Whether you're looking for impressive views, clear skies or just some good-old-fashioned outdoor adventure, national parks are an appealing vacation destination. These natural environments can prove unpredictable, however, and come with plenty of risks. The National Park Foundation suggests anyone planning to venture to a national park take steps to prepare beforehand to limit their exposure to these risks and ensure everyone gets home safely, including:
  • Create a trip plan document. Not only will this be useful in the organization of your activities, but sharing it with your emergency contact before you go can prove useful if you're lost and search and rescue efforts are necessary.
  • Don't forget to pack safety essentials, like a first aid kit, sun protection, navigation that doesn't depend on cell phone reception (map, compass, GPS), emergency shelter, means for making fire and light sources, like flashlights, lanterns or headlamps.
  • Before you leave home, check the website of the park you plan to visit for the most current information about park weather and operating conditions.
Considering the unpredictability of nature, it's also a good idea to check out your travel insurance options before embarking on your national park getaway. Travel insurance coverages vary, but can offer protection if your trip is interrupted or cancelled; and some even offer coverage for emergency medical expenses that arise while you explore. In the slideshow above, we'll look at the national parks where the most fatalities have occurred in recent years, as well as the most frequent causes of those deaths according to information obtained from the National Park Service by Outforia.

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