| National Parks Traveler

A lesser known unit of the NPS is Prince William Forest Park in Virginia. It is an NPS park which is part of the National Capital Region and is 15,000 acres in size. It is pristine, and has a verdent forest and excellent camping. I like to go hiking over its gentle hills and flat terrain. Please visit this park when you are in northern Virginia.

Feb 1st - 06:59am | Will De Man

It's going more popular thanks to influencers on Instagram and TikTok, but the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore underrated It's got great camping, an incredible section of the North Country Trail, and some of the most stunning views of Lake Superiior anywhere along the north coast of Michigan. As a Michigander, I've been there many times and try to fit it in every summer.

National Park Service Proposes To Replace Aged Railroad Ballast Bridge At Grand Canyon

Feb 9th - 10:21am | A. Johnson

Not sure why we have to have all this paperwork just to replace a simply bridge. Sure, ensure the histoical accuracy as best as possible while getting the job done, but it's just not a NATIONAL concern deserving of a EIS-type review/treatment.

Walking with George

Feb 9th - 10:18am | A. Johnson

Nice article. History is so fascinating, and exasperating. One must always view history through the lens of the times--not OUR times, but the times in which the events occurred. Thanks for the story.

National Park Service Considering New North Entrance Road For Yellowstone

Feb 8th - 20:18pm | bob1492

Pancho, you're trying too hard.

Feb 7th - 12:20pm | A. Johnson

National parks are supposed to be preserved unimpared for future generations. No, that's never been the mission of the NPS. It might be YOUR desired mission, but it is not OUR collective mission or vision for our nat'l pakrs.

Feb 7th - 10:20am | Parkie2008

Pancho,

Feb 7th - 09:58am | Kurt Repanshek

OK, we're moving on from this conversation over politics. I think the bases have been covered.

Feb 7th - 09:22am | John C Armstrong

When will one of these articels have a map showing the three I work at Roosevelt Lodge since 2015 and was there during the June 2022 Flood. Also wonder what is the plan to rebuild the Lost Lake Trail that started behind Roosevelt Lodge.

Feb 7th - 09:06am | Pancho

"Sorry, Poncho, I was referring to YOUR neighborhood, wherever that is. How about a moratorium on road construction EVERYWHERE? Would you be willing to live with that?" This is whataboutism and a reductio ad absurdum. Please stick to the topic, Mr. Dalton, and end your attempts to distract away from the subject: roads in national parks.

Feb 6th - 22:13pm | Mike B.

Well said, Lee.

Feb 6th - 19:27pm | Lee Dalton

Sorry, Poncho, I was referring to YOUR neighborhood, wherever that is. How about a moratorium on road construction EVERYWHERE? Would you be willing to live with that? You also posted : (And even if cars are electric, building them and mining rare earth metals also emits CO2, and a sizable portion of the electricity they run on is generated by coal-fired powerplants.)

Feb 6th - 17:10pm | Pancho

"I bet that if the road from your house to your favorite grocery store or other places you need or want to travel to was closed instead of being properly maintained, you'd be singing a different song."

Feb 6th - 14:25pm | Vic

When in the history of earth has the climate NOT been in a constant state of change?

Feb 6th - 09:50am | Lee Dalton

Pancho, I am very much aware of climate change and fully support sensible measures to try to combat its terrible effects. But at the same time, let's try to work together to ensure that we don't alienate other people whose support is needed now more than ever.

Feb 5th - 09:23am | Pancho

Mr. Dalton: How can you see the construction of a new road in a national park as "a good idea"? Do you not care about the extential threat of climate change?

Feb 5th - 09:22am | Pancho

No mention in this article of "climate change," although I do see a header on this site titled "Climate Change and the Parks." Is the NPS talk about climate change only lip service?

Feb 5th - 08:32am | Lee Dalton

This is really a good idea. That north entrance road has been a challenge ever since it was built. During my first summer as a seasonal ranger in YELL, a rockfall stranded me overnight in Gardiner as I was trying to return to Norris from a trip to Cisco Hot Spring. Spent a cold rainy night trying to sleep in the back of my International Harvester Scout. (Anyone remember those things?)

Pruning the Parks: Millerton Lake Recreation Area, 1945-1957

Feb 7th - 22:25pm | Katie Squire

Carla Wittenburg-Porath,

The SWEAT Crew Keep the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Shape Through Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Feb 7th - 18:42pm | Leland Barkell

I'd love to be a part of the crew. Experienced long distance hiker. I have carried 60lb + many times. I consider working as my vacation.

National Park Service Raises Prospect Of Reopening Businesses Along Blue Ridge Parkway

Feb 7th - 14:27pm | Ben of Virginia

I loved the Otter Creek Restaurant. It was next to a stream and campground. It was nice to go camping and have breakfast at the restaurant. I sure miss it.

Fish And Wildlife Service Declines To Place Gray Wolves Under ESA, Opts For National Recovery Plan

Feb 6th - 22:09pm | Mike B.

Is this the same Wyoming wildlife department that fought tooth and nail to prevent the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone? And which classifies wolves in most of Wyoming as predators that can be shot at any time without a license?

Feb 6th - 11:12am | Kurt Repanshek

Well, from the devil's advocate's position, the USFWS has had quite a few of its wolf decisions overruled by courts. It'd be interesting to see exactly what the number is.

Feb 6th - 10:54am | A. Johnson

So, killing 560 wolves doesn't affect Idahp's (sic) wolf population in any significant way? I'd love to see the evidence supporting such a claim. From the FWS report itself:

Feb 6th - 10:44am | Anonymous

Nice try, but you've failed to read my statement. Here's the part you missed: "which largely follows the science-based conclusions gathered by the Wyoming G&F," Read the Wyoming G&F report, then comment. And correcting typos in ONLINE POSTS seems to be a pasttime of yours...good for you!

Feb 6th - 01:12am | Mike B.

A. Johnson said, "not (sic) do wolf hunts affect wolf populations in any significant way." But according to the article, "In 2022 and 2023 alone, Idaho hunters and trappers killed more than 560 wolves." So, killing 560 wolves doesn't affect Idahp's wolf population in any significant way? I'd love to see the evidence supporting such a claim.

Feb 5th - 10:18am | A. Johnson

The decision, announced Friday, spurred wide-ranging criticism from conservationists. Who of course, began fundraising efforts based on their sky-is-falling scare tactics within hours of the FWS report..

Operational Changes At Bent's Old Fort Draw Concerns

Feb 6th - 16:36pm | Say What?

This is the exact mochismo mindset that alllows for serious accidents and what evidence do you have to show that your statments are true? Nooone hurt, animal injury-in the ammount of tie the site has been open I find it very unlikley....

Feb 6th - 12:23pm | In the Know

There are SERIOUS safety issues at the Fort, and a serious or fatal accident is only a matter of time. The closures are appropriate and overdue. Multiple additions have been made to the Fort over the years without an understanding of the load bearing capacity of various suport structures and walls.

Feb 6th - 12:11pm | Mather Forever

Kudos to the park manager who is making decisions totoall within his discretion. Amazing we can't have a park superintendent do something basic like this without getting lambasted by a 25 year volunteer who doesn't need to stay if he doesn't approve of the decision. Nothing nanny state about this as I read it. Just a guy doing his job.

Feb 6th - 09:57am | Loui

Safety safety safety. Was somene hurt? Was an ainimal injured? Did the SPCA or OSHA come in and find the animals were kept in an "unsafe" condition? Or is the new boss using safteyism to cover for his agenda (whatever that might be)?

Mammoth Cave Continues To Surprise With Fossilized Sharks

Feb 6th - 12:31pm | Mike Huggins

Follow-up to my earlier comment today. In case of any feedback to my comment, I forgot my email address: [email protected] My "bonafides" (as George Clooney said it in "Oh Brother Where Art Thou"): https://www.flickr.com/photos/79475348@N03/albums/72157644301124792/

Feb 6th - 12:26pm | Kurt Repanshek

See if this helps:https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9rz2v701

Feb 6th - 12:21pm | Mike Huggins

Hi - Are these finds and species designations (of the PRI) presented in reviewed journals? I don't see any citations here (maybe I'm missing the link). I see lots of journalist/news articles about these but would like to see the journal citations.

Microscopic Plastics Adding To Pollution Load In Western National Parks

Feb 6th - 00:05am | Yup

Where are the sources for any of the data shown? What good are these graphs if theres not database or organization associated with out it was collected?

Remains Of Man Who Went Missing At Mesa Verde National Park Found

Feb 4th - 22:33pm | Anne Mxx

This man was an avid hiker. To go missing without a trace and to be found less than 5 miles away and 7 years later..,there's something not right.

Warm Temperatures Disrupt Wolf-Moose Studies At lsle Royale National Park

Feb 4th - 11:12am | A. Johnson

Worries that the lack of an apex predator would lead to a boom in the moose population that in turn would over-browse island vegetation led to a 2018 decision to bring up to 30 wolves to the island. Some came from Minnesota, some from Canada.

PEER: NPS Remains Plagued By Low Morale, Rising Attrition

Feb 3rd - 17:20pm | Caden Wilson

I'd like to point out that these stats are skewed high because seasonals are not invited to take the employee surveys. They were also not invited to the NPS "All-staff" morale meeting in January of 2024.

Exploring Petrified Forest National Park's Backcountry

Jan 31st - 15:09pm | Stephen Kibbey

Whatever happened to the proposed upgrade to the Chinde Point Picnic area to add overnight front country camping?

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 259 | Manassas Battlefield Threats

Jan 31st - 13:41pm | Hunter

Here's what people need to understand about national parks. The park land was made to specifically protect and preserve an area. If the intent was to keep the land surrounding the parks preserved from being developed then the park service should have purchased the surrounding land as well. The whole point of a park is to protect that land and that land only.

Lewis And Clark National Historic Trail Now Stretches East To Pennsylvania

Jan 31st - 11:39am | mark donaho

if you look at journals timeline lewis and clark has to spend more time along illinois borders of ohio & mississippi because , they desends ohio easily till cairo,il but then they had to hire more and more people from illinois because of opposite current of mississippi+missouri river flow .

Creature Feature: The American Marten

Jan 31st - 11:09am | Lee Russ

I don't find this to be a balanced review.

Get Your Free National Parks "Owner's Guide" From The National Park Foundation

Jan 31st - 09:44am | Carol Schnaiter

Looking for guides

Climbing is Capped at Mount McKinley and Climbers are Left to Wonder What’s Next

Jan 30th - 17:32pm | Ann Fothergill

Bob, "In July of 1976, Jack O Horton climbed Alaska's Mount McKinley, America's highest mountain, to plant a bicentennial flag at the summit. That same year he ran and finished the Boston Marathon". (taken from a note HF Bar Ranch 1/26/2016 Facebook)

National Park Service Drawing A Line On Fixed Climbing Anchors In Wilderness

Jan 29th - 16:11pm | shane

I am now teaching my 4 and 7 year old sons how to climb. It has been a crucial part of outdoor activities in my life and has taught me real-life problem-solving skills. Fixed anchors are by far the safest way to climb and keep this legacy alive for my kids. I believe that fixed anchors should be color matched to the rock and well-maintained.

Two Hikers Rescued From Mauna Loa At Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park And Cited

Jan 29th - 15:59pm | Cisco

You are right on with your comment. Maybe a higher fine would be in order but if everyone was left to die because of a stupid decision our population would be much reduced

Reader Participation Day: How Are The Parks Doing?

Jan 28th - 11:49am | A. Johnson

My biggest let-down was Canyon de Chelly NM. Agreed. The solution to the mess that is Canyon DC NM is for the NPS to buy the property from the Navajo "nation" in order to preserve it as it should be. These public-private partnerships just don't work for a myriad of reasons, one major contributor being the merry-go-round that is tribal politics.

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