You are here

Home » National Parks Traveler

What Lurks Beneath the Surface of National Park System Waters, A Diving Guide

Some of the least-known resources of the National Park System are the cultural and natural resources that lie below the waters within the boundaries of our park areas. While not as mainstream as activities such as camping and hiking, diving and snorkeling are increasingly popular ways to enjoy and be inspired by these resources.

Updated: 7-Year-old Dies At Acadia National Park As Hurricane Bill's Waves Wash Three Into Atlantic, Injure 13

A 7-year-old swept into the Atlantic Ocean at Acadia National Park on Sunday by Hurricane Bill's waves was pronounced dead after being pulled from the cold waters, while 13 others also hit by the massive wave were injured with a variety of broken bones and bruises.

On Politics, Bureaucracy, and "Glamping" In the National Park System

The National Park Service's National Leadership Council met in Ohio last week. The meeting of the agency's top management was supposed to be the first under the direction of Jon Jarvis as Park Service director. Political gamesmanship, and apparently a dose of bureaucracy, unfortunately left Mr. Jarvis wearing his Pacific West Region director's hat.

How Far Should You Move a Nuisance Rattlesnake? At Great Basin, Inquiring Minds Want to Know

When rattlesnakes that endanger humans are moved elsewhere, translocation reduces survival rates. Snakes moved long distances fare worst. At Great Basin National Park, wildlife biologists are studying translocated snakes to establish what translocation distance is “far enough.”

"Bad Times" Aren't Always All Bad – These Two Ideas for "Improving the Parks" Fizzled

In the early 1900s, there were plenty of ideas for ways the new agency called the National Park Service could "improve" the parks. Here are a couple whose time never came, perhaps in part due to the "bad times" during World War I and the Great Depression.

It Ain't Sexy: Charting The Next Two Decades At Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Perhaps one of the least publicly intriguing issues when you're talking about national parks is that of the general management plans used to guide a park's growth and use. But when these documents come up for revision, the opportunity is ripe for you to have your two cents considered. For instance, should the lighthouses at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore be turned into bed-and-breakfasts?