You are here

All Recent Comments

Should Horses And Cattle Be Removed From Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Dec 25th - 13:11pm | Anonymous

Removing the horses will not end problems it will just create new problems.  Yes there is competition for food throughout the year but that's not due to the horses being there.  It's a balance that has been there now for decades.  Without horses the native animals will begin to over populate and then what will be done, a culling of native animals.  Right now across the board there should be a a

Dec 16th - 05:35am | DRS

Remove them. With ongoing deteriorating range conditions, the native animals take priority. lt is a park for wildlife, not livestock.

Dec 14th - 12:50pm | Jenny

Bison are a native species unlike horses or cattle. Feral horses compete with native species for forage and water. And 200 is not a small number.

Dec 14th - 11:50am | Anonymous

What about the Buffalo?

Dec 14th - 11:34am | fiercegreenfire

We camped in the park for three days this fall. We very much enjoyed seeing the horses. Let them stay! Are they causing problems? If policy becomes removing all non-native species, the question I ask is "non-native to what time period?" In our National Parks in general, that would be a lot of species to get rid of! Nine cattle? They could go. 

Dec 13th - 12:07pm | Jenny

Remove the cattle entirely. As for horses, with that small number, either remove or end their breeding. I think it would be kinder to remove them to a free ranging sanctuary on private land so they would be among a larger herd. Horses would not thrive if down to 1 to 3.

RVing In The Parks | Winter Can Be A Great Season To Explore The Parks

Dec 23rd - 11:55am | Lost in Utah

I sold my house in Moab in 2007 and got out. It was becoming unbearable way before that. A lot of locals left - many cherished the landscape. Then the ATV crowd came in, followed by massive tourism encouraged by the Tourism Board who was funded by monies from the resort rental market. Businesses gained overwhelming power by controlling the boards and local politics.

Dec 14th - 16:08pm | A. Johnson

Lots of camping around Moab and Green River and Price, especially before those places got popular.winter   

Dec 13th - 21:26pm | Lost in Utah

I've spent much of my life camping (I'm 71). As a kid growing up in NW Colorado, camping was the only thing we could afford to do for vacations or on weekends. I went full-time on the road about 15 years ago in a little 13-foot fiberglass trailer (a Burro) with a 4x4 Toyota FJ and have had several different rigs since then, including a cargo trailer that wasn't tricked out.

Dec 13th - 21:19pm | Lost in Utah

Chris, I agree to an extent, but I also know many Boomers who are minmalists. I myself am one. Even the rigs I've had that had all the amenities weren't expensive and I also seldom used those amenities, using them as more like a hard-sided tent. But ironically, the #VanDweller crowd seem to me the ones who need the lavish rigs - tell me a $100k+ Mercedes van is necessary for camping.

Dec 13th - 10:49am | chris...

In future generations American will marvel at how the boomers afforded and justified such gargantuan camping rigs for the sole purpose of taking the kitchen sink, heaters, toilet, shower etc with them will enjoying "wilderness" camping.   As a mere milleniall..just saying

Dec 12th - 16:37pm | A. Johnson

No problem. Would you mind providing more details about where you've winter camped before?     I recall one spring break trip to Canyonlands, camping just outside the park (up Indian Creek on BLM land?) when 5-6" of sloshy snow arrived ovenight.  Just magical.  I had a 4WD so I didn't mind much.

Dec 12th - 14:18pm | Lost in Utah

CO is right. CO2 is carbon dioxide and not a problem in this context. Thanks for the correction.

Judge: Commercial Filmmakers Don't Need Permits In National Parks

Dec 21st - 08:23am | Matt Seni

The laws being applied here are considerable when comparing this idea to a major motion picture vs a private party creating content for a small audience, at that point these productions bring in $100-1000 dollars depending on viewership and if that party is even monetizing the video to make profit.

The Challenges (And Rewards) Of Visiting Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Dec 20th - 17:02pm | Rob Richmond

A country with no borders open to everyone and anyone would soon become a "place where the darkest events in human history unfolds".  Have compassion for future generations, they will have enough problems with climate change, overpopulation, etc.

Dec 18th - 17:35pm | ecbuck

Gila, the dark underside isn't the wall which is invisible from the vast majority of the park.  The dark underside is the illegal immigration and drug and sex trade trafficing visible everywhere.       

Dec 18th - 16:40pm | Gila Monster

I was at the park just two weeks ago and asked myself the same questions as the author of this excellent article. How can a place so beautiful as this have such a dark underside?  I hope I will live to see the day that this monstrosity of a wall gets removed again. 

Dec 18th - 14:31pm | ecbuck

Kurt, regardless of the aboslute number or who the administration is, we should have ZERO tollerance for illegal immigration and drug smuggling - not to mention sex trafificing.  And, we certainly should not be aiding and abetting those activites in our National Parks.    

Dec 18th - 13:00pm | Kurt Repanshek

Mike, do you have any citations for your numbers (up to 5 million in the past two years)?According to the American Migration Council, in 2021 the number was 1.5 million. At the same time, Border Patrol agents carried out more than 1,000,000 expulsions and deportations.

Dec 18th - 12:17pm | Mike G

excellent comments Loui.  Our border protects our soverignty and should be and is required by law to be closed to unlimited entry.  The Biden administration has failed miserably in its duties to Americans regarding the border.

Dec 18th - 09:57am | Loui

If you encounter a group of pedestrians in the desert do you think you could tell the difference between the thirsty "migrants" and the armed and dangerous cartel operator who is smuggling them?  Do you think that smuggler wants you around so you can later report the group's location, size and direction of travel to law enforcement? 

Legislation Calls For Range Of Light National Monument

Dec 20th - 16:12pm | Michael Kellett

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine is split about 50-50 between an area that allows hunting and one where it is banned. Also, it allows an existing snowmobile connecting trail to remain in use but bans other off-road motorized use. This was done in the presidential proclamation creating the monument. Congress could do the same thing here.

Dec 20th - 12:39pm | ecbuck

Unfortunately Rick, its not an easy answer.  The Antiquities Act falls short of any specific dos and don'ts.  It alllow the President to designate National Monuments but doesn't specify the protections thereby afforded.  Therefore it is left up to the bureaucratic state to act as legislator, executor and judge.   Must they shut the roads and stop hunting?  No.  Could they?  Yes.  There in lies

Dec 20th - 00:50am | Rick B.

Well, Rules Committee, what's the word. Thumbs up or down === are fire roads obliterated from a national monument? Same with hunting - is it forbidden or not? Should be easy answers.  

Dec 19th - 17:53pm | Jenny

The article says that livestock grazing and logging and off road vehicle use would be ended. As a monument, hunting would still be allowed. Monument status would still allow traffic on roads, both emergency vehicles and civilian ones.

Reservation Systems Returning To Arches, Glacier, And Rocky Mountain National Parks In 2023

Dec 20th - 12:54pm | Greg Anderson

The reservation systems for these three parks seem to be working well.  Does anyone know of reservation systems for other parks that have been ended and why they were ended?  Thanks.

The Challenges Of Recreation.gov

Dec 20th - 09:48am | Karen Hahn

It really stinks that we try to book and all of the electric/water sites are full... so we book a primitive and get there and half of the electric/water are open... we are told by the ranger that they are booked and sit empty because people book extra days before they actuakky need them just to get in on the dates they want and then don't show up until they actually want the site...

Steps Being Taken At Great Smoky Mountains National Park To Halt Illegal Parking

Dec 20th - 00:53am | Rick B.

Sounds like a lot of clutter installed when all you needs is a greedy but authorized towing company.

Dec 19th - 18:41pm | John colles

Tow them, then the towing company and the county gets a kickback

Dec 18th - 22:42pm | Kathy A

GREAT Smokies could think about timed entry into paek during busy periods. I t does help spread out use without having to inrease parking.

Dec 18th - 16:33pm | Hal

Less visitors wouldn't be a bad thing. Definitely need to have parking restrictions people park where ever they want. Very rude and unsafe. Hopefully the admission fees can pay to have people towed that don't obey the proper parking 

Dec 17th - 13:10pm | Glenn

Visitors should plan ahead and come prepared with alternative destinations in case they do not find parking available at desired sites. By carefully choosing the time of day, time of year, and day of the week, visitors can help improve their chances of obtaining a safe parking space within designated, durable parking areas even at iconic destinations. 

Dec 15th - 18:56pm | SmokiesBackpacker

The Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Chamber of commerce shut down a shuttle proposal for Cades Cove in the 90s. Heaven forbid rednecks would be prohibited from driving one tenth of a mile per hour and stopping at every deer sighting. It would have emptied the go kart tracks and buffets. Your notion would empty the casino in Cherokee.  Follow the money. It's always about money with the NPS. 

Dec 15th - 12:35pm | Jenny

The Smokies needs to have a shuttle system to reduce the reliance on single car travel. There could be shuttles from the Visitor Center inside the park to high traffic areas. There should also be shuttles originating from Gatlinburg either to the Visitor Center or direct to popular trailheads, similar to the buses that run from Estes Park into Rocky Mountain National Park.

Graffiti In Jasper National Park Leads To Hefty Fine

Dec 18th - 11:00am | Jasper Visitor

Glad they were recorded, caught, and fined. They should have ALSO had to participate in the clean-up at their own cost. Vandals are disgusting.  

End of a Curious Era at Mount Rainier National Park

Dec 17th - 16:42pm | D Moulton

The Saucer took an extra 300 - 500 gallons of diesel per day during the winter to heat the roof (Wiki.). It couldn't handle the snow weight. Funny, the Hawaiian architect should have known better.

National Parks Traveler: What We're Not

Dec 16th - 20:23pm | Loui

One critical service you do offer that you didn't list is that you provide John Q Public an opportunity to be heard by park employees and other shareholders about the pressing issues facing the Service. Way better than the comment card box at each park!

Beach Driving Permits Going On Sale Soon At Assateague Island National Seashore

Dec 15th - 17:29pm | Leslie

Just wanted to say that your comments about Rec.gov are always spot on.  Hopefully someone in a position of authority will listen to your words of wisdom!

Reader Participation Day: Which Is Your Favorite Hiking Stick National Park Medallion?

Dec 15th - 15:57pm | Kathy Bax

I collect state park medallions.  My favorites are Nevada Valley of Fire and Cathedral Gorge.  I also collect National Park medallions.  My favorite is Hawaii Volcanoes.

Dec 15th - 06:30am | Molly

When my sons were little... They are now in their 30s... We did a lot of road trips and loved exploring national parks. I started doing this for my sons and they both have a walking stick with many beautiful  medallions on it. We also included some state parks that were of significance And places that have special meaning to them. I love looking at the walking sticks...

National Park Service Proposing To More Than Double Visitation To Cumberland Island

Dec 14th - 14:38pm | Barbara Cullman

The number allowed visiting the island should remain 300!!!! Thank you for your serious consideration    

Debate Waged Over Whether To Rename Delaware Water Gap

Dec 14th - 08:22am | ecbuck

Bob- Everyone has their own reasons and the right to have their own reason no matter what you think their reason should be.  When I hiked the AT, a lot of people complained about the way others approached the hike - too much gear, skipping sections, resting too often .....  We had a saying for them "Hike your own hike".  

Dec 13th - 23:51pm | Rob Richmond

The name attracts the visitors!  This illustrates the fact that people visit the parks for the wrong reasons.  People don't seem to think much about the real reasons to visit.  National Park status = more visitors = more money = destruction of visitor experience.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Headquarters Scheduled To Be Updated

Dec 13th - 18:28pm | SmokiesBackpacker

In a publicly traded organization, the optics of this would be obvious. But in the NPS, this arrogance prevails weekly.

Dec 13th - 18:23pm | SmokiesBackpacker

Well, well, well.  I see that the "maintenance backlog" money is first going to feather the office of Superintendent Ca$$iu$ Ca$h.  At least he has abandoned the pretense of caring about the public here. Let them eat cake while we charge to drive through "our park".  

National Park Crowds: What The Readers Think

Dec 13th - 17:47pm | chris...

Greg.. The reality of running a major national park is often at odds with the laws they are supposed to follow.  In Yosemite for instance the rules regarding the wilderess act are MOSTLY adhered too.  Mostly.  But when reality gets in the way power tools like chainsaws are used to clear the trails and keep the public acccessable.  

Dec 13th - 16:51pm | ecbuck

Greg - I don't think anyone is saying the NPS doesn't have the power to regulate the Parks.  Heck of all the powers the government excercises, it is one of the few actually granted by the Constitution.  The issue here is the very statement you quoted which has multiple purposes that in many cases are in conflict.

Dec 13th - 16:08pm | Teresa

My husband and I are avid hikers and have hiked almost all of the National Parks. One thing we have noted is that the crowds are at overlooks and other scenic areas within sight of the parking lots. We get to the trailhead at 7 AM to empty parking lots and then find very few people on the backcountry trails. If you want to avoid crowds in the parks, try the backcountry.

Dec 13th - 13:09pm | Greg Anderson

The National Park Service established by the Act "shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments, and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the nat

Abraham Lincoln's Overcoat Returns to Public Display at Ford's Theatre

Dec 13th - 03:11am | Barbara Kelton

Is there any way to find out the shoulder width of Lincoln's overcoat?  

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.