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Reader Participation Day: What Would You Like To See On National Park Websites?

May 25th - 14:09pm | Noel

Have something like Google Maps where you can pick a spot and see the view from there, and take a virtual tour. Mainly, though, I'd like up-to-date weather, such as Accuweather or Weather.com provides.

May 25th - 14:04pm | Brad

Oh, and the range in altitude for each unit would be nice, minimum elevation from sea level to highest elevation. In other words, all this geographical & tourist info that can be researched online to be in one concise place at nps.gov for every unit.  That would be awesome.

May 25th - 13:53pm | Brad

I'd like for all the Parks to consistently show statistics, such as park acreage and average visitation as well as number of miles of park roadways and hiking trails.

May 25th - 13:31pm | ally s

1. Photos.  Most parks now have the "Photos and Multimedia" link on the left, but they do not all use this... 2. Webcams!  Glacier NP has a whole page of these. 3. Jobs.  The park could easily at a minimum, explain that park jobs are listed on usajobs.gov and provide a link.  Or even better, they could actually list current positions w/such links.

May 25th - 13:18pm | Anonymous

A list of all units of multi-unit sites. Ironically, after venting about the difficulty of using the NPS website--often down for maintenance, bad links, removed pages--the Traveler website wouldn't let me post (the captcha is too difficult in event the moderators haven't been told this enough.

May 25th - 13:12pm | Anonymous

A list of all "units" for multi-unit parks (such as Jean Lafitte).

May 25th - 12:33pm | Badge529

Lodging, camping and better map access.

May 25th - 11:10am | Dottie

Legible maps when downloaded for .pdf files; when a whole park is crowded on one page it is very difficult to read.  Also, lots and lots of webcams!

May 25th - 09:36am | Carol B

Definitely agree on the maps issue.  The maps app was changed last year [I think] ... and it is really bad now! The NPS websites are invaluable to planning our hiking vacations.  I rely on them so much, and everything on the sites is really appreciated.  More photos maybe?  Allow travelers to upload 1 or 2?  I'm a photo-phreak!

May 25th - 09:19am | urbanmountainman

+1 for making .gpx files available. Also I would like to see Recreation.gov update ALL of the NPS campgrounds with photos of each site. 

May 25th - 08:44am | Lee Dalton

I'm with Mike G.  Better maps would be appreciated.

May 25th - 08:32am | Jan

I would really like to see at least an outline of the state with the park starred. Also, we have not been to a park that had  public transit in operation and would like to better understand how that operates, like how often it runs, (every 15, or 30 minutes, etc.)and if there is room for  daypacks, etc.

May 25th - 07:59am | JanetinKy

I would also like help in trip planning - like what other parks are close to THIS park.  Most of my trips start out with a flight to a given area and I like to spend at least a week in an area visiting various park units and sometimes find it takes more 'clicks' than it should to determine which other units are close-by and would be appropriate to visit on the same trip.  ANOTHER thing that I'd

May 25th - 07:55am | ecbuck

Downloadable .gpx files of trails and features.

May 25th - 07:02am | Mike G

I would appreciate access to better maps of the park units.  The maps available are difficult to find, lack detail and could be much improved.  perhaps tie it to Google Maps or another package for use in trip planning....  examples I've recently searched and found lacking include Arches, Colorado National Monument, Natural Bridges and Rocky Mountain....

May 25th - 06:43am | Lawrence J. Caldwell

For lodging, we always look for the 360-degree photos.  These are a great way to tell if we can fit our family of five in one room or two.  Plus, it gives us an idea of the relative upkeep of the room since these types of photos are fairly new, thus preventing the lodge from showing grand-opening pictures from 30-years ago.

Tornado Destroys Great Blue Heron Rookery At Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

May 25th - 10:21am | Kirby Adams

One of the things that surprised the wildlife rehab folks in Minnesota was that many people who had lost property or even been injured themselves in the storm were still calling in to check on the toll on animals. I think it's cathartic at times for people who have suffered personal loss to turn around and care about something that may seem insignificant. It's also a testament to E.O.

May 25th - 07:52am | Jane S

We often forget the toll mother nature takes on wildlife. Interesting story, here's hoping the herons return.

You Won't Be Able To Drive Trail Ridge Road End-to-End Through Rocky Mountain National Park Memorial Day Weekend

May 25th - 09:43am | Carol B

All that snow!  Must be due to that global warming theory.  LOL

May 25th - 08:31am | Lee Dalton

This is probably a nasty question, but in this time of very scarce and diminishing funding for our parks, how much extra money is being spent to open roads to keep area chambers of commerce and their politicians happy?

May 25th - 06:46am | Lawrence J. Caldwell

I was there on June 4, 1994.  It was so cool.  Even the visitor's center at the top was open, although it was still completely buried in snow!

Take Traveler With You On Your Next National Park Trip

May 25th - 09:32am | Carol B

Sounds like a fun idea - looking forward to the Android app! But I'll still always drag the laptop with us - when taking 1000's of photos, I can't wait to see them and upload our trips to Facebook and Flickr!

National Park Road Trip 2011: Zion Lodge

May 25th - 09:29am | Carol B

One of our favorite trips in '09 was to Zion. We didn't stay at the Lodge - but now I'm disappointed we did not.  We stayed in town.  I was too sure about the use of the trolley thru the park, but this was a fantastic idea of the park.  Cant imagine 1,000s of cars up and down that road. We stopped at the lodge ....

Fort Stanwix National Monument Presents Historic Artifacts From 19th Century, Including A Chamber Pot of Questionable Taste

May 25th - 09:14am | Kurt Repanshek

Sorry, Lee, the folks at Fort Stanwix aren't spilling the beans. Sounds like a road trip, no? Wanna carpool?;-)

May 25th - 08:40am | Lee Dalton

Awwwwwwwwwwww! Okay, now, for those of us who have no chance of visiting Ft. Stanwix and will not be able to sleep wondering what the story is, how about telling it to us some day? C'mon fellow Travelers.  Let's hear your cries of outrage!

Latest Studies On Yellowstone National Park's Wolf Packs Shows Stable Population

May 24th - 19:35pm | Aaron Lund

Hey anonymous, I am an adult.  You are too?!  Nice to meet you.  When you're packing out game in your pack, do you ever wonder if wolves are following you?

May 24th - 18:46pm | Anonymous

This guy sounds like another ... kid to me. I have to laugh every time that I here someone talk about ATV's, hunting from trucks on roads etc. I have people tell me all the time when talking about hunting why don't you use an ATV to get up there. Or why don't you use an ATV to get your game out of the woods.

May 24th - 16:32pm | Aaron Lund

I was in and around Yellowstone for a couple weeks this winter.  Exploring some of the boundary areas I came across a number of mule deer carcasses surrounded by wolf tracks.  It was very cool.   Unfortunately, I didn't actually see any wolves, but I did see a few coyotes.

May 24th - 16:22pm | Anonymous

These pro- wolfers are talking out there butts. We had Mt.Lions Bears Coyotes, Etc. We supposably have Global Warming killing everything in sight. Amazing how we have any of the native wildlife left at all in this country to listen to the pro-wolfers talk. When are these pro-wolfers going to admitt to themselfs and the world that this Canadian wolf is not the same wolf as our native wolf?

May 24th - 13:32pm | Ken

THE MOOSE IN COLORADO & UTAH ARE DOING GREAT! NO WOLVES NO PROBLEMS WITH THERE WITH THE NATIVE WILDLIFE SURVIVING! GLOBAL WARMING WHAT A JOKE!  The servival rate the calf elk is in the single digets thanks to the wolves. The elk on average are much older in Yellowstone nowdays.

National Park Road Trip 2011: Bryce Canyon National Park

May 24th - 08:03am | Gaelyn

Was good to meet you on the North Rim. Sorry the snow chased you off.

Summer Special: What’s Old is New Again: Bandelier National Monument Sheds Light on the Ancestral Homeland of Five Modern Pueblos

May 23rd - 20:31pm | Anonymous

Some further clarifications  -  the group of Pueblos who consulted with Bandelier on all the stages of the museum exhibits and movie consisted of six  -  besides those mentioned, San Felipe also considers themselves to be strongly connected to the Bandelier area.  Although the Bandelier Trading Company does have a grill and offers burgers, etc, The Bandelier Grill is a restaurant in White Rock.

Fans of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Being Asked to Contribute Ideas to Lakeshore's Future

May 23rd - 17:09pm | Drew

Another vote for clothing optional! Being from the Chicago land area I would take several trips a year there

A Brief Word From Those Who Moderate Traveler Comments

May 23rd - 13:43pm | Carol B

I can't imagine WHY individuals would feel the need to be ugly on such a beautiful site!  What J.R.T. said - "grow up people"!

The Boardwalks of Yellowstone National Park

May 23rd - 12:13pm | urbanmountainman

Great article!!

May 22nd - 08:49am | Lee Dalton

Excellent story.  It's also good to see some of the real heroes of the Park Service getting some credit in that photo.  Our maintenance crews are the ones who really protect the treasures.  Unfortunately, they rarely received the praise the deserve.

May 22nd - 07:37am | Gal Yellowstone

It's really fun to return to Yellowstone every year to see what boardwalks the thernal activity has "eaten" since the year before. It's one of the easiest ways to realize how active the geology is!

Updated: Wildfire Kills Four Florida Panther Kittens in Big Cypress National Preserve

May 23rd - 11:27am | Carol B

I just returned from visiting south Florida parks - Everglades NP and Big Cypress NP.  I didnt see any fires burning, but were told one was going on somewhere in the Everglades.  Lots and lots of gators at Big Cypress - and tons & tons of monster size flies in the early evening.  We couldnt figure out why there were so many black birds/crows everywhere.  Well, with all those bugs - BUFFET!!

National Park Road Trip: Mesa Verde and Far View Lodge

May 23rd - 11:20am | Carol B

We're visiting Mesa Verde this fall and appreciate the review on the Far View Lodge. Since I havent made reservations yet - will try and get one there.

Traveler's Checklist: Zion National Park

May 23rd - 11:07am | Carol B

Hiking the Virgin River .... climbing Walter's Wiggle to Angel's Landing .... If you're a hiker you have to do it once, but not twice. LOL.  It was the ultimate challenge for this young 60yr old gramma. The almost straight-up ridge ascent with the help of chains should have been very unnerving, but it wasn't.

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles Arriving En Masse At Padre Island National Seashore

May 23rd - 11:02am | Christopher Pin...

Great news! follow the daily nesting updates and take action to save imperiled sea turtles with the non-profit Sea Turtle Restoration Project today http://www.seaturtles.org

National Park Road Trip 2011: Fort Davis National Historic Site

May 23rd - 09:38am | Carol B

We visited Fort Davis last Thanksgiving with our 2 granddaughters.  Stayed at Indian Lodge in the State Park - which was a SUPER BONUS.  Very beautiful place that offered a wonderful hike to the mountain ridge.  We're so grateful we got to visit this area and Marfa before the fires hit.  So worth the drive and time.  The girls said the visit to Fort Davis was the best part of the trip!

National Park Road Trip 2011: Canyon de Chelly National Monument and Thunderbird Lodge

May 23rd - 09:33am | Carol B

We visited Canyon de Chelly last yearin '09 and stayed at the Thunderbird Lodge with our granddaughter.  We took the full day tour and it was wroth every cent!  Highlight of our trip.  We'll be stopping back by there this fall during our southern Utah swing.  Can't wait.

National Park Road Trip 2011: North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park

May 23rd - 09:20am | Carol B

Great videos and review.  We're going back this September for our cabin-stay.  We reserved it a year in advance, and the Western Cabins were already gone!  This will be our 2nd visit to the North Rim.  Can't wait.

May 23rd - 00:29am | me an Bernie

Nice to visit such an interesting place.... Thanks for doing videos along the way...........

May 22nd - 23:53pm | Lynda l. Damrill

Amazing videos! What a treat  to see the snow on the rim. It was almost like being there.We were there a few years ago and these videos brought up vivid memories.Thank you.

May 22nd - 12:56pm | Brad G.

Very nice videos. Thanks and have fun.

Dinosaur National Monument Officials Warning Floaters To Beware High Flows On Yampa River

May 22nd - 20:57pm | Jackie Melton

We finally scored a permit, now it looks like we could be flooded off the Yampa. We have lots of experience in or group, veteran guides who have rowed and paddled lots of rivers, east and west. What is too high? What happens to the campsites?  Does the river become a flush to the take out?

Bluffs Lodge Along The Blue Ridge Parkway Shuttered For 2011

May 22nd - 19:50pm | Jackie

Had just gotten on the internet to see about booking at the Bluffs for our 30th anniversary trip we will take late summer and am so sad to see it has closed.  We loved the old rooms and the cool breezes through the windows.  This was a truly wonderful place to get away from it all and relax. I also loved the coffee shop.  Hope it reopens soon

Traveler's View: Rethink National Park Pass Fees

May 21st - 10:52am | Anonymous

Really?  You are comparing the park fees to Disney World fees.  Talk about apples to oranges.  Disney world is a commercial venture that builds and maintains atractions.  The Park Service administers our lands for the enjoyment of us and our future generations.  The question I ask is what are we getting for these increased fees?  Using Yellowstone as an example, we see a lot of road constructio

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