| Page 1204 | National Parks Traveler

I am a lifelong resident of Indianapolis and I have not visited the dunes since childhood. However, if there were an officially sanctioned clothing optional beach there my wife and I would make regular trips during the summers. I agree with a number of comments above about the pros of having a clothing optional beach.

Should Katmai National Park Replace Its Swikshak Patrol "Cabin"? One Picture Should Answer That Question

Aug 26th - 02:29am | Anonymous

Just read your post about the Swikshak cabin and I'd like to let you know that you are in my thoughts, as are all of Mason's friends and family. I work as a ranger in Katmai and this is extremely difficult for everyone, even those who don't know what a great person Mason is. Let's just keep hoping and praying for the best..

Traveler Readers Invited to "Test Drive" Prototype Website For Birding in the National Park System

Aug 26th - 02:07am | MRC

I'm pretty sure that this new page is just a new front end to the NPSpecies database that could be addressed for quite some time now directly or through the SpeciesSelect sites. People who know their way around the Inventory & Monitoring parts of the NPS web sites have had access to all the data before.

Aug 25th - 19:16pm | Jude

I like scientific names, so I'm glad they're included in both the detailed and simpler formats. The links didn't work for me. What I want is a list I can search. Maybe I want to know, as a fairly knowledgeable birder, whether a particular park has Say's Phoebes.

Aug 25th - 18:31pm | tomp

RangerLady--

Aug 25th - 15:30pm | MikeD

For me the big thing is standardization. Some park sites don't even have a bird list or it's very hard to find (I think the USGS also has some bird lists for parks, but they may be old). So it would just be really cool for each park to have a standardized format/location for the lists on the parks.

Aug 25th - 10:57am | RangerLady

I like this website and it will become a great source for me when I head to other parks. I agree that the family and order information is too much and I immediately when to the simpler view. It would be nice to have a picture on the NPS page instead of clicking through the links to find one.

Aug 25th - 10:35am | tomp

Thanks, all, and keep those suggestions coming!

Aug 25th - 09:46am | MikeD

Web site not working for me right now for the most part, but ditto what Tom said. It would be really nice to have 4-season checklists standardized across the system most of all as well as birding-specific info (i.e., hotspots) for parks. Other stuff like photos not necessarily needed but certainly OK to have.

Reader Participation Day: Help Plan Our Special Fall in the National Parks Series

Aug 26th - 01:51am | MRC

I was surprised by how many people suggest to visit southern Utah in fall. Hey, southern Utah is spectacular and worth visiting any time of the year, but I had not thought of it in term of foliage and fall colors.

Aug 26th - 01:33am | Haley J

Petrified Forest National Park in AZ, honestly the rest of the year is either TOO hot or TOO cold to visit, most of the "snowbirds" take the "fall" season to visit, it usually gets a bit of rain and its a brisk cool morning and evening with a warm breezy day. There are so many things to see and learn in the Petrified Forest, why not visit it during the nicest time of the year!

Aug 25th - 18:23pm | Julie Trevelyan

I definitely have to throw in two cents for Capitol Reef. Fall is one of the best seasons in this gorgeous park. Zion's not bad either, of course. ;) But I'm pretty partial to CapReef.

Aug 25th - 16:49pm | Ed in Montana

Try visiting the west side of Glacier National Park in mid October to see the fall color. The bright gold of the western larch needles against the snow capped peaks is extraordinary.

Aug 25th - 15:23pm | Courtney

I would love to see you highlight the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail! Most people don't realize that NPS manages trails as well as parks, and the trails often connect many of the smaller parks so that people can enjoy them!

Aug 25th - 13:42pm | Brad

New River Gorge National River, WV was stunning in fall colors.

Aug 25th - 11:57am | John Poimiroo

Redwood N&SPs, Lassen VHP, Whiskeytown Lake NRA, Yosemite NP, Kings Canyon/Sequoia NP, and Santa Monica Mountains NRA all have pockets of beautiful color that are seen at various times during California's three-month fall color season.

Aug 25th - 11:11am | Kurt Repanshek

Not sure what you mean by "toxic," anonymous. Any specifics?

Aug 25th - 11:05am | Anonymous

while your doing your article on grand tetons how bout you check the health and welfare of the land and animals. thanks to dick cheney its toxic

Aug 25th - 11:00am | Anonymous

Guadalupe Mountains NP with Mckittrick Canyon is also a favorite. "During the Fall, McKittrick Canyon comes alive with color from the turning foliage of maple and hardwood trees. The bright colors stand in stark contrast to the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert." http://www.nps.gov/gumo/planyourvisit/mckittrick.htm

Aug 25th - 10:27am | RangerLady

Shenandoah, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Great Smoky Mountains when the leaves are changing. October is a great time to sit on the porch of Big Meadows Lodge sipping one of their peppermint schnapps hot chocolates and gazing out over the scenery.

Aug 25th - 09:54am | rdm24

Fall is a bad time for the Santa Monica Mountains NRA, because it tends to be on fire.

Aug 25th - 08:17am | Chris

Great Basin NP in Nevada is amazing when the aspens and maples turn.

Still No Sign of Missing Plane In Katmai National Park After Four Days of Searching

Aug 25th - 23:23pm | KarmelK

Many thanks for keeping us updated. I've been praying for the four guys and search every day for news. I don't know them personally, but for a half hour I felt a particle of the heartache their loved ones must feel. My daughter and son-in-law are park rangers at Katmai, and the first report I heard stated no names. We've only heard from them twice in 4 months, phone and email are restricted.

Aug 25th - 17:45pm | Anonymous

All of our thoughts and prayers are with Mason, his family and co-workers. Here in Jacksonville we are watching and waiting. Mason is a survivor and there are many who love him.

Aug 25th - 17:35pm | Hastings

I've known Mason since our FSU days and I am very grateful for this websites updated information. I just have to believe that he and the others will return to us with one incredible tale to tell. Keeping them all in my thoughts til their safe return.

Aug 25th - 17:18pm | Anonymous

Marco is a friend of my family...I am praying fo their return...my heart, prayers go out to all......

Aug 25th - 17:12pm | Anonymous

Mason is a friend of mine and I'm also grateful for the updates. Thank you to everyone involved with the search. We are praying for Mason and the others involved, their families and also the searchers. Stay strong guys. Much love.

Aug 25th - 17:09pm | Anonymous

I am a NPS employee duty-stationed in Colorado. I lived and worked in King Salmon, AK in 1995, and know how large and vast Katmai NP is. My thoughts and prayers are with the families.

Aug 25th - 17:01pm | Anonymous

Hello, Mason Mcleod is my cousin. We are all very worried and praying for all to return home safely. Thank you for the update as we are checking constantly for any news of what is happening there.

Becoming A Junior Ranger At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Aug 25th - 19:44pm | Anonymous

Was not familiar with the Junior Ranger program until this year and we think it is great. Two of our children are old enough to join, and they were very excited to participate in the program and to be recognized at the ranger-led campfire talks.

Fatal Fall from Angels Landing in Zion National Park

Aug 25th - 19:30pm | Anonymous

If a stumble can kill you then it is not a safe place for average hikers to be hiking. If the Park is unwilling to put in the necessary safeguards, then visitors should be encouraged to rope up. A compromise would be a cable that hikers can attach a prusik to.

Aug 25th - 15:39pm | Anonymous

I just returned from hiking Angels Landing yesterday 8-24-10. What an amazing experience. Before I get into that, I must say I have a respect for the woman who fell and extend condolences to the family. The shock and loss must have been heartrending.... HIke Details

Sheep Fire in Kings Canyon National Park Spreads Beyond 1,800 Acres

Aug 25th - 19:12pm | Anonymous

We left Kings Canyon on the 23rd and the smoke has cleared out for the time being. The parks did an awesome job of keeping visitors updated on the fire by placing signboards at several turnouts along the road, and two Fire Information rangers to handle questions.

Update: Missing Georgia Hiker Surfaces in Denali National Park and Preserve

Aug 25th - 18:59pm | Anonymous

It is great news! John's a great guy!

Aug 25th - 18:23pm | Connie Hopkins

GREAT news!!

Updated: NPCA Points Out Threats to Grand Canyon National Park in New Report

Aug 25th - 17:58pm | haunted hiker

Charity Navigator gives the NPCA an overall rating of 2 stars out of 4. The NPCA President Thomas C. Kiernan, a Dartmouth graduate, makes $318,000 a year. The NPCA website claims 155 employees. Administrative and fund raising expenses take up nearly 1/3 or the NPCA's yearly revenue. The organization reported an 8 million dollar deficit for 2009.

Aug 25th - 13:17pm | kevinnelson2

Overuse and over-commercialization are the greatest threats to most of our National Parks. And overflights represent the general abuse of nature and the experience of nature that the parks were established to protect in the first place. The previous commenter is wrong.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Ready to Remove "Experimental" Tag From Elk Herd

Aug 25th - 13:40pm | Brad

This is good news. It is exciting to have elk back in the mountains. I'm glad to see them succeed.

National Park Mystery Photo 26: Water on the Run

Aug 25th - 13:36pm | Kurt Repanshek

Congrats go out to Chris, who correctly identified the photo as coming from the spring at Alley Mill in Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Runner-up honors to two anonymous posters. Tomorrow we'll provide a larger photo and more details.

Aug 25th - 08:44am | Anonymous

This is the mill pond gate at the Alley Springs Mill in southern Missouri.

Aug 25th - 08:34am | Kurt Repanshek

We've had another correct answer, but we'll give you West Coast readers a bit more time to puzzle over this before identifying the shot...

Aug 25th - 08:31am | Anonymous

Ozark National Scenic Riverways?

Aug 25th - 08:16am | Kurt Repanshek

Uh-oh. While that "not even warm" comment wasn't intended as a hint, it apparently stirred something in Chris's mind, as he's figured it out. However, we're gonna hold off on revealing his answer so others can take a whack at figuring this one out.

Aug 25th - 08:13am | Chris

Is "not even warm" a clue? The color of the water reminds me of Alley Mill (and Spring) in Ozark National Scenic Riverways...?

National Parks Road Trip 2010: Across Wyoming

Aug 25th - 12:28pm | Caroll

It is a very interesting story. Road trip is all about surprises. Every place you plan to see there is something that will inspire you and catch your attention. And that is the beauty of it. For the whole duration of your road trip you will find yourself in love with all the beautiful scenery that you've seen.

Bears Lost Ironic Advocate in Jim Cole

Aug 25th - 11:07am | Anonymous

You can get a clear, accurate picture of Cole's conduct around bears in Tim Rubbert's book Hiking With Grizzlies. It's a disturbing picture. Cole relentlessly harassed bears for photographs--for decades. Without his damn bear spray, would Cole have had the cajones to harass grizzlies unmercifully? Again and again, Rubbert's book details Cole's wildly unethical conduct around bears.

Experts Have No Idea Why Grizzly Bears Rampaged Through Yellowstone Area Campground, Killing One

Aug 25th - 10:34am | RangerLady

I talked to my mother last night and they only have one photo of the cubs, but nothing else. I would be more than happy to pass on your e-mail to her when I talk to my mother again tonight. It's a shame that people have been baiting the bears there. That seems to be a constant problem at the Peaks and I had to deal with it quite often when I worked there.

Updated: Searchers Looking for Missing Plane With Park Service Employees Aboard at Katmai National Park and Preserve

Aug 25th - 10:22am | Brandon Cooper

I'm hoping this will end up being just another one of Neal's crazy adventure stories. From Yosemite to Hawaii to the Everglades to Alaska. He is a beast and I pray he, his bro and others are found soon!

Aug 25th - 09:02am | Josh Dripps

Neil and Seth were/are my neighbors in Indiana. We grew up next door to eachother. They are good people. We all pray for the safe return and pray for their famly.

Echo Bay Resort at Lake Mead NRA has a New Concessioner and a New Name

Aug 25th - 09:43am | Tony

We are paining a vacation boating trip at Lake Meed the part of September can I launch me 28 foot curser at Echo Bay Marina?

Support Journalism about National Parks!

National Parks Traveler is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Donate Now!

The Essential RVing Guide

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.

National Parks Traveler

Search