[johndotsun]

There are millions of people travelling to these areas every year. As this article outlines, even a few thousands of people per year travelling unrestricted in this park in its first few decades of popularity has lead to long-lasting damage of park features that we are still deprived of experiencing in their original states more than a hundred years later. Visitors today continue to pollute the pools with garbage and wander off the marked areas to 'soak' in them despite the pleas, warnings, and boardwalks meant to deter this behavior.

Allowing millions of tourists from around the world, many without any respect or knowledge of how to conduct themselves in the wild in such a way as to leave minimal impact, would lead to a rapid and permanent destruction of the very park features that make the area worthy of preservation and visiting.

Your perspective on things doesn't work in a world with 7+ billion people who are increasingly able to travel to popular destinations. The trail and boardwalk restrictions in the park make it possible for all visitors to enjoy park features in perpetuity rather than all features being destroyed by a single selfish generation.