National Parks Traveler

It wasn't too long ago that you couldn't find a nesting bald eagle at Channel Islands National Park, but things are definitely different today. Just the other day the 2012 bald eagle breeding season got of to a record start with the earliest known natural hatching of a bald eagle chick on the Channel Islands, according to park staff.

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By NPT Staff - March 9th, 2012 3:00am

Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Provides More Than $650,000 For Parkway Projects and Programs

Trail work, facility repairs, and even music are among some of the projects and programs that will be evident along the Blue Ridge Parkway this year thanks to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.

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By NPT Staff - March 9th, 2012 7:37am

UPDATE: Avalanche Kills Two Backcountry Skiers in Grand Teton National Park

Rangers on Thursday recovered the bodies of two men who were killed by an avalanche during a backcountry skiing trip in Grand Teton National Park.

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By NPT Staff - March 8th, 2012 3:35pm

National Park Mystery Spot 37: Tall Is Too Small

This one rates about 7.5 on the ten-point scale.

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By Bob Janiskee - March 8th, 2012 4:14am

67 comments

Ranking The National Parks By Visitation In 2011

People seem to like numbers, and hierarchy, so here's a rundown of the leading units of the National Park System in terms of 2011 visitation. The first list combs through all 397 units in the system, while the second looks only at "national parks."

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By NPT Staff - March 8th, 2012 4:18am

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Yellowstone National Park Wolf Population Numbers Down

Wolf numbers in Yellowstone National Park at the end of 2011 were far off their peak of 174 counted back in 2003, a decline attributed to disease and a smaller prey base.

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By Kurt Repanshek - March 8th, 2012 7:50am

It's the Centennial Year for Washington D.C.'s Cherry Blossoms. Will the Blooms Cooperate?

This year marks the centennial for Washington, D.C.'s famous cherry trees, and that adds a little extra drama to the "big question" facing organizers of the National Cherry Blossom Festival every year: Will the trees bloom on the same schedule as the Festival events? The official "peak bloom" prediction for 2012 has now been released.

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By Jim Burnett - March 8th, 2012 8:15am

Great Smoky Mountains National Park To Institute Backcountry Fees

Those who head off into the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a night or two will have to pay for the privilege beginning in 2013 under a plan approved by the National Park Service.

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By Kurt Repanshek - March 7th, 2012 7:25pm

8 comments

Reader Participation Day: Have You Had a "Close Call" in a National Park?

If you've narrowly escaped from a life threatening situation in a national park, tell us about it.

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By Bob Janiskee - March 7th, 2012 4:00am

25 comments

Shot Of Kayaker In Sequoia National Forest Judged Best In Federal Recreational Lands Photo Contest

A photo of a daredevil kayaker negotiating the Kern River in Sequoia National Forest received the grand prize in the National Park Foundation's Share the Experience photo contest, while a scenic from Glacier National Park was awarded first prize.