While each park handles cairns differently, the general rule at all parks is to not mess with the rock piles if you come across one. "Don’t knock it down or add to it," the article states.

While each park handles cairns differently, the general rule at all parks is to not mess with the rock piles if you come across one. "Don’t knock it down or add to it," the article states.

"Visitor-built cairns can lead people off-trail, damage biological soil crust and cause visual clutter. Help promote visitor safety and park health by leaving the cairn building to rangers." × ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. - Attention, Yosemite visitors! If you see a giant pile of rocks stacked on top of one another - also called cairns - anywhere in the park, go on and knock them down.