There are many nice hikes in Shenandoah National Park, some that ramble on for miles, some that run just a short way to a wonderful payoff. Dark Hollow Falls is one such payoff, but the hike is just a mile-and-a-half roundup, rather short if you were looking for a good leg stretcher. You can, however, easily extend that hike by more than a few miles.

Earlier this year National Parks Traveler broke ground with Essential Friends, an initiative created to celebrate the great work of national park friends groups. While the publication has been available in PDF format, we now offer it to you as a flip book. Enjoy!

The good professor might be retired, but that doesn't mean all the Traveler's puzzlers went with him. We'll ease back into Mystery Photos with this easy one.

Seventy-fire years after it was created as a woodsy retreat for youth from Washington, D.C., Prince William Forest Park in Virginia is a hidden gem for urbanites seeking a respite from the crowds and concrete.