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Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could live in a national park? Some parks offer housing to their seasonal staff, and you certainly can’t beat the location! I had the joy and privilege of living in the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier back when I worked as a seasonal park ranger. As a single 20-something, I thought I’d won the lottery. But what are some of the actual pros and cons of living in a national park?
Pro: Location
Seriously. LIVE in a national park? People pay thousands of dollars to stay a single night at some of these locations, and I get to stay the entire season? I could fall out my back door and be on a hiking trail in less than five minutes. Elk wandered through the parking lot. I could roll out of bed and watch the sunrise paint the mountain in purple and pink hues. A ranger friend and I sprawled side-by-side on a deserted picnic table to watch the Perseid meteor shower. Does it get better than that?
Con: Housing
Most park housing leaves a lot to be desired. It can be anything from shared dormitory rooms to dilapidated trailers. It’s common to deal with rodent infestations, leaky roofs, plumbing issues, mold, and other problems. Wi-Fi or cell service? If you’re lucky. Do you have a spouse, significant other, children, or pets? The park may or may not be able to accommodate you. I remember reading that concessions staff at Yosemite are sometimes housed in tent cabins! There’s a movement to provide better housing for seasonals, but that takes time and money. My housing at Rainier had problems with rodents and insects, but I did have a large bedroom to myself both years. I also spent a month in housing at Longmire, where I had my own room in a small, shared house (that’s the “new” housing the characters refer to in my novel, The Road to Paradise.)
Pro: Community
Most park staff have common interests, so the isolation can create tight-knit communities. At Mount Rainier, it wasn’t uncommon for us to sit up late sharing snacks and talking about books, music, hiking, and adventures.
Con: Living with your coworkers
Shared housing could be a nightmare if you don’t have a good relationship with your coworkers. The NPS has a bad reputation when it comes to women in the workplace. That can be even more dangerous when it comes to group housing situations. I didn’t experience any issues at Mount Rainier, but I have heard a few stories from other parks.
Pro: No commute
I literally stepped out my door and walked next door to go to work.
Con: It’s a long way to civilization
Craving fast food or pizza? Need to lay in some groceries? Want to catch a movie? From where I lived, it was an hour or more drive. I ended up buying a lot of non-perishable food so I didn’t have to waste my weekend hours trekking to the grocery store.
Pro: Solitude
Even though our parks have a huge number of visitors, most people leave in the evenings. And where I was at Sunrise, there was no overnight camping. So in the mornings and evenings, we had the place to ourselves. (I’m not sure that’s true anymore. I’ve heard rumors of people parking overnight even though it’s technically against regulations.)
Con: No Privacy
At midday, it’s hard to escape the public. In many parks, the seasonal housing is in a semi-private area. Where I was stationed, people could walk by and look into your windows. I reprimanded one guy for pressing his face to my bedroom window, and he argued back that as a taxpayer, he owned the building. (It’s not a valid argument since park rangers actually pay rent for their rooms, and the cost is based on housing costs in the local community.)
Is it worth it?
With all of that said, I still think that being able to live in a national park was the best part of working as a seasonal ranger. I was a graduate student and had done quite a bit of traveling that entailed sleeping on the floor or on people’s couches. The little quirks of housing as a seasonal park ranger didn’t bother me a bit. Now that I’m older and wiser (and more particular), I might be a bit more discriminating. Maybe. There’s also a possibility I’d appreciate the perks even more!
Now that I write novels set in our national parks and spend months in front of my computer instead of on the trail, I’m a little jealous!
Have you ever worked in a national park? I’d love to hear your story!
Happy reading!
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