National Parks Traveler

One of the "most unique archeological areas in the National Park System" will be the subject of a ranger-guided hike on February 8, and the location might surprise you. The Moccasin Bend National Archeological District, which "spans 12,000 years of continuous human habitation," is part of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, a park best known for major Civil War battles.

Observant readers of the Traveler no doubt noticed some new sponsors and advertisers who believe in our mission to nurture advocates and stewards for the National Park System while exploring how best to get the most out of the park experience.

Hiking is a popular activity in our parks, and trails—long and short, easy to arduous—provide almost unlimited opportunities for us to stretch our legs or challenge our abilities. Whether a hike on a particular trail seems "scary" is a pretty subjective question, since our tolerance for steep drop-offs, uncertain footing or other factors varies widely from person to person.

“How Do You Get A Permanent Job With The NPS?” This is a frequently asked question, Neighbors! No doubt about it, the NPS is a feel-good agency that many people would like to join, and they are not easily dissuaded. Unfortunately, the answer to that question is complicated, ambiguous and fluid.

Much of the northern half of the country is locked into winter now, which makes it a perfect time to plan your birding trips for the rest of the year.

Castle Rock Cut is a popular short-cut route on Lake Powell that allows boaters to shorten the trip between the major Wahweap Marina and destinations uplake by a distance of 12 miles. Years of drought and falling water levels for the lake have made this shortcut unusable by boaters, so work is getting underway at to lower this channel by another twenty feet.

The science around the change of seasons will be the topic of a one-day workshop at Joshua Tree National Park this Saturday.

An open house is scheduled for March 5 at Bryce Canyon National Park to discuss the park's environmental assessment on a "multimodal transportation plan" that would link the park with Bryce Canyon City.

It very likely is true that one person's overlooked national park is another's jewel.

Lyme Disease is a common and serious tick-borne illness that can be difficult to diagnose, and both early recognition of infection and prompt treatment are important. Unfortunately, a new study says many hikers on the Appalachian Trail are unable to recognize one of the key indicators that an individual may have contracted the illness.