Small businesses at the gateways to America’s national parks face 4 big risks – including changing boundaries and extreme weather

Small businesses at the gateways to America’s national parks face 4 big risks – including changing boundaries and extreme weather

Rafting on the Colorado River is one of the outdoor activities available at the Red Cliffs Lodge near Moab, Utah. George Rose/Getty ImagesA record 332 million people visited U.S. national parks in 2024, followed by roughly 323 million in 2025. That’s a lot of love for national parks and lands. You might think that such big numbers of visitors automatically create windfalls for the towns and businesses that serve them. The National Park Service c…