National Parks Traveler

In these days of high gasoline prices and smaller vehicles, sometimes getting all your gear to the trailhead can be a chore and require creativity. Fortunately, for those of us who struggle with cramming all our gear and luggage into our rigs, there's the Atlas 8 from Precision Travel Werx.

It's going to get a little more expensive to camp in Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida, where new fees will take effect October 1.

Though the Alum Fire continues to burn out of control in Yellowstone National Park, officials are confident visitors can travel past it on the Grand Loop Road and have reopened a stretch that was closed due to the fire.

What better way to end a fall day of hiking in Glacier National Park than to enter the Many Glacier Hotel and settle comfortably into one of the armchairs before the cracklin’ fireplace in the hotel lobby? Along with the popping wood and flickering flames, the soft smell of wood smoke mingles with the steam wafting from your hot chocolate, Irish coffee, or hot tea.

Visitors to Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah this weekend will be able to enjoy some stories out of the past as the monument celebrates its 80th anniversary.

In the last issue of the View From the Overlook, P.J. Ryan, retired park ranger, described his experiences as a volunteer docent at the Yellowstone Ranger Museum. He continues his observations in this issue of The View

A 7.5-mile stretch of the Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone National Park was closed indefinitely Tuesday due to growth of the Alum Fire burning near Mud Volcano, park officials said.

A new water-filling station at the main visitor center for Lake Mead National Recreation Area has been in service for six months, and in addition to reducing the use of disposable plastic water bottles, the filtered water is catching on with visitors. Since its installation, the station has been used to fill 13,600 water bottles.

Heading to Acadia National Park next month? You could find some limited parking in areas of the park as construction on bus stops takes place.

On Sunday the National Park Service will turn 97, and for park visitors that means a day without entrance fees.