Follow the park rules. Stay on marked trails and observe traffic signs. Visit the visitor center first for information on the weather, road and trails. Call, write or check out the Web before the trip. Local libraries and book stores also are a good source of information.
National parks seem to be getting more crowded and less pristine every year.
Fla. - Water management and development have taken their toll on this wetland area. These wetlands are being destroyed by rampant development and the wildlife population is shrinking. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tenn. and N.C. - Emissions from power plants and vehicles pollute the air and distort the clear views. This air pollution has reduced visibility to just 12 miles, down from 70 miles half a century ago. And ground level ozone has been damaging 30 different plant species.