Steer Clear of Crowds: Top Tips from National Park Adventurers Matt and Karen Smith

Matt and Karen Smith, a college sweetheart couple, embarked on an adventure in 2010 by quitting their jobs to visit every US national park. Their love for hiking and wildlife inspired this journey, although they weren’t particularly fond of crowds. The Smiths, who have visited every major US national park, have shared their top tips for avoiding crowded national parks.

As summer approaches, many Americans are planning their trips to explore a US national park. According to the National Parks Service, over 325 million people visited at least one national park in the US last year, a 4% increase from the previous year. With such high numbers, encountering crowds is almost inevitable. However, Matt and Karen Smith have valuable insights on how to steer clear of the tourist masses.

The Smiths met in college in Kansas and spent the first 25 years of marriage focusing on work, raising kids, and earning a living. Once their youngest child left for college in 2010, they became empty nesters. After relocating to Seattle and being introduced to national parks by friends, the Smiths decided to embark on an adventure.

Using their savings, they visited all 63 national parks in the US, including remote areas like American Samoa and north of the Arctic Circle. During their journey, they documented their experiences in emails to friends which eventually led to their first book “Dear Bob and Sue.” Today, Matt and Karen continue to share their national park adventures through Instagram and their podcast while offering valuable insights on how to avoid crowds in national parks.

One of their top tips is visiting during off-peak seasons or weekdays as opposed to weekends when there are usually more tourists. They also suggest exploring lesser-known trails that aren’t as crowded as popular ones. Additionally