Visiting the Parks

Ice Cream Social Scheduled for Oregon Caves National Monument

Who doesn't like an old-fashioned ice cream social? If you're in the vicinity of Oregon Caves National Monument in early July, stop by for a scoop or two to help celebrate the monument's centennial.

Who’ll be the First to Need Lady Liberty’s RAT?

The Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens to the public on July 4. Soon somebody schlepping up those 354 steps will have the dubious distinction of being the first visitor to make a personal acquaintance with Lady Liberty’s RAT.

Get Your Free National Parks "Owner's Guide" From The National Park Foundation

Here's a good deal: The National Park Foundation will give you a free "Owner's Guide" to the National Park System to help you enjoy the parks.

Mystery Photo Revealed: Reviewing Stand? Hardly.

He was known, quite appropriately, as the "hanging judge." During his 21 years at Fort Smith, Judge Isaac C. Parker sent 160 men to the gallows, a replica of which this week's Mystery Photo depicts.

Park Shuttle Bus Systems are Growing in Popularity Around the Country.

Shuttle bus systems are growing in popularity as one way to reduce the impacts of private vehicles on parks—and on the experience of visitors. Here's a look at some of those systems at NPS sites around the country.

Glorieta Pass Civil War Battlefield Finally Gets an Interpretive Trail

Now that New Mexico's Glorieta Pass Civil War Battlefield has an interpretive trail, visitors can take self-guided tours of the place where the “Gettysburg of the West” was fought.

Watch Out For Construction Crews Around Bodie Island at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Heading to Cape Hatteras National Seashore this summer? Then you'll want to read the latest on this summer's construction activity around Bodie Island.

Reader Participation Day: Tell Us Your "Dream" National Park Vacation

News this week was that a survey of Americans on their 2009 vacation plans showed that two-thirds consider a national park visit to be their "dream" vacation. So tell us, what's your dream national park vacation?

Chaco Culture National Historical Park Campground Closed for Emergency Repairs

If you're making a visit to Chaco Culture National Historical Park this summer and your plans include camping, be sure to do some homework in advance. The campground in the park is currently closed for emergency repairs—and don't count on your trusty GPS unit to find a backup site!

Winter In Summer at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Sure, it's summertime, and the weather is hot, but there's talk of winter at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore next week.

Selecting Lenses For Your National Park Visit

How many lenses do you need for your camera to capture all the beauty of our National Park System? That's a question that can be costly if you're not careful in your selections.

Mark Your Calendar: Music in the Parks Coming to Grand Teton National Park

If you've got plans, or can make plans, to visit Grand Teton National Park during the next four weeks, you'll definitely want to read the rest of this story.

Teach Your Kids to Enjoy Hiking With Shenandoah National Park's Family Hiking Program

Hiking is an easy and enjoyable activity that can quickly turn into a lifelong passion. And while it's as easy as setting one foot in front of another on a path through the woods, sometimes the fleeting attention spans of kids can make that difficult. That's where the rangers of Shenandoah National Park come in.

Dinosaur National Monument: More Than You Can Imagine

Are many months as fickle as April? Bogged down in gooey mud that once had been the campground at Deer Lodge in Dinosaur National Monument while grilling brauts over an open fire in the rain didn't seem to portend a good river trip. At least it wasn't snowing. No, that would come the next night.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial Readying for Fourth of July Fireworks

Ropes and pulleys have replaced helicopters as the preferred method to haul fireworks to top of Theodore Roosevelt's head for the annual Fourth of July celebration at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Take Your Boat, But Not Invasive Mussels, to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

If you're heading to Lake Powell at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area with your boat, better be certain there are no non-native mussels hitching a ride.

Middle Echo Canyon in Zion National Park Reopened to Visitors

Reduced ice and snow conditions in Middle Echo Canyon in Zion National Park have prompted the superintendent to reopen the canyon to canyoneers.

Have You Seen the National Park Service's Redesigned Web Portal Yet?

Have you seen the National Park Service's new web portal? The redesigned site is cleaner and easier to navigate than the older version.

A Window Into North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park is one of those places that many folks often don't think about, and fewer manage to actually reach. It's not as remote as many other national parks, but its location in northern Washington state perhaps keeps folks away. This short video might convince you to make the trip.

Going-to-the-Sun Road Open End-to-End in Glacier National Park

If you're heading to Glacier National Park, you'll be glad to know the Going-to-the-Sun Road is now open end-to-end.

Free Weekends AND Free Tours At Mammoth Cave National Park

Not only can you gain free entrance to Mammoth Cave National Park on two more weekends this summer, but you'll also be able to partake in some free tours of the cave.

Celebrate Wildflowers at Cedar Breaks National Monument

Dazzling strokes of Indian paintbrush, daubs of lupine and larkspur, and dashes of primrose will be on display at Cedar Breaks National Monument during its 4th Annual Wildflower Festival next month.

Softness Continues To Be the Story Across National Park Lodging

Though summer is officially here and the Fourth of July is within sight, there continues to be a softness in the demand for lodging space in the national parks this summer and into the fall.

Field Notes From Yosemite: Yosemite's High Country, A Tradition in Educational Excellence

Nestled peacefully in Yosemite’s Tuolumne Meadows, at roughly 8,600 feet above sea-level, sits Parsons Memorial Lodge, a modest fieldstone structure built in 1915 to celebrate the life and good works of Edward Taylor Parsons. It’s surrounded by some of the most recognized topographical icons in the Sierra Nevada, such as Cathedral Peak, Unicorn Crest, Mountains Dana and Gibbs.

New Southern Lake Michigan Water Trail Includes Indiana Dunes Shoreline

A kayaking expedition and landing site programs inaugurated the Southern Lake Michigan Water Trail on June 13-14. The new paddling route, which extends 40+ miles between Chicago and Michigan City, includes a 15-mile stretch of the waters and shoreline at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Naked Hikers Let It All Hang Out On the Summer Solstice

The summer solstice arrived early this morning. Now we’ll experience the longest day, the shortest night, and perhaps a spate of naked hiking.

Motorized Tours OK-ed for Cumberland Island National Seashore

Acting on a Congressional mandate, the Park Service will begin offering motorized tours at Cumberland Island National Seashore as soon as the necessary funding can be arranged.

Recalling the Wonderland Hotel in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Demolition by Neglect?

Once a popular stopping spot in the Great Smoky Mountains, the Wonderland Hotel no longer exists. This video explains some of the hotel's history.

Free Shuttle Makes Touring Bryce Canyon National Park Easy

Touring Bryce Canyon National Park this summer will be easier than ever thanks to free daily tours the park is offering on the Bryce Canyon Shuttle. And if you're a backpacker, this is a great way to catch a ride to the trailhead and then back to your car.