Trail Runner Pardoned, But National Park Rules Still Apply

Trail runner Michelino Sunseri has received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump after getting in legal trouble for going off-trail during his record-breaking run up and down Grand Teton in Wyoming’s Teton Range. Wide Open Spaces reports that Sunseri had completed the run in just under three hours in September 2024 but was charged with a misdemeanor for briefly using a prohibited trail to avoid other hikers. After a year of legal battles and offers from prosecutors for community service, Sunseri celebrated the pardon on social media, calling the case a “massive waste” of government resources, while his attorney signaled they’ll continue fighting what they see as overreach by park officials. That said, this is an extraordinary situation—people should not assume that breaking park rules or going off-trail in national parks will result in a presidential pardon. It’s always better to just follow the rules.