News Release

Record Visitation Recorded at Obed WSR in 2022

Visitor Recreating at the park in a way that is meaningful to them

NPS

News Release Date: February 27, 2023

Contact: Daniel Banks, 423-569-9778

Obed Wild & Scenic River experienced record visitation in 2022. For the first time ever, the number of visitors at the park exceeded the 300,000 milestone. This represents an almost 25 percent increase over visitation in 2021, and a more than 40 percent increase over the average visitation in recent years.

After 10 years of relatively stable visitation from 2010-2019, the park’s annual visitation began to increase significantly starting in 2020, as people sought alternate forms of recreation and enjoyment in the face of health concerns and closures associated with the pandemic. This trend of increased visitation has continued to the present, with 2022 representing a big leap in the overall number of visitors.

“In recent years, many people have rediscovered the solace of nature and the restorative powers of spending time in wild places,” said Superintendent Niki Stephanie Nicholas. “We are thrilled to welcome so many new visitors to the Obed, not only as a venue for high adrenaline activities such as whitewater kayaking or rock climbing, but also as a remarkably beautiful place for more tranquil activities such as taking your dog for a walk or just finding peace in the outdoors.”

Despite the increase in visitation, Superintendent Nicholas says that solitude can still be found in abundance at this unit of the National Park Service. “Solitude and a sense of wildness are key values that the Obed was established to protect,” said Superintendent Nicholas, “and are still waiting for each Obed visitor just a few steps from every trailhead or river put-in location, in contrast to other places where people are elbow to elbow or bumper to bumper.” Superintendent Nicholas encourages people who may not be familiar with Obed to join a ranger-led hike, one of the park’s widely acclaimed night sky programs or the park’s award-winning Climb with a Ranger Program, which makes rock climbing accessible to everyone.