Making a lodging reservation at a national park these days is almost child's play. A few clicks on your keyboard and you're booked and your credit card charged. But there are some tips and tricks to keep in mind when making your plans that could save you a bit down the road.

Authorities at Saint Croix National Scenic River in Wisconsin have recovered the body of a missing kayaker after an extended search. In a bizarre twist, the search was complicated by the theft of the kayak involved in the incident.

Piping plovers and sea turtles have halted traffic at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, lava flows and their gases have done the same at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and floods have shut down traffic at Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park. At Cape Cod National Seashore, a tiny toad has the power to divert traffic.

It's long been written in guidebooks that if you want to stay in Yellowstone National Park during the summer months, you must reserve your rooms well in advance. While that's still a good idea, the sour economy has created quite a bit of availability for this summer, meaning your hunt shouldn't be so difficult.