National Parks Traveler

Given birth as a national monument in 1939 and then transformed into a national park in 1978, Badlands National Park marks its 29th birthday today. Across its 244,000 acres you'll find vestiges of prehistoric life, the largest expanse of protected prairie in the park system, and a rebounding mammal once thought bound for extinction.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 10th, 2007 4:00am

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Plague Suspected In Death Of Grand Canyon National Park Employee

Plague is suspected as the cause of death of a 37-year-old National Park Service employee at Grand Canyon National Park. Eric York, a wildlife biologist, was found dead in his home on the South Rim earlier this month.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 9th, 2007 2:05pm

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Volcanics Pushing Yellowstone National Park Higher

The volcanic basement of Yellowstone National Park has risen by roughly 7 inches during the past three years, evidence of volcanics but not indicative of an impending eruption, according to University of Utah scientists.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 8th, 2007 11:00am

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Olympic National Park Could Begin Fisher Recovery Program this Fall

Completion of an environmental assessment into the question of returning fishers to Olympic National Park has cleared the way for a recovery program to begin, possibly before year's end.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 7th, 2007 11:45am

Rockefeller Family Turns Over More than 1,100 Acres to Grand Teton National Park

After negotiating a paperwork gauntlet, a tract of more than 1,100 acres has been transferred by the Rockefeller family to Grand Teton National Park.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 7th, 2007 11:20am

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Blue Ridge Park Foundation Gives Back to the Parkway

Another $100,000 has been given by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation to the Blue Ridge Parkway for use in educating students who live along the 469-mile-long scenic byway about the wonders of the national park system.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 7th, 2007 10:23am

House Resources Considers Legislation To Increase National Park Properties

The House Natural Resources Committee today is considering legislation that calls for studies to determine whether the national park system should grow even larger and whether the National Trails System should be expanded.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 7th, 2007 9:16am

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Glen Canyon NRA Officials Thinking Of Digging For Water

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is one of the Southwest's premier boating areas, but in recent years the drought has really lowered Lake Powell. While that has opened up some fascinating canyon landscapes that had been underwater, the drought also has created some logistical problems for boaters.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 6th, 2007 1:49pm

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Mountain Bikers Encouraged to Seek Access to Rocky Mountain National Parks

The International Mountain Bicycling Association has a friend in the National Park Service's Intermountain regional director, Michael Snyder. In a recent memo to park superintendents in his region, Mr. Snyder says IMBA can provide "some great partnership ... that you may want to take advantage of."

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 5th, 2007 4:14pm

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Park History: How Volcanics Sculpted Parts of the National Park System

Talk volcanoes and national parks and folks usually think of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and perhaps Lassen Volcanic National Park. In truth, though, there are at least 13 units of the national park system that have a volcanic past in some form or fashion.