Did Influencers Diminsh Part of a National Park?

"It's a tale as old as time, or at least as old as social media: someone finds themselves in a space that hasn't gotten as much foot traffic as one might expect. They share details of the place online, and suddenly, what was once a well-kept secret becomes a destination. For some bars and restaurants, this can mean the difference between success and failure. When it comes to parks, though, the lines turn blurrier."

"Mohr's reporting focuses on Delta Lake, described as "an icy turquoise lake, opaque with glacial silt" and "a hidden gem." At least, there was a time when the latter description could be used to describe the lake, but that era seems to have passed. While Delta Lake is still somewhat off the beaten path - Mohr notes the lack of an official trail leading to it - things have changed."

"What happened? Social media. Mohr cites data to the effect that traffic has increased to this destination by 440% in the last ten years. Understandably, the sight that one person finds stunning might be found equally compelling by other people. And social media makes it that much easier to share a seemingly out-of-the-way destination with the world. Unfortunately for Grand Teton National Park and the aficionados of Delta Lake, this is far from the only park, national or otherwise, to experience this issue."

Delta Lake in Grand Teton National Park appears as an icy turquoise lake opaque with glacial silt and was once considered a hidden gem. The lake lacks an official trail but has become one of the park's most photographed destinations, with a maze of paths stomped into vegetation. Visitor counts have risen sharply, with traffic increasing about 440% in the last ten years. Social media sharing has driven the surge by making out-of-the-way views easy to find and replicate. Similar overcrowding trends affected other parks, including Joshua Tree in 2022, creating global management and conservation dilemmas.

Read at InsideHook