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Capitol Reef National Park

What's in Pandora's Box? For One Visitor at Capitol Reef National Park, the Answer was: "Trouble."

An old myth took a different twist at Capitol Reef National Park recently when a canyoneer confirmed that getting into Pandora's Box can have unintended consequences, and it proved to be a lot easier to get into a tight spot that back out of it.

Secretary Salazar Hopes To Negotiate R.S. 2477 Solution With Utah Officials

Long a bone of contention between state, local and federal authorities when it comes to public lands access is a nearly 150-year-old law initially passed to help advance westward expansion. Now Interior Secretary Ken Salazar hopes a pilot program in Utah can generate a solution to R.S. 2477 controversies.

Before It Was A National Park....

Gifford Homestead Barn, Capitol Reef National Park, copyright Kurt Repanshek

Long before Capitol Reef National Park came into being, the area was homesteaded by Mormon families. Against a backdrop of redrock cliffs and along the Fremont River the homesteaders raised fruit and nut crops that they would sell in surrounding towns and communities.

Today you can stroll through the orchards and view many of the historic buildings -- such as this barn at the Gifford Homestead.

Kurt Repanshek
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This "Living History" Project at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Required Some Very Sharp Instruments

The term "living history" is often applied to programs using costumed interpreters, but it can also have another, more literal application: historic orchards. A recent project at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area used some sharp instruments to apply some tender loving pruning to historic apple trees in the park.

Castles in the Snow

The Castle, Capitol Reef National Park, copyright Holly Mills

Perhaps the most overlooked of Utah's five national parks, Capitol Reef National Park nevertheless is a gem. A slice of raw redrock beauty and incredible solitude, the 241,000-acre park lures most visitors during the summer months, but it's definitely worthy of a winter visit.

Holly, a ranger at Capitol Reef, has this to say about a winter visit:

Holly Mills
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Clash of Viewpoints on Public Land Ownership and Protection Arrives in Congress in the Form of Red Rock Wilderness Legislation

Contrasting views on how public lands should be managed and enjoyed collided in a congressional committee hearing Thursday as distinct lines were drawn over whether more than 9 million acres of red-rock landscape in Utah's outback should be protected as official wilderness or left open for off-road vehicles, mountain bikes, and energy development.

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.