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Yellowstone National Park's "State Of The Park" Report

It's easy to take the status of national parks for granted. We read wonderful, beckoning stories about them in magazines and newspapers. And we watch gorgeous travelogue pieces about them on television. But how much do we know about the operational status of the national parks? How much do we know about the health of the natural resources, the condition of historic structures, the state of the workforce that operates and manages the national parks?

Grand Teton National Park Extends Bighorn Sheep Wildlife Closures

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming has extended two existing wildlife closures to protect bighorn sheep because of persistent winter conditions and deep snowpack at high elevations throughout the Teton Range. The existing park closures, near the summits of Static Peak, Mount Hunt and Prospectors Mountain, are extended through May 15. Recreational use in these areas is prohibited during this time.

Trails I’ve Hiked: Bristlecone Grove Trail

There are living things on this planet which defy the passage of time, surviving harsh winters, burning dry summers, and altering climate. These hardy, gnarly lifeforms are the bristlecone pines, trees that can live for thousands of years. At Great Basin National Park, you can hike the Bristlecone Grove Trail to pay your respects to these “elders.”

Mount Rainier National Park Considering Timed-Entry Reservations

It's no secret that the public's desire to head to the National Park System is creating logjams and congestion. So it should be no surprise that Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state is the latest unit of the system to consider implementing a timed-entry system for visitors during the busiest months of the year.

Fireside Read | Guardians of the Valley: John Muir And The Friendship That Saved Yosemite

A library of books has been written about John Muir, many of which mention Robert Underwood Johnson, but not many adequately describe his long collaboration with Muir. In this book, Dean King remedies that oversight. Muir’s life story and his contributions to the preservation of what is now Yosemite National Park have often been chronicled and King presents the highlights of that story. What King adds to the Muir story is who Robert Underwood Johnson was and what his role and contributions were in helping Muir in his many battles for protection of Yosemite.