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Fall Spectacular: Fall Colors Delight Motorists on National Park Roads -- Part II, the Ozarks and Western States

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 10, 2010 - 2:59am
When it comes to autumnal splendor, the Eastern parks get the lion's share of national publicity, but there's some mighty fine leaf peeping to be enjoyed on the park roads in western states and the Ozarks too. Here's how to find some of the best of it.

Fall Spectacular: Great Autumn Hikes in the National Parks

Submitted by Jim Burnett on September 10, 2010 - 12:43am
It's hard to beat autumn for prime hiking in parks from coast to coast. This season brings fine weather to most of the country and in many locations fall foliage is an added bonus. There are more hikes in national parks that we can take in a lifetime, so here are a few suggestions for some great ones all across the nation—including some alternatives to the most heavily-visited sites.

Fall Spectacular: Fall Colors Delight Motorists on National Park Roads -- Part I, Eastern States

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 9, 2010 - 4:00am
Many national park scenic drives offer fall colors as a seasonal bonus. Here are some picks and tips for following the crowd or taking the road less traveled in the eastern states.

Fall Spectacular: Fall Colors From a National Park Lodge

Submitted by David and Kay Scott on September 8, 2010 - 1:01am
You'd be hard-pressed to stay in a national park lodge in the fall without some spectacular vistas. Still, there are some places that seem slightly better situated to capture the display of foliage. Contributing writers David and Kay Scott share their thoughts on some of the best lodges to call home during the fall.

Fall Spectacular: The Season of Love For Wildlife In Yellowstone

Submitted by Beth Pratt on September 7, 2010 - 1:40am
Wildlife watching in Yellowstone National Park takes on a bit of a voyeuristic flavor in the fall, as the park’s famed mega-fauna embark in the pursuit of romance during their annual ruts in an often public spectacle that rivals any of the drama on The Bachelor. Visitors can hear the loud thunderclap of bighorn sheep clashing, the raucous bugling of bull elk, or the deep grunting and bellowing of bison—all performed in pursuit of a mate or mates.

Great Excuses To Visit The National Park System This Fall

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on September 7, 2010 - 1:16am
No one really needs an excuse to visit a national park in the Fall, one of the most glorious seasons across the National Park System. Still, the Traveler offers up the following if you feel you need one!

Fall Spectacular: What's That Sound? Where To Listen To -- And Look For -- Wildlife in the National Parks

Submitted by Danny Bernstein on September 6, 2010 - 1:41am
In the fall, animals and birds prepare for winter. Bears eat constantly to fatten up before they slow down. Many birds are already on their migration path. Elk and other ungulates are preparing for the mating ritual, the rut. Take a look -- or stop and listen -- in many national parks this Fall and you'll catch a glimpse of this autumnal spectacular.

Fall Spectacular: Elk Once Again Bugle In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Submitted by Danny Bernstein on September 6, 2010 - 1:24am
A male elk ambles through the field checking his harem. He sidles up to each cow and sniffs her rump. Raising his massive rack of antlers, he sees two young bucks, chases them out of the field, and resumes his inspection. He lifts his face to the sky and bugles – a loud, mournful sound that resounds throughout the area. Bugling tells females he’s here and warns other males to stay away.

Fall Spectacular: Wetting Your Paddle in the Waters Of Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on September 5, 2010 - 1:34am
Though Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are renowned for their hiking opportunities, they also offer expanses of water perfect for wetting a paddle, whether in a canoe or sea kayak. And fall can be a perfect time for paddling, as the temperatures are moderate, bugs are gone, and wildlife are highly visible.

Fall Spectacular: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Mirror of Time

Submitted by Greg Breining on September 5, 2010 - 1:28am
Paddling along a sandy shore, watching ripples of sand and light beneath the kayak, I could imagine for a moment I was in the tropics, not here in northern Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Superior. As we glided along, channels between islands opened and closed; new islands appeared.