How to Deal With Crowds in the Outdoors
"Hate crowds? You are crowds."
- Wake up early
Grab a headlamp and enjoy some early morning solitude in off-peak hours.
- Go later
Grab a headlamp and enjoy some evening solitude.
- Explore the off-season
As well as traveling in off-peak hours, you can also explore in off-peak seasons. With the right gear and preparation, the risks of winter sports can be mitigated. Many areas, such as Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, are overcrowded in the summer or during holiday weekends. However... you could have the whole lake to yourself in February!
This can be a great way to explore iconic views and areas, without or with less crowds.
• Consider going on a weekday
Weekdays are usually significantly less busy than weekends, especially in the off-season.
- Check out more remote regions
The farther you can get from trailheads, the less likely you are to see other visitors. If you have the navigational skills, you can try to bushwhack and get off trail (as long as it is permitted and won't harm the environment/vegetation).
Explore less popular areas and trails. Often, certain areas of parks are overcrowded while other areas of the same park are nearly empty.
- Embrace the social experience
Many go outside to escape society, but sometimes it can be nice to meet new and interesting people on the trails.
While hiking the NPT, many areas were quiet and remote. However, the Long Lake Catlin Bay lean-tos were both completely full. We hung hammocks instead and watched the sunset with some funny high schoolers on a leadership trip. We enjoyed their company and the laughs they gave us. When I arrived at Catlin Bay, I initially was disappointed by the crowds and full lean-tos, however, hanging out with the other groups ended up being one of my highlights of the trip.
When I find myself getting frustrated with crowds, I try to remember that when you are in a crowd, you are part of the crowd. Public spaces are worth protecting. And everyone should have an equal right to enjoy nature. We shouldn't love our parks to death, but with managed recreation, parks are all of ours to enjoy.