Every year, more than 275 million people visit U.S. national parks, with the heaviest crowds descending between June and August. If rafting through the Grand Canyon, hiking in Utah’s Zion National Park, or scaling the Half Dome at Yosemite are on your adventure agenda in the upcoming months, that means you might have some company with you – still, with some savvy planning, you can find a way to carve out a slice of solitude and be able to social distance during your visit. Here, a few tips on how to avoid the crowds at national parks this summer.

Every year, more than 275 million people visit U.S. national parks, with the heaviest crowds descending between June and August. If rafting through the Grand Canyon, hiking in Utah’s Zion National Park, or scaling the Half Dome at Yosemite are on your adventure agenda in the upcoming months, that means you might have some company with you – still, with some savvy planning, you can find a way to carve out a slice of solitude and be able to social distance during your visit. Here, a few tips on how to avoid the crowds at national parks this summer.