Earlier Spring Temperatures Mean More National Park Visits

Rising average temperatures at U.S. national parks has led to more people visiting the parks earlier in the year.

Say what you will about climate change, but it could be a bit of a boon for the continent's beloved national parks. A new study out of the University of North Carolina on the relationship between rising temperatures and attendance at major national parks in the U.S. found that peak attendance at the parks occurs about four days earlier now than it did in the 1970s. Data from 27 parks shows as average spring temperatures at the parks rose, the earlier the parks reached their peak period for visitors. For the Grand Canyon, for example, the peak day moved back from July 4 in 1979 to June 24 in 2008. In parks without major temperature shifts, though, the effect was far less pronounced. Of course, the study's authors caution that these findings just point to correlation between temperature and park attendance, and not causation. But it's nice to think that once we've burned the planet beyond recognition, attendance at Yosemite or Yellowstone will stay strong. Provided there's still, you know, people and trees around.