Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has reopened Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) to the public. The popular walk-through lava tube and rainforest trail were closed since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Working with 12-pound hammers, often in pouring rain, the soldiers from the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry worked patiently to forge a 30-mile trail through the sharp lava rock fields to link the summits of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. It was early in the 20th century, and the trail builders were members of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Despite 2020’s coronavirus pandemic causing cancellation of a number of park photo trips, Traveler’s Rebecca Latson still managed to visit several of the National Park System’s units in a safe, distanced manner. Over the year, Rebecca shared tips, techniques, and favorite places to photograph as well as how to stay safe and healthy while doing so. Here’s a look back at her articles and photos.

Winter is one of photographer Rebecca Latson’s two favorite seasons of the year during which to visit a national park. There are fewer people, the vistas are much clearer due to fewer water molecules in the atmosphere, and the landscape looks so much different than it does during the warmer seasons of the year. So, this month’s photo column by Rebecca is about winter photography within the National Park System. Yes, she’s written about this before, but it’s always nice to have a little refresher course for those who regularly read the Traveler, and it’s a good introduction to winter imagery for those readers who are new to the Traveler.