After the unseasonably dry winter in the Sierra, it should come as no surprise that the fire danger is high and that Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks are instituting fire restrictions inside the parks beginning today.

If you have any interest in the night sky and other wonders of the universe, the number "13" will be a lucky one this year if you can get to Bryce Canyon National Park between June 5 and 8. Those are the dates for the 13th annual Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival, and the list of activities is an impressive one.

If winter really is on the run, additional lodging will be available for visitors to Denali National Park and Preserve on May 31.

The roadsides, trails and shorelines of our national parks would be a lot less attractive without the hard work of volunteers, park employees and conscientious visitors who pick up litter left by others. Every now and then, however, we learn about someone who has gone the literal "extra mile" many times over to help make a park a better place.