We’re always recommending that people get out there. Obviously, a lot of people are! The national parks had 331.9 million visits last year. That is a record high. However, an internal National Park Service (NPS) memo said not to publicize the news.
The numbers were posted on the NPS website. There were 6.36 million more visits in 2024 than in 2025. And 28 parks had new attendance records. However, no press releases or social media posts were put out, and a memo was sent telling employees not to discuss the numbers with visitors unless specifically asked.
The decision not to celebrate the records comes during mass layoffs that have understaffed the parks. The staff maintains and cleans the parks. They also educate visitors. There is a plan to hire more seasonal help than usual. However, the park’s day-to-day work may be disrupted. Some parks are considering shortening their operating hours or changing how places are monitored for public safety.
The seeds of the national parks were planted by President Lincoln. He signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act in 1864 to preserve the land for the public’s enjoyment. Yellowstone was founded as the U.S.’s first national park by Congress in 1872. Renowned outdoorsman President Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act in 1906, making creating national parks and monuments easy. In 1916, President Wilson created the NPS. The Great American Outdoors Act, signed by President Trump, gave the parks a cash injection.
The administration now wants to reduce the number of employees by 30 percent as we head into summer vacation. That could mean losing janitors who keep the toilets usable and rangers who keep the paths clear. Hopefully, the cuts will come from somewhere that doesn’t impact daily operations.
“Local economies will be harmed if parks are not well managed due to lack of staffing or if they are closed,” Phil Francis, chair of the executive council of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks.
As always, our recommendation for planning a trip to a national park remains the same. Do your research! Read up not only on the weather and what gear you might need, but also the park hours, what reservations you might need and what may be closed while you are visiting. Things changed in 2020, and they have never settled down again. The parks remain gorgeous and are worth visiting at least once. However, now may not be the time to do so, depending on what you want to do there and the crowd levels you’re willing to handle!
