Spike in visitors to DVNP

Lighthawk

Lighthawk

Weekend warrior
Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
3,334
Location
Nevada City, CA
Death Valley National Park’s visitation has doubled in the past 9 years :eek: and increased by 30% over the past year. In 2018, a record 1,678,660 people recreated in the park. :oops:

In my opinion internet access for information and mapping, plus GPS on our phones and vehicles, with social media (instagram, FB, blogs, etc) has created either the perfect storm or the golden era of exploration, depending upon your POV.

Be careful what and where you share, folks.
We're not in Kansas anymore.
 
Agree. I'll add to the list, the demographic wave of Boomers, many of whom have the time, resources, and health to pursue an interest in outdoor trips and activities; a number up significantly from previous generations. (no offense to the readership :sneaky: ). Along with pressure from the general population increase. And, importantly, global overtourism - a worldwide phenomenon.

I've read similar reports about other areas. Fortunately the massive increases are occurring, from what I've read, in mostly the best known and easily accessible places (to your point about sharing).

Unfortunately, in other front country, access is being lost thru protective restrictions and closures, infrastructure damage from increasing frequency and intensity of storms, huge wildfires, the usual ongoing human and industrial encroachment, etc.

So I think the focus of the masses is being, or will be, increasingly concentrated. For the more discerning of us, see it while you can !
 
Scary stats. It has all but ruined Big Sur. It used to be one of my favorite places, Spring time there was the best, I don’t bother anymore these days. Learned my lesson.
 
Lighthawk said:
In 2018, a record 1,678,660 people recreated in the park. :oops:
Click to expand...
Thinking this through, over the dinner table with a glass of wine.
1.6M people, but mostly over the winter months is something like 300k people per month, or 10k people every day.
 
Lighthawk said:
Thinking this through, over the dinner table with a glass of wine.
1.6M people, but mostly over the winter months is something like 300k people per month, or 10k people every day.
Click to expand...
Statistics I saw were relatively constant numbers over the course of a year. Summer visitors tend toward shorter visits.
 
Sad.
Within the past few years I've become much more careful about the content I post. My photos aren't as high quality and I am careful not to give away too much geography so that the precious spots I visit aren't overused and abused. I wonder if a large portion of the visitors cited stay on paved roads and/or only visit the main tourist areas of the park. That's my hope of course.
 
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