It was just over a month ago when the federal government was staring at the possibility of a shutdown. Little seemingly has changed in the ensuing weeks, other than that the U.S. House of Representatives has a new speaker in Mike Johnson from Louisiana, and the full chamber has settled on its budget numbers for fiscal 2024, which started back on October 1. While most national parks likely will close if there is a government shutdown on Friday, what is more pressing for the National Park Service is what budget numbers Congress will settle on for the current fiscal year and whether President Biden will go along with them.

Crews battling a wildfire burning in the backcountry of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia had to contend with steep terrain, abandoned mine shafts, and coal seams.

Saturday is a free entrance day across the National Park System, and there are other newsworthy events and things you should be aware of to make the most out of your national park adventures.

You'll need a reservation to drive into Arches, Glacier, or Rocky Mountain national parks next summer, according to plans released within minutes of each other Thursday afternoon.