National Parks Traveler

Olympic National Park is not something to be rushed through, but rather savored like a fine glass of wine, a bold cup of tea, or a beautiful sunset. And the road network, such as it is, ensures that you won't rush through this park, which is how it should be. There's just so much to enjoy that you shouldn't rush.

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 17th, 2009 3:28am

Don't Take National Park Landscapes for Granted

How comfortable have we become with national park settings? With the big sweep of granite that frames the Yosemite Valley, with Old Faithful's not-quite-so-faithful demonstrations of steam and hot water, with the fall's colorful deciduous forests of Great Smoky and Shenandoah?

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 17th, 2009 3:11am

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New Tours Offer a Nighttime Experience at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Lighthouses are a popular attraction, and what better time to appreciate one than at night? Cape Hatteras National Seashore is offering the unusual chance to climb to the top of the venerable Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on a new nighttime tour.

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By Jim Burnett - May 16th, 2009 4:07am

Massive Avalanche Took Out Sections of Stone Wall, But Glacier National Park's Sun Road Should Open On Schedule

A massive avalanche, one not seen in Glacier National Park in decades, roared down the "Garden Wall" in January and took out nearly 550 feet of stone retaining wall along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 16th, 2009 4:00am

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Here's How You Can Follow Science At Great Smoky Mountains National Park From Afar

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most biologically diverse units of the National Park System. And now you can get a feel for that diversity without leaving the comfort of your home (though hopefully you'll be inspired to visit the park).

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 16th, 2009 3:58am

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Grand Canyon National Park Rangers Recover Bodies of Two Young Drowning Victims

The bodies of two young men who disappeared after jumping into the Colorado River near Phantom Ranch in the bottom of Grand Canyon National Park have been recovered.

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 15th, 2009 4:02pm

Judge Blocks Wal-Mart SuperCenter From Opening Near Joshua Tree National Park

In what could be a sign of what's to come, a court has blocked Wal-Mart from building a Supercenter near Joshua Tree National Park because the company did not adequately consider its greenhouse-gas impacts.

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 15th, 2009 11:56am

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Endangered Species Day, What Have We Lost, What Might We Lose In the National Parks?

For many going to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge is a town they pass en route to the park. Others spot the Pigeon River, or even spend a day rafting it during their stay. The pigeon that influenced these place names no longer darts through the skies nor perches in the forests. It's extinct.

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 15th, 2009 9:27am

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Sail on a Historic Schooner at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

If you've got a hankering to feel the wind and salt spray from the deck of a historic sailing ship, the staff at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park has a deal for you.

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By Jim Burnett - May 15th, 2009 4:56am

Upon Further Review - Wacky Question of the Week

Another summer is almost here, and with it, the opportunity for those who work in parks to field some excellent questions from visitors. Along the way, those rangers and volunteers will also undoubtedly encounter a few new candidates for the wacky question of the week.