How the one-way Loop Drive works, the trail pull-offs, and the ranger tram alternative.
A few practical words for the drive. This is a one-way loop, so you can't get lost — just follow it around and it'll deliver you back to the start. Take it slow; the speed limit is low for good reason, because wildlife crosses this road constantly and other folks are walking the shoulders to reach the trails. All along the loop you'll see little pull-offs and trailhead signs; each one is a short walk — a boardwalk or a footpath — out into a different corner of the park, and they're the whole point, so stop at the ones that call to you.
If you'd rather let someone else drive and do the talking, the park also runs a guided tram tour on certain days — a ranger takes you around this same loop and shares what they know. But you've got me, so let's keep rolling — windows down, eyes open.
Photo: Brandon Moore (Raskuly) · CC BY 4.0
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