National Parks Traveler

“Winter” is a relative term. For me, the word conjures images of snow and ice along with such adjectives as “crisp” and “stark.” Winter for others, however, can bring to mind sandy beaches and turquoise water or alligators and migrating birds along with adjectives such as “warm,” “hot,” “humid,” even “wet,” depending on one’s location within the National Park System.

A pitched battle is under way over the future of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, one that goes to the heart of whether national parks are to be managed for the country's best interests, or for unrestricted local interests.

Authorities are investigating the apparent shooting death of an endangered Florida panther in Big Cypress National Preserve.

A Virginia politician wants the state to take back Shenandoah National Park, ranchers say there are too many elk at Point Reyes National Seashore, and plunging visitation at Rocky Mountain National Park is costly.

Name your price and you just might be able to name the only foal born into the Maryland herd at Assateague Island National Seashore this year.

While the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park isn't technically closed in winter, getting there can be difficult, especially now that the state highway leading to the rim is closed for the winter.

The Moose-Wilson Road in Grand Teton National Park is a thin, two-lane ribbon running through a gorgeous part of the park. It's a particularly scenic way to enter the park, especially in fall when the vegetation is changing colors and the bears come to gorge themselves on ripe berries. But how should it be managed long-term?

While the thought of a professional bike race zooming through a U.S. national park draws immediate criticism from some sectors, the folks on the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority are looking forward to next year's Tour de France.

With shopping days dwindling before the year-end holidays arrive, getting a late start is better than no start. Here are some great gift ideas for heading into the national parks well-equipped.

Cold, snow, and ice aren’t the only backdrops to a winter’s visit to the National Park System. There’s a flip side to the Glaciers, Yellowstones, and Mount Rainiers of winter park vacations. They’re found in the Caribbean, south Florida, and even Nevada and Arizona.