National Parks Traveler

Ahh, the lowly wooly adelgid. This nasty import, though small, has been threatening the viability of hemlock trees in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In an effort to blunt its advance, park technicians will be spraying trees in Cades Cove early next month. As a result, the loop road will be temporarily closed.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 22nd, 2008 2:28pm

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Got Quiet? Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve has Plenty

Acoustic monitoring reveals that Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve has one of the quietest soundscapes in America. Remote areas of the park have sound levels so low that they barely register on the recording equipment.

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By Bob Janiskee - October 22nd, 2011 10:56am

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Roughly One-Third of Curry Village to Be Permanently Closed in Yosemite National Park

Geologic reports that point to an inherent instability of the Glacier Point cliff face have led Yosemite National Park officials to permanently close roughly one-third of Curry Village to overnight accommodations.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 21st, 2008 6:59pm

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Lava Beds National Monument is a Geologically and Historically Fascinating Place

Lava Beds National Monument, which celebrates its 83rd birthday November 21, is a strange looking place bursting with fascinating stories. As if the largest collection of lava tubes and caves in the coterminous states weren’t enough to make this park very special, it’s also where Captain Jack and his warrior band fought an amazing battle against an attacking force ten times its size during the Modoc War of the early 1870s.

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By Chance Finegan - November 21st, 2008 5:24pm

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Study Touts Economic Benefits of Mount St. Helens "National Park"

There's an economic report out touting the benefits that a Mount St. Helens "National Park" would bring surrounding communities. And that begs the question of whether units of the National Park System should be viewed largely as economic engines?

Mount St. Helens Economics.pdf

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 21st, 2008 9:38am

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Upon Further Review - What Visited Your Campsite While You Were Sleeping?

One of the classic national park experiences is a Colorado River float trip through the Grand Canyon. As one group discovered, however, memorable moments on such trips aren't limited to running the rapids, and some surprising adventures can also occur when you tie up for the night.