We typically intend to do the right thing when we visit national parks, right? Most visitors understand and respect the basic rules and safety precautions: don’t feed the bears, don’t vandalize, don’t litter, don’t pet the bison. But here are five activities it might surprise you to learn are illegal in many (and sometimes all) of our national parks.
(Ahem, I know I’m leaning into my “Karen” name here, but my hope is to prevent you hassles on your vacation. There’s nothing like a citation to ruin a good road trip).
Leaving painted rocks. The “kindness rock” trend started a few years ago when people began painting messages and artwork on rocks and hiding them for others to find. It was meant to make others smile and to spread joy. But does this type of craft belong in our national parks? Finding a stone painted like a ladybug is fun outside your local post office, but at places like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, it’s considered littering and some paints and sealants are toxic and could potentially harm wildlife. Collecting stones to paint later is often forbidden as well, depending on the park. Fun alternative: Paint a stone to honor your favorite national park or wild animal and leave it outside a children’s hospital for someone to find.
Stone stacking. Cairns (stacked stones) have traditionally been used as trail markers in rocky areas like those found in Acadia and Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks. Recently, a viral trend has erupted on social media with people creating stacked stone sculptures in beautiful settings. The craze has gotten out of hand, and we’re seeing these piles showing up in all sorts of natural areas. Unfortunately, these sculptures don’t just lead hikers astray, but they can also cause erosion, damage fragile ecosystems, and disturb the creatures who like to live around and under these stones. Remember: you don’t need to leave your mark on wilderness. Fun alternative: Build a cairn garden in your backyard.
Flying drones. We all appreciate the incredible video footage captured by drones, but did you know that it’s illegal to fly one in a national park without a special permit? Penalties are steep, including fines up to $5,000 and up to six months in prison. Drone use has resulted in visitor safety issues, noise complaints, wildlife harassment, and disturbance of breeding and nesting areas. Park officials use them on occasion when conducting studies or for search and rescue, but anyone else would need special permission. Fun alternative: Experiment with the invisible selfie stick/floating camera photography.
Metal detectors: In order to protect historic artifacts and fragile ecosystems, metal detecting is illegal in national parks. Fun alternative: Do some research and see if your national park allows volunteers to participate in official archaeology projects.
Hiking with your dogs. Most national parks will allow you to visit with your dogs as long as you follow some basic rules and stick to the parking areas and viewpoints, but many parks prohibit dogs on the trails. If you want to take your pup hiking, be sure to research the park website ahead of time to find out whether or not your dog will be allowed on the trails and what rules they need to follow. Also, check out this list of parks marked as the most dog-friendly.
“Take only pictures, leave only footprints.” Remember to practice leave-no-trace behavior when visiting national parks and historic sites. We want to leave these incredible places as beautiful and pristine as we can for the sake of future generations. If you have any concerns about permitted activities in a national park, check each individual park’s website. You can also find much of this information on the National Park Service’s new mobile app. Happy adventuring!