National parks are beautiful, massive—and filled with things you can’t do, although that doesn’t stop some people from trying. Most people follow the big signs about bears or campfires, yet there are plenty of lesser-known rules that they avoid every day, consciously or not. Here are eleven national park rules tourists ignore. It doesn’t matter if you think you’re being respectful or careful, you should really follow these rules.
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No Using Drones
Some people pack drones thinking they’ll get a cool shot of the canyon or forest from above, although flying a drone in a national park is banned unless you have a permit—and most people don’t. Beyond being a safety issue, drones stress out wildlife, disrupt rescue crews and yes, they crash a lot. In Yellowstone, several drones have dropped into geysers and hit the ground near visitors, even though the users claim they were only flying them for “just a minute.”
Don’t Pocket “Souvenirs” like Rocks or Pinecones
Grabbing a neat rock or pinecone to remember your trip sounds harmless, but taking anything natural from the park is completely banned in most places. At Petrified Forest National Park, for example, tourists walk out with around one ton’s worth of material—that’s not an exaggeration. Rangers have to constantly remind people that the rocks are protected, even if they’re tiny, because people just think one little piece won’t matter. It does.
Don’t Walk off the Trail
When you’re on a path, you might see a great lookout spot a few feet away, and think, “I’ll just step over for a second,” but that step is breaking the rules. Parks like Rocky Mountain & Yellowstone have sensitive ground cover and alpine plants that may take years to regrow if damaged. In thermal areas, the crust under your feet could give way—it doesn’t matter how solid the area looks, the trail exists for a reason. Rangers spend a lot of time fixing the damage left by people who thought a short detour wouldn’t cause any problems.
No Leaving Prayer Rocks or Stacks
People love building little rock towers or arranging stones with notes & wishes, although in many parks, this isn’t allowed. Acadia and Zion specifically ban rock stacking because they confuse other hikers who think they’re part of the trail—some animals & insects also rely on those rocks for shelter. Moving them changes their habitat, so it doesn’t matter how meaningful or artistic you think they are, the rangers will take them down.
Don’t Bury Toilet Paper (or Anything Else)
The Leave No Trace policy applies to everyone, yet some people seem to think they can just dig a little hole and leave their toilet paper there. However, that’s against park rules in places like Joshua Tree, where the dry climate means paper doesn’t break down properly and rangers have to clean up. It’s gross and it creates sanitation issues near trails & campsites, so pack it out in a bag instead.
No Hammocks Without a Permit
You might want to rethink stringing up a hammock between two trees because in parks like the Great Smoky Mountains, hammocks are banned in certain areas unless you have a permit or are using special tree-friendly straps. It’s because the straps might strip the bark off trees and damage them, which is why rangers hand out fines when people ignore the rule. It doesn’t matter if you’re just trying to hang out and relax in the woods for a photo—hammocks are banned.
Pets Aren’t Allowed on Most Trails
Bringing your dog along seems normal, especially if it’s well-behaved and on a leash, but in parks like Olympic or Glacier, pets aren’t allowed on most trails because the rangers need to protect the local wildlife. You may have them in parking lots or campgrounds, although that’s about it. This restriction reduces the chance of surprise animal encounters—still, a lot of visitors just assume dogs are fine everywhere and find out the hard way that they’re not.
Feeding Animals Includes Dropping Crumbs
Speaking of animals, you might not think of yourself as someone who feeds wildlife, but if you eat a snack and leave behind crumbs, that counts. In places like Yosemite & Grand Canyon, even small food bits attract animals like squirrels and birds, which start expecting food from humans. They might even become aggressive and rangers have seen animals go into bags, chew through gear, or hang around picnic places to get some food.
No Swimming in Thermal Springs
While some of the hot springs in Yellowstone look calm, that water often reaches 200°F or more, and that’s why swimming is banned in almost all thermal areas unless it’s a specific location. People have ignored the warnings and been seriously burned many times before—or worse—and the ground around these springs is also unstable. It might look safe, but it really isn’t and rangers have records of rescues and injuries going back decades.
No Collecting Antlers or Bones
Grand Teton and Denali both have strict rules against taking any natural remains from the park, including old skulls, antlers & feathers, as these things play a role in the environment. Some are also used for research, but people try to sneak them out all the time. Rangers have caught visitors hiding them in cars and backpacks—if you’re caught, they’ll take it and possibly fine you.
No Blasting Music or Using Speakers on Trails
Even though hiking with music might sound fun, using speakers out in the park is usually against the rules because most places have a ban on amplified sound on trails. You may only play music in a designated event area with a permit—but you’ll see people blasting playlists from their phone or Bluetooth speaker. The noise scares animals and annoys other visitors, so just stick to using your headphones.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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