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Latest News

The latest news from around the National Park System.

National Park Service Releases Apps For New York Metropolitan Parks

Visitors to New York City and Sandy Hook, New Jersey can now download and use three free apps to visit national parks, with 23 different locations, throughout New York Harbor. Locations include the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, African Burial Ground, Federal Hall and Governors Island.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Extends Comment Period For Camping Fee Increases

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will continue accepting comments through July 12 on a proposal to increase fees at frontcountry campgrounds and picnic pavilions along with proposed changes to the management of three campgrounds by adding them to the national reservation system through Recreation.gov. The proposal, titled “Recreational Fee Proposal Information Document,” has been available for public review since May 26. The comment process has been amended to allow anonymous comments.

Flood Recovery Continuing At National Park Units In West Virginia

National Park Service Superintendent Trish Kicklighter says that as crews continue to assess flood impacts to campgrounds, parking lots, boat launches, beaches, roads, and trails at New River Gorge National River, Bluestone National Scenic River, and Gauley River National Recreation Area, a few additional closures have been added to the West Virginia sites.

Boating Industry Aims To Block Marine Reserve At Biscayne National Park

A congressional effort has been launched to block a plan by Biscayne National Park officials to set aside 6 percent of the park for a marine reserve in a bid to restore and protect a stretch of the only tropical coral reef system in the continental United States, and the boating and fishing industry has quickly jumped on board in support of the legislation.

Four-Year Rehabilitation Of Grand Canyon Of Yellowstone Overlooks, Trails Underway In Yellowstone National Park

A four-year-long, multi-million-dollar project to repair and improve overlooks, trails, and parking lots along the rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park has gotten underway thanks to the help of the Yellowstone Park Foundation.

NPS Agrees To Let Native American Tribes Collect Plants From Parks

The National Park Service has modified the regulation governing the gathering of plants in national parks to allow members of federally recognized Indian tribes to gather and remove plants or plant parts for traditional purposes. The rule change was announced by Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on Wednesday at the National Congress of American Indians Mid-Year Conference in Spokane, Wash.

Festivities, Closures Part Of Independence Day Celebrations At National Mall

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, a parade, a star-studded concert, and, of course, a fireworks show highlight the National Park Service’s annual celebration of Independence Day on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Keep in mind that some of the memorials and a number of roads will be closed due to the festivities.

"Festus," A Humpback Whale Spotted For Four Decades In Glacier Bay National Park, Is Dead

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is famous for its namesake bay and the ringing mountains, but it's also renowned for its marine life, particularly the whales that make the park home for parts of the year. One whale that long has been a familiar resident of the bay, "Festus," is no more, having been found dead floating in the park's waters.

Birding In The National Parks: Looking For Loons

With spring migration over and fall shorebird migration a couple weeks away, this is the lazy part of the birding year. It’s time to float placidly on a northern lake and listen to the loons. Everyone from Henry David Thoreau to Aldo Leopold has tried to describe the song of the loon, all failing miserably compared to the experience of actually hearing it on a foggy dawn.

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.