National Parks Traveler Photo of the Week

I'll Be Watching You

Kurt Repanshek — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:22:51 -0400

photo for week of 05/11/2008

Photographer: Will Calder

Too often we enter a national park and spend much of our time looking at the landscape, not into it.

William Calder, a software engineer, captured this Barred Owl in Shenandoah after it buzzed his truck and took up a nearby roost. It's a great reminder of the wonderful wildlife the national park system protects, and what we can see if we take the time to look.

Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park

Kurt Repanshek — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:07:23 -0400

photo for week of 05/04/2008

Photographer: Jane Timmerman

Ms. Timmerman lives in Kalispell, Montana, only about 35 miles from the west entrance of Glacier National Park. As a member of a local photography club, she frequently heads into the park.

Charismatic Marine Fauna

Kurt Repanshek — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:50:46 -0400

photo for week of 04/28/2008

Photographer: Paul Brown

There are charismatic terrestrial fauna, and then there are charismatic marine fauna. And I'd offer that this butterfly fish that Paul Brown focused on in the waters of National Park of American Samoa surely falls into the latter category.

Definitely makes you want to take up skin- or scuba-diving, no?

Wildfire in the Parks

Kurt Repanshek — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:03:11 -0400

photo for week of 04/21/2008

Photographer: Scott Isaacson, NPS

The National Park Service's Fire and Aviation Management Program sponsors an annual photo contest that has been drawing a growing number of entries from park staff.

Plum Run, Gettysburg National Military Park

Kurt Repanshek — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:05:43 -0400

photo for week of 04/14/2008

Photographer: Katie Lawhon, NPS

Plum Run cuts through the center of the Gettysburg Battlefield and flows into the "Valley of Death" near the Round Tops.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Kurt Repanshek — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:35:40 -0400

photo for week of 04/05/2008

Photographer: rickz

Sometimes you just want to get away from it all, and with winter dragging on here in the Rocky Mountains, this shot of Dry Tortugas National Park certainly seems inviting. No roads lead directly to the park. Instead, you either need a boat, or a seaplane, to get there.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Kurt Repanshek — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:34:49 -0400

photo for week of 03/27/2008

Photographer: NASA

On a clear day....Great Sand Dunes National Park looks great from outer space. This image, provided by NASA, was taken from the International Space Station in October 2007.

Moonrise Over Crater Lake

Kurt Repanshek — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:35:12 -0400

photo for week of 03/12/2008

Photographer: Rob Mutch

Most folks spend their days, not their nights, exploring the national parks. That's unfortunate, as the parks can be as enticing at night as they are during the day.

Park Entrance Stickers

Kurt Repanshek — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:03:38 -0500

photo for week of 02/27/2008

Photographer: NPS Historic Photograph Collection

Perhaps objections to park entrance fees would be muted if the parks once again handed out distinctive decals to visitors as they entered the park. This picture, taken in 1922, shows how this proud park visitor decided to display her collection.

Bear Grass in Glacier National Park

Kurt Repanshek — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:27:09 -0500

photo for week of 02/18/2008

Photographer: T.J. Hileman/NPS Historic Photograph Collection

Sometimes older photographs are more beautiful than those produced digitally today. This hand-colored print was taken circa 1920. The mountain in the background is Granite Peak.