On a summer morning a couple of years ago, we went for a hike on the fabled Bright Angel Trail, one of the most popular trails in Grand Canyon National Park.
As scholars of tourism and outdoor recreation, our conversation inevitably turned to the visitor experience at the Grand Canyon and a question that has plagued the parks since their inception: Are the national parks overcrowded?
kAmxE’D ?@E 2 D:>A=6 BF6DE:@?[ 3FE H6 36=:6G6 E92E A6@A=6 92G6 366? 2?DH6C:?8 :E :?4@CC64E=J 7@C @G6C 2 46?EFCJ[ 2D >2?J p>6C:42?D 92G6 4@>6 E@ 2 564:D:G6 4@?4=FD:@?i *6D] ~7 4@FCD6[ D@>6 DA64:7:4 =@42E:@?D H:E9:? A2C<D 42? 86E @G6C4C@H565[ 2?5 D@>6 A6@A=6 2C6 >@C6 D6?D:E:G6 E@ 4C@H5:?8] qFE @7E6? A6@A=6 HC@?8=J 2DDF>6 E92E 2 3FDJ A2C< >62?D 2 4C@H565 @?6[ @C E92E 92G:?8 @E96C A6@A=6 2C@F?5 :D :?96C6?E=J 325]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQp =2C86 8C@FA @7 A6@A=6 DE2?5 :? 2 C@H H2E49:?8 2 =2C86 DA@FE @7 H2E6C H:E9 2 H@@565 9:==D:56 :? E96 324<8C@F?5]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fae`gg^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_bad\df\adg3;=];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m~=5 u2:E97F= :? *6==@HDE@?6 }2E:@?2= !2C< :D 2 >2;@C 2EEC24E:@? E92E >2?J G:D:E@CD E@ E96 A2C< H2?E E@ H:E?6DD] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AD]8@G^>65:2^A9@E@^G:6H]9E>n:5l`qcthp_h\ddhr\cpcf\hufs\fs_bcqcubdrhQm}62= w6C36CE^}2E:@?2= !2C< $6CG:46k^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmpD 72C 324< 2D `hbd[ @?6 @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?2E:@?2=9F>2?:E:6D46?E6C]@C8^ED6CG6^?2EEC2?D^?EH:=56C?6DD^6DD2JD^AFC:E2?]9E>Qm7@F?56CD @7 E96 p>6C:42? H:=56C?6DD >@G6>6?Ek^2m[ p=5@ {6@A@=5[ 56D4C:365 E96 ?2E:@?2= A2C<D 2D “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>FD6];9F]65F^AF3^`h^3@@<^gd_cQm@G6C\4C@H565 9@DA:E2=D ECJ:?8 E@ 4@A6 H:E9 2? 6A:56>:4 @7 6DE96E:4 C:4<6EDk^2m]” !C6D:56?ED 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@4D]9@FD6]8@G^r@>>:EE66^r2=6?52C^qJtG6?E]2DAIntG6?Exsl``da`eQmr@?8C6DDk^2m 92G6 5:D4FDD65 E96 :DDF6[ 2D 92G6 >@DE >2;@C ?6HDA2A6CD :? E96 ?2E:@? 2E @?6 E:>6 @C 2?@E96C] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@FED:56@?=:?6]4@>^25G6?EFC6\EC2G6=^?2E:@?2=\A2C<D^J6==@HDE@?6\?2E:@?2=\A2C<\4C@H5D^Qm|282K:?6 9625=:?6Dk^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ff^__cfagfdad`b`eaefQmC6D62C49 2CE:4=6Dk^2m 92G6 564C:65 “@G6C4C@H5:?8” 2?5 E96 “A2C<D 36:?8 =@G65 E@ 562E9]” ~FC @H? C6D62C49 7:6=5D 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_g_^_`ch_c__f_`gg`bc`Qm7F6=65 E9:D @3D6DD:@?k^2m H:E9 4C@H5:?8]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ @FC 2?2=JD:D[ 2D H6== 2D H@C< 3J @E96CD[ 92D 7@F?5 E92E 36:?8 :? AF3=:4 A2C<D 2?5 ?2EFC2= 6?G:C@?>6?ED H:E9 @E96C G:D:E@CD :D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]E@FC>2?]a_ae]`_dcadQmA@H6C7F= @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 6?92?46 6IA6C:6?46D :? E96D6 A=246Dk^2m C2E96C E92? 56EC24E 7C@> E96>] (6 ?@E6 E92E E96 2DDF>AE:@? E92E ?2EFC6 :D 36DE 6IA6C:6?465 :? D@=:EF56 @C @?=J H:E9:? @?6’D @H? 8C@FA C67=64ED 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]E@FC>2?]a_ae]`_dcadQm86?6C2==J H6DE6C? 2?5 6=:E:DE A6CDA64E:G6k^2m 2?5 5@6D ?@E 2=:8? H:E9 9@H A6@A=6 @7E6? 24EF2==J 6IA6C:6?46 A2C<D @C E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^95=]92?5=6]?6E^a_]d__]`cbhc^cha_eQmBF2=:EJ @7 E96:C 6IA6C:6?46D :? E96 AC6D6?46 @7 @E96CDk^2m]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQp 8C@FA @7 A6@A=6 D:E 2?5 DE2?5 @? 2 >@F?E2:?E@A H2E49:?8 E96 DF? C:D6 @G6C E96 @462?[ 2 =2<6 2?5 D@>6 =@H6C 9:==D]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fae`gd^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_bad\df\9hCG82];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m(2E49:?8 E96 DF?C:D6 @? r25:==24 |@F?E2:? :? p425:2 }2E:@?2= !2C< :? |2:?6 42? 36 2? 6?;@J23=6 4@==64E:G6 6IA6C:6?46] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AD]8@G^>65:2^A9@E@^G:6H]9E>n:5l_dpqhchb\qdhq\cfh_\h_as\acet`efrtrqbQmz6?E |:==6C^}2E:@?2= !2C< $6CG:46k^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9amq6J@?5 4C@H5:?8[ E@H2C5 ‘4@>>F?:E2D’k^9am
kAmw:<:?8 @? E96 qC:89E p?86= %C2:= E92E >@C?:?8 :? a_ab[ H6 ?@E:465 G:8?6EE6D E92E 492==6?86 E96 4C@H5:?8 2DDF>AE:@?] %96 EC2:= H2D 3FDJ] xE H2D 62C=J[ 2?5 E96 D@FE9 H2== @7 E96 42?J@? H2D DE:== 3=2?<6E65 :? D9256] %H@ 72>:=:6D[ @?6 9:<:?8 FA[ E96 @E96C 9:<:?8 5@H?[ H6C6 492EE:?8 2?5 D92C:?8 :?D:89ED 2E 2 36?5 :? E96 EC2:=]k^Am
kAmp J@F?8 9:<6C D92C65 96C 3:?@4F=2CD H:E9 2? 6=56C=J >2?[ 7@4FD:?8 E96> @? 2 5:DE2?E[ C2C6 56D6CE 3:89@C? D966A] p? @=56C 4@FA=6 D>:=65 2D 2 8288=6 @7 <:5D C2? FA9:== 2?5 A2DE E96>[ C24:?8 E@ E96 :46 4C62> AC@>:D65 E@ E96> @? E96 42?J@? C:>] p?@E96C 9:<6C A@:?E65 @FE 2 r2=:7@C?:2 4@?5@C D2:=:?8 23@G6] %@86E96C[ H6 >2CG6=65 2E :ED 362FEJ]k^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^52E2HC2AA6C]5H45?]?6E^fgfrK^7F==]A?8Q ^mk^Am
kAms6DA:E6 E96 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 @? E96 EC2:=[ H6 5:5 ?@E 766= 4C@H565] #2E96C[ H6 76=E 2 DA@?E2?6@FD D6?D6 @7 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E@86E96C?6DD] p?E9C@A@=@8:DE ':4E@C %FC?6C 42==65 E9:D 766=:?8 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];DE@C]@C8^DE23=6^`_ea_acQm4@>>F?:E2Dk^2m[” 2 D92C65 6IA6C:6?46 E92E 2 A6CD@? >:89E 6?4@F?E6C 5FC:?8 2 A:=8C:>286[ DFCC@F?565 3J @E96C EC2G6=6CD H:E9 2 D92C65 ;@FC?6J 2?5 8@2=]k^Am
kAm~E96CD 92G6 HC:EE6?[ E@@[ 23@FE E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]cbac^hfg_a_b_hccecQmG2=F6 @7 6IA6C:6?4:?8 ?2E:@?2= A2C<Dk^2m :? E96 AC6D6?46 @7 @E96CD[ 7:?5:?8 2 D92C65 D6?D6 @7 2H6 2?5 277:C>2E:@? @7 G2=F6D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C6D62C49]7D]FD52]8@G^EC66D62C49^g_a_eQm':D:E@C DFCG6JD 4@?5F4E65 :? E96 r=6G6=2?5 }2E:@?2= u@C6DEk^2m ?62C $2? s:68@ :? DF>>6C a_ad D9@H E92E E96 >@C6 A6@A=6 6IA6C:6?46 4@>>F?:E2D[ E96 =6DD =:<6=J E96J 2C6 E@ 766= 4C@H565]k^Am
kAmx? 724E[ :? `haa[ >@C6 E92? 2 564256 367@C6 {6@A@=5’D =2>6?E 23@FE “@G6C\4C@H565 9@DA:E2=D[” 4@?D6CG2E:@? 25G@42E6 #@36CE $E6C=:?8 *2C5 56D4C:365 E96 D92C:?8 @7 DA246 2?5 E:>6 2D 4CF4:2= 6=6>6?ED @7 E96 ?2E:@?2= A2C< 6IA6C:6?46] w6 ?@E65 E92E 2 A6CD@? “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?AD9:DE@CJ]4@>^AF3=:42E:@?D^D\Gcg?`b\`haa]A57QmD:ED 2C@F?5 E96 6G6?:?8 42>A 7:C6k^2m H:E9 2 r2=:7@C?:2 8C2A6 8C@H6C[ 2 =@4@>@E:G6 6?8:?66C 7C@> |2DD249FD6EED[ 2?5 2 32?<6C 7C@> |:49:82?]” w6 4@?E:?F65i “w6C6 E96 D@4:2= 5:776C6?46D D@ :?D:DE65 FA@? 2E 9@>6 ;FDE 5@?’E 6I:DE] !6C92AD 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6[ @?6 C62=:K6D E96 4@>>@? p>6C:42 – 2?5 =@G6D :E]”k^Am
k9amxE’D 2 >2EE6C @7 A6CDA64E:G6k^9am
kAmxE :D :>A@CE2?E E@ C6>6>36C E92E 6249 A6CD@? 92D E96 A@H6C E@ D9:7E 9@H E96J C624E E@ E96 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 2C@F?5 E96> :? A2C<D] q6:?8 4C@H565 :D ?@E 2? @3;64E:G6 DE2E6j k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_g_^__aaaa`e]a__b]``hd___`Qm:E :D 2 ?682E:G6 A6C46AE:@?k^2m @7 D@4:2= 4@?5:E:@?D] u@C :?DE2?46[ H96? A6@A=6 D66 G:D:E@CD 2D 5:776C6?E 7C@> E96>D6=G6D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]bfaf^`_gbdca_c`cbfdb_QmE96J 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 766= 4C@H565k^2m] qFE 3J C64@8?:K:?8 E92E E6?56?4J 2?5 C67C2>:?8 E96 :?E6C24E:@?[ A6@A=6 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 7:?5 4@>>F?:E2D]k^Am
kAmr@>>F?:E2D[ E@@[ :D :? E96 6J6 @7 E96 369@=56C] (96? A6@A=6 G:6H D@4:2= :?E6C24E:@?D :? A2C<D 2D @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]E@FC>2?]a_ae]`_dcadQmD92C6 :? 2 =2C86C 4@==64E:G6 6IA6C:6?46k^2m[ E96J @A6? FA E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 6IA6C:6?4:?8 4@>>F?:E2D]k^Am
kAm%9:D DF>>6C[ H6 FC86 J@F E@ 6?E6C p>6C:42’D ?2E:@?2= A2C<D H:E9 A6C92AD 2 5:776C6?E A6CDA64E:G6] tIA6C:6?46 E96 4@==64E:G6 2H6 @7 H2E49:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AD]8@G^J6==^A=2?J@FCG:D:E^6IA=@C6@=572:E97F=]9E>Qm~=5 u2:E97F=k^2m 6CFAE H:E9 2 76H 9F?5C65 @7 J@FC 76==@H A:=8C:>D :? *6==@HDE@?6 }2E:@?2= !2C<] u:?5 H@?56C>6?E :? D92C:?8 2 DF?C:D6 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AD]8@G^2425^A=2?J@FCG:D:E^425:==24\>@F?E2:?]9E>Qmr25:==24 |@F?E2:?k^2m :? p425:2 }2E:@?2= !2C< @C DF?D6E 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AD]8@G^A=246D^___^@=>DE65\A@:?E]9E>Qm~=>DE625 !@:?Ek^2m :? *@D6>:E6 }2E:@?2= !2C<] $66< E96 A@H6C E92E 4@>6D 7C@> D66:?8 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AD]8@G^8C42^:?56I]9E>QmvC2?5 r2?J@?k^2m 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6[ E@86E96C]k^Am
kAm|@DE :>A@CE2?E=J[ 36 E96 A6CD@? H9@ A@:?ED @FE E92E 4@?5@C[ 8:G6D 2 ?6:893@C:?8 42>A6C E92E 6IEC2 9@E 5@8[ @C E2<6D E92E A9@E@ 7@C 2?@E96C 72>:=J] u:?5 J@FC 4@>>F?:E2D[ 96=A @E96CD E@ 5@ E96 D2>6 2?5[ E@86E96C[ 4@?D:56C E96 8C2?56FC @7 E96 D92C65 6IA6C:6?46 @7 p>6C:42’D ?2E:@?2= A2C<D]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfchQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^H:==\C:46\`_fdchdnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfchQm(:== #:46k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\>@?E2?2\aedhnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfchQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 |@?E2?2k^2mk^6>m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^3:?8\A2?\cceeg_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfchQmq:?8 !2?k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^A6??\DE2E6\`adgnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfchQm!6?? $E2E6k^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\AC@E64E:?8\H:=5=2?5\:D\4CF4:2=\E@\2>6C:42?\7C665@>\2?5\:56?E:EJ\adcgeanFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfchQm(9J AC@E64E:?8 H:=5=2?5 :D 4CF4:2= E@ p>6C:42? 7C665@> 2?5 :56?E:EJk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^2D\?2E:@?2=\A2C<\DJDE6>\G:D:E@C\?F>36CD\9:E\C64@C5\9:89D\96C6D\9@H\G:D:E@CD\42?\252AE\7@C\2\36EE6C\6IA6C:6?46\aeac_fnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfchQmpD }2E:@?2= !2C< $JDE6> G:D:E@C ?F>36CD 9:E C64@C5 9:89D[ 96C6’D 9@H G:D:E@CD 42? 252AE 7@C 2 36EE6C 6IA6C:6?46k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^9:556?\EC62DFC6D\@7\2>6C:42D\?2E:@?2=\A2C<D\2C6\4=@D6C\E92?\J@F\>:89E\E9:?<\aeadgdnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfchQmw:556? EC62DFC6D @7 p>6C:42’D ?2E:@?2= A2C<D 2C6 4=@D6C E92? J@F >:89E E9:?<k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m(:== #:46 C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= !2C< $6CG:46 2?5 &$sp u@C6DE $6CG:46]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?mq:?8 !2? C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> }2E:@?2= !2C< $6CG:46[ s6A2CE>6?E @7 x?E6C:@C[ &$p]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^afgfch^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.