Jayme Rec walks on a bog bridge along the Valley Cove Trail in Acadia National Park last September. There are plenty of things to have on your to-do list when embarking on a solo hike at any national park, most notably informing someone you trust about your plans. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer Over the next few months, millions of visitors will flock to U.
S. national parks to hike, climb, boat and explore. With a maximum cost of $35 per vehicle for entry, visiting a national park can be one of the cheapest, most rewarding vacations you can plan this summer.
And while entry requirements may complicate planning for groups or for multiday treks, solo hikers should be flexible enough to enter at off-hours and win last-minute lotteries. Hiking and spending time in nature alone has demonstrably proved to improve mental health. It becomes easier to marvel at the natural world without distracting devices or another person’s hiking constraints.
Beginner hikers can benefit from a few hours of silence to clear their minds and observe the trees around them at their own pace. Those with more experience outdoors can focus their energy on reaching new heights all by themselves. But even seasoned solo travelers may balk at the idea of hiking by themselves if they haven’t done it before.
Despite the rare story, you are highly unlikely to die in a national park, especially if you are a woman. When I spent two years alone, living in my van and traveling to every national park in the Lower .
