A Wyoming lawmaker, perhaps looking for his 15 minutes of fame, has introduced legislation to the state Legislature that would give Wyoming the authority to seize Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, or other federal properties (aside from military facilities) in the Cowboy State, if they are closed to the public due to lack of funding.

Out of all the national parks and other protected areas you visited the previous year, you've got certain favorites, right? How easy (or difficult) was it to choose those favorites? Sometimes, it might come down more to the feeling you had when capturing that image rather than just the composition. Continuing her New Year's tradition with the Traveler, contributing photographer Rebecca Latson shares her favorite photos captured during the previous year. Usually stopping at 5 or 7 shots, this year, Rebecca is sharing 10 favorite images to mark her 2018 visit to 9 national parks and 1 national recreation area, explaining why she chose each image and how she captured it.

With no maintenance crews available during the government shutdown, some parks are closing campgrounds due to overflowing garbage while others are closing roads due to snowy conditions.

Thanks to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, weather stations located in the national park are leading to more accurate avalanche forecasts.