If you're flexible enough to take a fall trip to some of the iconic national parks in the Western United States, there are a number of lodges that are reporting late-season availability. Lodges in Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Crater Lake, Grand Canyon, and Death Valley national parks all show some rooms available during the months of September and October.

There's little worse than a successful summit of a classic Colorado 14er than suffering an injury on the way down. But thanks to being prepared and thinking calmly, an Illinois man will heal and no doubt notch many more summits following a tumble on the flanks of Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Planning to use the Cascade River Road in North Cascades National Park during the upcoming holiday weekend? No problem, but don't extend your stay. The road will close for bridge work on September 8th and any vehicles left up the valley from the work site will be there for the duration.

Geologically similar parks with strikingly different perspectives -- Mammoth Cave National in the United States and China's Shilin Stone Forest National Park, Libo Zhangjiang National Park, and Wulong National Park -- have signed sister park agreements that open up avenues for the sharing of research and management styles.