Commentary, news, and life in America's Parks

News

Photos of the Week

Fireflies in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
05/14/2012 | Fireflies in Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Kevin Adams
05/06/2012 | Pointing The Way | Kurt Repanshek
Mount Rundle, Banff National Park
05/06/2012 | Mount Rundle, Banff National Park | Kurt Repanshek
Walking Wales Coast Path
04/22/2012 | Walking the Wales Coast Path | Courtesy Wales Tourism
Thunder Hole, Acadia National Park, copyright Michael Rickard
04/03/2012 | Thunder Rolls In The Morning At Acadia | Michael Rickard
Spring rain below the Blue Ridge Parkway.
03/26/2012 | Overspreading Spring Rain | Randy Johnson

Features

Austria’s Hohe Tauern National Park—The Best Of The Alps, And A Truly European Adaptation Of "America's Best Idea"

National Parks may be “America’s Best Idea” but the concept has been adopted—and adapted—in some of the planet’s most spectacular places. One of the spots where new park ideas have emerged is Austria's Hohe Tauern National Park. Here’s the first article in our multimedia global parks series on Austria.

Major Lodging Changes Coming To Yellowstone National Park

Significant changes are in the offing for lodging operations in parts of Yellowstone National Park, where officials envision tens of millions of dollars of improvements.

Investigation Shows Denali Climbing Team Doomed By Lack Of Equipment, Poor Decision-Making

With biting temperatures no higher than 20 degrees below zero, and winds that would gust to near 80 mph, the four-man climbing team on Mount McKinley had precious little margin for error. And when they tumbled 300-500 feet down "Pig Hill," suffering broken bones and contusions, that margin quickly began to unravel.

Evolution Of A Glasshouse: From Colonial Glassmaking To Decorative Arts

Glassworks are one of the tools of interpretation at historic Jamestown in Colonial National Historical Park. Today you can watch as artisans recreate glass vessels using time-honored practices.

Keeping Things Quiet In The National Parks

There are at times unintended consequences of good deeds in national parks. For instance, efforts to reduce traffic by using shuttle buses can actually create a noisier environment, according to studies at Rocky Mountain National Park and elsewhere in the park system.

Puzzles, Mysteries, and Reviews

Monday, May 21st, 2012

Friday, May 18th, 2012

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

Friday, May 11th, 2012

Thursday, May 10th, 2012