| National Parks Traveler

My most memorable meal at a National Park was when we hiked rim to rim at the Grand Canyon. There were eight of us who started from the north rim to the bottom of canyon where we endured temperatures of 120 F. After spending two interesting nights at the Phantom Ranch we hiked out of the canyon to the south rim. Our party of eight had dinner reservations at the Ell Tovar restaurant.

Apr 17th - 08:58am | Loui

BEST: High Sierra Camps in Yosemite. All made from scratch in the backcountry served family style. WORST: Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone. Frozen never freesh and $$$.

Apr 17th - 08:40am | Will

The three best meals I've had in a national park were three rib dinners at Roosevelt Lodge in Yellowstone (in three different years). And I'm not a meat-lover.

Apr 17th - 07:02am | Lee Dalton

Honestly, the best dinners I've had in national parks have almost always been the ones I cooked on the stove in my little portable motel. But full disclosure, I'm a guy who thinks Dennys is a good restaurant. Virtually all the park restaurant meals I've had were badly overpriced and really not all that tasty.

Apr 17th - 05:56am | Rebecca Latson

The best dinners I ever ate within a national park were served to me at The Rim at Volcano House in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Each meal was beautifully presented and cooked to perfection.

Traveler's View: No One's Talking

Apr 17th - 14:57pm | Maschelle Zia

Well stated.

Apr 17th - 10:56am | Anonymous

I was harassed for years by a supervisor who consistently sabotaged my career development and would take punitive actions regularly but received minimal consequences after I filed complaints which were validated.

Apr 17th - 10:33am | Ghost of Stephe...

Failure of leadership! It always comes down to leadership, or lack thereof. NPS culture is indeed the overriding problem. The NPS leadership culture is compliance to authority, in a self-serving way.

Apr 16th - 21:08pm | Randy Turner

Apr 16th - 18:30pm | Maschelle Zia

Don't you love when the old white guys that are part of the problem deny, from their personal experience, misogyny and racism are issues for staff?

Apr 16th - 18:27pm | chris...

There seems to be two groups here- those who actually got discriminated against and or harrased or worse. And those who feel they are overcoming some sort of percieved wrong by greenlighting discrimination on a systemic basis against white men. Thats odd considering white men are about the only group who does not get preferential hiring points toward and potential federal job.

Apr 16th - 15:45pm | SA

Thank you for doing this article.

Apr 16th - 15:14pm | Shannon L. Reed

Hello, my name is Shannon L. Reed. I was sexual harassed and assaulted multiple times at the NPS and FS. When I reported what happened to me I was fired. It was not a he-said, she-said situation. I had 9 boxes of evidence. I wasted 5 years and a lot of money going to EEOC and MSPB. The system is broken. I spoke out. I was interviewed by PBS and Dateline.

Apr 16th - 15:13pm | Anonymous

I was just part of a rataliation case against NPS. It took more than 2 years to go through arbirtation. Even once the arbitrator made the decision, it took NPS leadership an aditional six months to come to settlement terms. Although legally its been aknowledged that there was wrongdoing on the part of NPS leadership, I feel that there has been no positive momentum overall.

Apr 16th - 14:26pm | Former Park Ran...

Nope. Not nonsense. It was so common that is was openly discussed on a regular basis, in the workplace. I know several employees that frequently filed complaints on supervisors and coworkers when they had applied for something and didn't get it.

Apr 16th - 13:14pm | Peggy LovellFory

This reminds me of a pack of wolves establishing leadership determining who will breed with whom and wear a pack will live. Clearly, we humans who have evolved from such basic survival behavior continue to build that into our institutions.

Apr 15th - 20:30pm | B

This article is 100% true. Systemic and horrible. Thank you for reporting in this.

Apr 15th - 16:48pm | Brian Kenner

Krumenaker isn't wrong, but he only talks about one side. EVERY employee on either side of a complaint deserves a fair, objective inquiry with a rational response from the agency. I believe the problem is that many NPS leaders choose who they want to believe in order to accomplish what they want, and retaliate against whomever they decide is a problem.

Apr 15th - 09:31am | ecbuck

Loui - its a mind-virus of progressive people" everywhere. The woke have so diluted the meanings of racism, harassment, mysogyny. ...... that they really have no meaning anymore. When the boy cries wolf too often, people don't come to help when there is real danger.

Apr 15th - 08:21am | Loui

The complaint processes have indeed been weaponized. After a park ranger buddy of mine verbally questioned the appropriateness of a park employee working directly underneath his husband, that employee accused my buddy of bullying and workplace violence for shooting a rubber band at him.

Apr 14th - 17:41pm | Ben from Virginia

When you are dealing with people you will have some bad actors in the mix. It should come as no surprise that there are people doing bad things. However, most NPS employees do a good job, and from my experience they are the best in the U.S. Government. I think one problem is the fact that permanent jobs are few, and getting fewer every year, causing panic among current employees.

Apr 14th - 16:07pm | A. Johnson

Wow. Kurt, that's quite an expose'. I applaud you and NPT for bringing the issue into the light. Good work.

Apr 14th - 10:17am | chris...

"The barrier to claiming harassment is really low. [Equal Employment Opportunity claims] aren't much higher," said Bob Krumenaker, who recently retired after 40 years with the Park Service, most recently as Big Bend National Park's superintendent.

Legislation Calls For Expansion Of Joshua Tree National Park, Creation Of Chuckwalla National Monument

Apr 17th - 09:47am | ecbuck

Map:https://www.padilla.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Chuckwalla-Map-4.12.24... Interesting the bill would not stop solar development within the "protected" areas.

Apr 17th - 09:00am | Loui

And what does said tribe think of this?

NPCA Calling For Culture Resource Challenge

Apr 17th - 08:42am | Randy Turner

Randy Turner

Reader Participation Day: Rating The Top Concessionaires

Apr 16th - 20:30pm | Afoley

We stayed at the Inn at Death Valley for the first time in mi-March 2024. We thoght the inn very comfortable, the food and service very good. and the pool and grounds very attractive, Not inexpensive, bu it was quite a surprise considering we were in Death Valley National Park!

Apr 16th - 13:41pm | Barry

Maybe you are unaware of what really happened to ear Paw. Mostly snow damaged the old structure. NPS is responsible for any repairs in the backcountry.

Apr 12th - 10:17am | A. Johnson

The reason Bear Paw Camp is closed is because the NPS has not tested or fixed (or both) the water supply at BP Camp. The concessionaire is NOT responsible for such infrastructure, or to repair the camp--that's on the NPS.

Apr 11th - 12:34pm | Whitt

I've had good and not so good experiences at many of these parks. The operations are only as good as the staff they're able to hire. Staff housing is very minimal and undesirable. Wages for unskilled labor are dreadfully low. Especially in the remote parks that has to be serious limiting. I wouldn't want to try to run a business inside the park.

Apr 10th - 22:39pm | Bfb

Visited Mesa Verde in October 2022 and lodging was a disgrace. Clogged and/or frozen pipes, carts overflowing with dirty laundry (including one overturned in the parking lot and one outside my room, where both stayed for three days), and an understaffed (one server), frigid dining room. Complained to Aramark, but received zero response or compensation.

Apr 10th - 20:01pm | Sequoia

Delaware North has trademarked a number of names in Sequoia NP, similar to their actions in Yosemite NP. Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp 11 miles into the backcountry on the High Sierra Trail (established 1934) has fallen apart on their watch, with no action on their part to get it going again, a tragedy.

Apr 10th - 14:11pm | Ben from Virginia

I love the concession operations in the parks. They help make a trip enjoyable. I especially liked the Jenny Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park. The food was spectacular. The lodges in Glacier National Park are very special as well. However, the concession stands on the National Mall need a refresh of the menu in my opinion.

Apr 10th - 10:00am | A. Johnson

Great topic, Kurt. I'm not a lodging kind of parks visitor, so I have no opinion on the services provided, other than an occasional visit to a dining room.

Apr 10th - 09:03am | andreww

Anything run by Xanterra is a no from me. A horrible company to deal with... This comment has been edited to remove gratuitous language.--Ed.

National Park Service Seeks Help In Identifying Suspected Vandals At Lake Mead NRA

Apr 16th - 10:50am | A. Johnson

I just don't understand this type of activity. Sure, I'm tempted to pocket a pretty rock now and then, but geez, what's the deal with tipping huge rocks? Was drinking involved? Don't they know EVERYTHING is recorded nowadays? Lord help us.

UPDATE | Yellowstone National Park Tourism Generates Billions Of Pounds Of CO2 Emissions

Apr 15th - 09:13am | Dune Bum

Are you referring to the climate scientists at the state universities that peformed the study? How does that have anything to do with a "geological position" at Yellowstone?

Apr 10th - 09:11am | ecbuck

What utter nonsense.

Apr 10th - 09:06am | chris...

Been to fishermans bridge in the lake district?, Have you used the museum there or the store? Did you see or smell the septic plant that operates the faciliies there? Probaly not....

Apr 10th - 08:26am | chris...

How much could we save on emissions if this geological position was removed from our operational budget? What a waste of money pursuing a clearly political viewpoint And with ever increasing efficiency in vehicles- and a limited entry system in place- how on earth will emissions go up? What a waste of money putting politics first and our parks last. Again

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 270 | Cultural Resource Challenge

Apr 14th - 13:33pm | chris...

The problem with pushing a "narrative" of our history in the parks is that it is and has become increasingly political in nature. Our parks should not become another politicaly divisive issue Its very sime- the NPS exists to protect and preserve our public lands Thats it. No politics, no narrative, no stories.

Update To BLM Oil And Gas Leasing Rules Expected To Help National Parks

Apr 12th - 17:39pm | chris...

The Biden regime has drained our strategic oil reserve to keep gasoline prices artificially low political reasons. They have not refilled it and it sits half empty as a result of oil prices being too high. Now they want to cut domestic production- leaving us vulnerable without a reserve- while raising the cost of fuel for Americans to heat their homes or visit their public lands.

How Aruba's National Park Is Saving A Locally Extinct Parrot

Apr 12th - 12:55pm | Susan Campbell

So happy you got there to bring this important story to light, great job !

Apr 11th - 15:52pm | Frank colavita

We have been visiting Aruba for over 23 years ..good luck with the program d2KSi

Apr 11th - 05:39am | Olivia Hill

This is a wonderful story! I wish you the best of success with the Loras!

Acadia National Park Getting $950,000 To Protect Against Climate Change

Apr 12th - 07:23am | Anonymous

Why do we have the Bureau of Indian affairs if we are to "co manage" federal lands with tribes? Shouldnt this money go to the BIA? It makes no sense- we are aiding them as they are in need of help and yet we are now reliant on their wisdom? Which is it?

Apr 12th - 06:43am | Chris…

A mockery of actual scienc.. and a waste if taxpayer money pursuing politics. Again. who approved these tribal partnerships?

Traveler Special Report: Closing The National Park System's Maintenance Backlog

Apr 10th - 11:56am | Sequoia

Had to go really bad, went from stage 1 @ the entrance station of Sequoia NP last week to stage 3 in a hurry, it was touch and go if i'd make it the Ash Mountain visitors center, and luck was on my side as I practically ran to the bathroom, which had 1 toilet and a large Glad bag over the 1 urnial.

The Land Of Standing Up Rocks

Apr 10th - 09:44am | Doug

My wife and I made what we thought would be detour to this place in 2021 during the height of the covid epidemic. Our detour turned into a multi day stay. The author captures a bit of what this place is, in a short article, but its so much more. First off, it's much more specacular than the author's description and pictures capture.

Apr 10th - 08:18am | Lee Dalton

Thank you. I had done some searches, but without the name of Ms. Gonzalez, I came up with zero. I'll try again with her name.

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