Study: Natural Disasters Impact 18% of Camping Plans
Camping is one of the great past times in Northern California, but weather and wildfires have significantly impacted campsite availability in recent years. Now, we know that natural disasters are having a major impact throughout America.
The Dyrt has revealed in its 2023 Camping Report that 18.1% of campers had to modify or cancel their plans due to flooding and natural disasters in 2022. With California’s Sierra Nevada snowpack being the second-highest on record since 1950 and 80% of it yet to melt, it is anticipated that many campers will face similar circumstances this year.
In fact, the heavy snowpack and flooding throughout California is currently impacting many major campsites, including Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park
Lulu Luna Turbin, a camper from Hauser, Idaho, who uses The Dyrt, recounted her experience from last year. “I was riding my motorbike in Northern California when suddenly the road was closed due to a mudslide,” she said. “I’m planning a two-week trip back there this year, and there are reports of roads shifting due to heavy snowfall and rainfall.”
The Dyrt’s report highlighted that the number of campers who changed their plans in 2022 because of flooding and natural disasters—nearly one in five—was around three times the 6.1% who reported disruptions to their plans in 2019. Over the same three-year period, it has become five times more difficult to secure a campsite due to increased demand.
Kevin Long, CEO of The Dyrt, highlighted the challenges associated with the growing popularity of camping. “People have to plan further and further ahead to ensure they can reserve a campsite,” he said. “So, when a national park, state park, or campground is forced to close due to a flood, rescheduling the trip or finding an alternative campground is not as straightforward.”
The report also showed that avid campers, those who camped 11 or more times in 2022, were more likely to face disruptions due to floods and natural disasters, with 26.6% reporting they encountered an issue.
