An ancient rock art panel at Big Bend National Park sustained what park officials are calling irreparable damage when vandals scratched their names into it.

Today, numerous species living in Saguaro National Park, including the signature cactus, face many challenges — urban development along with invasive species, drought, and wildfires that are amplified by climate change.

Just before 2021 closed for business, the National Park Service announced the entrance-fee-free days for 2022. Oddly missing was August 25, also known as Founders Day for the National Park Service.

Wildfires that threatened iconic trees and burned north-to-south through parks, billions of dollars allocated to the National Park Service for maintenance work and improvements, restoration of two national monuments, and Senate confirmation of a National Park Service director were among the top stories from around the National Park System in 2021.