Today our sister site, offMetro, published the first-ever Guide to National Parks without a car. The project comes from month's of research on what options are even available and deciphering the schedules of seasonal shuttles, local commuter buses, and even in some cases, entry permits.
Sarah Knapp, the founder of OutdoorFest and Publisher of offMetro even got the National Park Service Transportation Planner Krista Sherwood on the phone to chat about the resources available for travelers. Sherwood stressed that it was important to think about people-powered transit as well, highlighting a few projects she was spearheading to make biking more accessible (did someone say National Park bike shares?) and safer. She also illuminated the complexity of working with different partners and vendors based on each individual park stressing that the gateway communities are integral to ensuring access and transportation changes are able to be activated. Examples of this include transit centers in nearby towns or bike paths connecting directly to National Parks.
The recently published guide highlights over 20 NPS locations that can be accessed without the use of a personal vehicle. Some are easy - like the Amtrak that drops you off in Glacier National Park - while others include train to bus to ferry to shuttle highlighting the mismatch between infrastructure and coordination between NPS and the gateway communities.
The hope is to celebrate our National Parks, recognize that some great options have been made available, and envision and advocate for the future of sustainable modes of transport specifically in terms of playing outside.
Explore the guide, think about how you travel, and start making plans for your next adventure.