Our gorgeous national parks and monuments offer excellent views, outstanding recreation, and real risks of injury. The National Park Service has some rather graphic signs warning of the dangers.
Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
This depiction of a vomiting, sunburned hiker warns against trying to hike to the canyon floor and back up in one day, especially if you are wearing jorts. Even going down three-quarters of a mile and then back up was enough to wear me out!
Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
If the heat doesn’t get you, the mountain lion will. This sign deterred me from going on even a short hike during my brief visit to the Needles area of Canyonlands on a hot August afternoon. That, and rangers were already searching for one missing person at the time.
Kings Canyon National Park (California)
This sign is posted on hiking trails near rivers in the park. It’s effective, reminding me of a movie poster. “Río Mortal, in theaters now!”
North Cascades National Park Complex (Washington)
This sign, officially in Ross Lake National Recreation Area, still gets its point across though other visitors have added their own flourishes. Watch out for those bittorents.
Sue-meg State Park (Redwoods, California)
These tsunami hazard zone signs are posted all along the Pacific Coast Highway, but they’re a little bit scarier when they’re on a hiking trail and you’re from the Midwest.
Sue-meg State Park (Redwoods, California)
This more detailed warning is posted on the path to a beach. I was a little disappointed that I didn’t feel an earthquake during my time out West, but also glad not to have experienced a tsunami.
Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
The area is bone dry most of the time, but visitors to the canyons at Capitol Reef and many other places must be ready for a flash flood. Fortunately, it remained dry during my visit.
Lassen Volcanic National Park (California)
The “Bumpass Hell” geothermal area of the park is named after a man who lost his leg after stepping in the wrong spot. They want to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and there are nice boardwalks to keep visitors safe.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Michigan)
Apparently a lot of people climb to the bottom of the dune and then can’t make it back up. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop a lot of people (including families with young children) from risking the $3,000 rescue when I was there.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wisconsin)
Finally, closer to home, this simple sign warns people not to fall down the side of a cliff when they’re looking at the famed sea caves on Lake Superior. That selfie isn’t worth it.
