight ‘Major Lawsuit’ Against Fed Chair Jerome Powell

Metallica And Queen Manage The Same Feat

Lady Gaga’s New Album Dances Back To The Charts

Real Madrid 2025/26 Season Preview: Team News, Key Dates, Predictions

River Island's £35 'Taylor Swift' dress that was £85 matches new 'Showgirl' era

Stay cool in heatwave with £28 smart fan which Wowcher just made cheaper

Thousands of motorists waste time of emergency service operators every year dialling 999 accidentally

I built a media business after starring on '16 & Pregnant.' But I'm still afraid that I could lose my financial success in an instant.

Explore Business Insider's front-row coverage on the biggest nights in music, Hollywood, and fashion

Elon Musk and Sam Altman's feud is really heating up

A complete timeline of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship

'Inference whales' are breaching AI coding startup business models

Microsoft is trying to poach Meta AI talent and offering multimillion-dollar pay packages, internal documents show

I'm stuck between expensive teens and aging parents. I won't have a carefree time in my life.

Taylor Swift pulled out pricey accessories to announce her next era, including an $11,400 necklace

In 1954, an Alabama woman became the first known person to be directly hit by a meteorite &mdash; here's her strange story

I've been to over 90 countries, but there's only one I want to return to again and again

I'm experimenting with AI in my 70s. I've had to adapt to new technologies my entire career — those who embrace change survive.

The DIY cage armor in Ukraine keeps getting weirder, wilder — and more 'Mad Max'

In 1954, an Alabama woman became the first known person to be directly hit by a meteorite — here's her strange story