As winter approaches, the slow season is setting in across the National Park System, which makes it a good time to take measure of some issues that are confronting both the parks and the National Park Service. We’ve invited Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association, and Mike Murray, chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks to discuss air tour planning in the park system, progress made under the Great American Outdoors Act, and visitation issues.

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode Intro with Kurt Repanshek
:40 Shee Beg Shee Mor - Nature’s Symphony - The Sounds of Acadia
:53 Potrero Group
1:20 Interior Federal Credit Union
1:42 Great Smoky Mountains Association
2:06 November News Roundtable with Kristen Brengel and Mike Murray
22:51 Whispering Winds - Grant Geissman - Sounds of the Caribbean
22:06 Traveler Promo
23:18 The Everglades Foundation
23:29 Washington’s National Park Fund
24:01 Yosemite Conservancy
24:26 November News Roundtable with Kristen Brengel and Mike Murray continues
34:45 Amaranth - Bill Mize - The Sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains
35:05 Grand Teton National Park Foundation
35:34 Friends of Acadia
36:00 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
36:21 November News Roundtable with Kristen Brengel and Mike Murray continues
56:32 Flamingo - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of the Everglades
56:51 Episode Closing
57:43 Orange Tree Productions
58:15 Splitbeard Productions
58:25 National Parks Traveler footer
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Your support for the National Parks Traveler comes at a time when news organizations are finding it hard, if not impossible, to stay in business. Traveler's work is vital. For nearly two decades we've provided essential coverage of national parks and protected areas. With the Trump administration’s determination to downsize the federal government, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s approach to public lands focused on energy exploration, it’s clear the Traveler will have much to cover in the months and years ahead. We know of no other news organization that provides such broad coverage of national parks and protected areas on a daily basis. Your support is greatly appreciated.
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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 320 | George Wright Society
George Melendez Wright was a brilliant young scientist with the National Park Service back in the 1920s and 1930s. You could say he was ahead of his time, in that he wanted the Park Service to take a holistic role in how wildlife in the parks was managed.
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 319 | Kilauea's Unrest
One of the greatest shows on Earth has been going on now for several months in Hawaii, where the Kīlauea volcano at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park has been erupting since late December. The Kīlauea volcano is the most active volcano on Earth.
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 318 | Covering the Parks
There are more stories to be found in the National Park System than one could write in a lifetime. Or several lifetimes.
Sometimes those stories can be hard to spot. How many were aware of the factoid from Great Smoky Mountains National Park that Jennifer Bain dug up, that if you stacked up all of the park’s salamanders against its roughly 1,900 black bears, the salamanders would weigh more?
Talk about national park trivia.
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 317 | A Little Volcanic Levity
In this week’s podcast we thought we’d take a break from the unsettling news happening in and around our national parks and federal lands regarding park staff reductions and threats of reducing park boundaries to make way for mining.
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 316 | National Park Service Upheaval
There is, across the country, some upheaval going on as the Trump administration works to reduce the size of the federal government. Whether you support that effort or oppose it, you can’t deny there’s not upheaval going on.
Help support us– the one source for journalism dedicated to our National Parks.
National Parks Traveler is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit.
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The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.
Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
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