Dry conditions across national parks in the Western third of the country aren't entirely unique, as concerns over wildfire have led to some road closures at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

A litany of problems -- from troubles entering Glacier National Park and overwhelmed, short-staffed businesses to natural resource impacts and declining visitor experiences -- were raised Wednesday as the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks waded into the challenging dilemma of overcrowding at some of the top destinations in the National Park System.

The National Park Service’s African American Civil Rights Grant Program has awarded $15 million to 53 projects in 20 states to help preserve sites and history related to the African American struggle for equality.

Overcrowding in parts of the National Park System, a growing issue since the National Park Service marked its centennial in 2016, has gained the attention of the U.S. Senate's Subcommittee on National Parks.