Obed Wild and Scenic River in Tennessee seems to be losing its reputation as an "overlooked gem" of the National Park System. Last year the park's visitation climbed almost 25 percent above 2021 visitation, to more than 306,000.

Visitation to the National Park System continued to rebound in 2022, with the head count reaching 312 million, the highest tally since the pre-pandemic year of 2019, according to the National Park Service. While 27 parks —2 percent of the 424 units in the National Park System— accounted for half of the 2022 visitation, year-over-year increases largely were seen across the system, the agency said.

Severe winter weather that has blasted California has led to the closure of Yosemite National Park at least until Wednesday.

When the waterline breaks — as happens almost monthly on the South Rim and canyon floor of Grand Canyon National Park — the canteen at Phantom Ranch and other park restaurants break out disposable plates and plastic utensils instead of dishware requiring water to wash.