National Parks Traveler | National Parks Traveler

With Fall officially under way, it won't be too long before the season's most spectacular colors are daubed, stroked, and splashed across the national park system. The good news is that you haven't missed the peak yet. The bad news is that if you don't already have a room reservation, you probably won't find a vacancy in any of the well-known fall foliage parks.

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By Kurt Repanshek - September 28th, 2007 3:00am

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Proposed Fee Increase for Crater Lake National Park Tabled

Local opposition to a proposed doubling in entrance fees at Crater Lake National Park apparently has worked.

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By Kurt Repanshek - September 27th, 2007 7:34pm

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Longtime Yosemite Wilderness Ranger Retires

For the last 31 years, Yosemite Park Ranger Laurel Boyers has had your dream job. She's been working for the park, patrolling and managing the wilderness backcountry of Yosemite. In a few days, she'll retire. Our story links to a WildeBeat audio program.

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By jersu - September 27th, 2007 12:33pm

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Satellite Image Captures 747 Above Yellowstone National Park

Someone has found a satellite photo of a 747 flying over Yellowstone National Park using Google maps. Not much of a story here, I just thought the photo/technology is kind of cool. 'Read more' to see the full resolution image and map.

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By jersu - September 27th, 2007 10:12am

Bay Area Cartoonist with Yosemite Park Focus has Died

Phil Frank, the author of the comic strip 'Farley' which appears in the San Francisco Chronicle, has died. Only days earlier, he had announced his retirement from the newspaper. Frank had been suffering from a brain tumor. He was 64.

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By jersu - September 27th, 2007 4:01am

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Death Valley May Be On Lookout For Steve Fosset

Leads from the Air Force suggest that Fossett may have been traveling in the direction of Death Valley National Park when his plane was lost. It is an area of rough terrain near the park's northern boundary. Searchers in planes and on foot will canvas the area this weekend.

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By jersu - September 26th, 2007 3:34pm

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Death Valley Looking to Electronic Rangers to Raise Money, Lure Younger Generations

Did you hear about the "electronic rangers" you can now rent in Death Valley National Park? For $15 a day these gadgets, which you place on your rig's dashboard, will give you a guided tour of the park. Park officials hope these devices, among other things, will generate a new revenue stream for Death Valley.

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By Kurt Repanshek - September 26th, 2007 10:37am

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Developing Diversity in the National Parks

Earlier this summer we had a, shall I say 'spirited,' discussion revolving around how to increase diversity in visitation to the national parks. This topic has resurfaced in an Associated Press article that looks at efforts a group is taking to introduce minorities to the parks.

Ethnic_and_Racial_Diversity_Report_12_2003.pdf

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By Kurt Repanshek - September 26th, 2007 9:00am

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Tour Operators Get A Break From Higher Park Entrance Fees

Who says special interest groups don't have clout? While national park entrance fees for families and individuals have been inching ever upwards, the National Tour Association has negotiated a deal with the National Park Service to freeze entrance fees for tour groups through 2009.