Living in the Rocky Mountains is a great asset when it comes to visiting national parks, for there are so many in just about any direction you head. The past year took me north and south through the region to a diverse collection parks, and I also ventured to Virginia to explore the National Park System.
Recent snow storms have led to the closure of some roads at both Dinosaur National Monument and Cedar Breaks National Monument for the rest of the winter.
Seldom Seen Smith has to be rolling his eyes, and George Hayduke just might be thinking of calling the Monkey Wrench Gang back together. Why? A voluminous Interior Department report looking at how best to manage precious water resources in the Colorado River Basin largely ignores national parks the river flows through.
Don't start planning your 2013 national park vacation just yet, for poised like the sword of Damocles over the National Park Service is the looming "fiscal cliff" that threatens to impact not only the agency but anyone considering a trip into the national parks next year.
Disconnect for a few days with a trip into the backcountry of your favorite national park and your creativity will flow, according to a study by psychologists.
With Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee, vague on details concerning his plans for reducing the federal deficit and shrinking government, speculation is running heavy, and it's not encouraging for the National Park System.
With black bears in Dinosaur National Monument working to put on pounds for the winter, monument officials have moved to close two backcountry campsites to prevent human encounters with the hungry bruins.
If you ever sat down to list the units of the National Park System that are misunderstood and under-appreciated, Dinosaur National Monument would be near the top. That realization can't be ignored if you've ever floated either the Yampa or Green rivers that cleave into and expose the underbelly of Dinosaur.
River trips inherently involve getting wet. And then getting dry, and getting wet again. Throughout the day. So what you wear is critical to your comfort level throughout the day. And that's where DRYDudz come into play.
Though perhaps best-known for its cache of fossilized dinosaur remains, Dinosaur National Monument is so much more. There's rugged backcountry, wild rivers, and much history to soak in. But in summer, most folks who travel the corridors of the Green or Yampa rivers like to soak in the cool river waters...or challenge their skills in running the rapids.