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Jan 5th - 13:13pm | mexico adventure

I would recommend a national park vacation for old people of families for camping but a real vacation means exploring new countries and cultures

Jan 3rd - 18:44pm | Donna

Hi, I just stumbled onto your site by accident. Great site!!! Since I've been a road tripper for the past several years, I've logged miles on my truck visiting many different National Parks, Monuments, etc. From the little I've seen so far, great going guys. I've bookmarked you so I'll be sure to be back. Good information, I love it. thanks.....

Death Valley's Bobcats Likely Lured In By Poor Food Handling at Inn

Jan 5th - 11:35am | Linda

You hear it all the time: "Don't feed wild animals!". They tend to come back again and again. Free food is an enticement for them. Also, with the advancement of new communities and new properties being built, there's less and less land for wildlife to live in. It's a shame that humans have become such greedy land-grabbers. We need more protected land for our country's wildlife.

Lynx, Long Sought in Yellowstone National Park, Is Caught on Film

Jan 4th - 22:25pm | jjjul1

You say-Things weren't always so bleak for lynx in Wyoming. During the winter of 1971-72 trappers came out of the Wyoming Range with 18 lynx-you call that not so bleak what the trappers did not kill the loggers did. This is why our earth with its natural wild life is disappearing is due to crap like this.

2007 Visitation Across National Park System Projected To Rise

Jan 4th - 08:47am | jsmacdonald

The 7,000 difference is only over 1992, the highest level to date. In recent years, unlike most of the park's history, visitation actually leveled off and even declined somewhat (after progressing upward for a long time.) Over last year, the rise in visitation was significant. In fact, it was 9.8%. Here are the last three years.

Jan 3rd - 18:54pm | repanshek

Good catch, anon. Not sure what I was thinking. Kurt

Jan 3rd - 18:46pm | Anonymous

"In fact, Yellowstone was so popular in 2007 that it set an attendance record, with 3,151,342 visitors, an increase of nearly 10 percent over 2006 levels and nearly 40,000 visitors above the previous record of 3,144,405 counted in 1992." Not to nitpick, but isn't that a difference of less than 7,000?

Assateague Island National Seashore Rangers Troll Internet For Big Catch

Jan 4th - 08:05am | Anonymous

She tried to blow it off on the site where she posted it. Later that day she posted that the fish "went back for a swim to grow up". Yeah after she got caught.

Jan 3rd - 20:17pm | bon bay

WOW big striper cop worried about one undersized fish when the big boats and gill netters rape the bay and ocean's .what a joke!

Jan 3rd - 18:58pm | Anonymous

she knew where to post it so she know shomething about the fish she just got caught

Jan 3rd - 18:38pm | Anonymous

by not knowing the law is stupid i think it is sad to brag about a fish that small. end of story

Jan 3rd - 17:53pm | Anonymous

Did anyone ever think the lady thought she was right, Agreed she broke the law and must pay the penalty but I don't think she could have been fool enough to brag, with a picture, if she thought she was in violation.

Jan 1st - 15:51pm | steve ,,m

great job should have fine her more

Jan 1st - 14:37pm | Anonymous

Way to go

Jan 1st - 07:12am | Anonymous

Stupid IS as Stupid Does!! would love to have seen the look on her face as the ranger pulled up.. Priceless!

Dec 31st - 21:17pm | Anonymous

HAHAHA!!! What an idiot...both for keeping the fish and posting the picture. What a moron.

Dec 31st - 12:30pm | Anonymous

Excellent work and thank you!

Dec 31st - 11:53am | jimmy

Way to go Officer!!! The stupidity of violators never ceases to amaze me. Kudos to the ranger for playing a hunch. Nice collar.

Dec 31st - 10:34am | Anonymous

Good work constable!

Groups Sue Cape Hatteras National Seashore Over ORV Traffic

Jan 3rd - 18:29pm | Donna

Well, I've been to Cape Hatteras and I didn't see what was up there in the picture, all those vehicles. But unlike those guys in the vehicles. I prefer to walk out to the beach, I don't particularly enjoy taking my 4x4 out on the beach as sand can be not so nice to my truck. But then that's just me.

Jan 1st - 14:33pm | Tom McCaffrey

I look forward to bringing my family with our ORV's and riding on the beach. We will observe all rules. Though some of our ORV's date 1985 they don't leak oil, they are maintained and licensed. To you Doom & Gloom folks, go swim out to some of those rocks you won't see any ORV's out there.

Is The National Park Service Protecting Its Heritage in Santa Fe?

Jan 3rd - 18:20pm | Anonymous

I live in Ohio. I have been to many of our National Parks, Monuments, etc. Why on earth would you want to close down a historic place. Do you not understand that this is a piece of our history? Do you not know what will happen if this is NOT kept up? Pretty soon, and we can say within the next 20/30 years, if not sooner.

Bobcats Attack Two at Death Valley National Park

Jan 2nd - 23:38pm | Ruth

Besides not commenting on what the woman was doing before her hands got scratched, the article failed to mention the resort employee's treatment of one cat. We were in Furnace Creek during one of the sitings that week. We witnessed twelve male employees surrounding a tree where a bobcat was and going three feet or so up to it with mace and spraying it.

Jan 2nd - 16:53pm | Anonymous

This posting should be titled "When French Fry Crazed Bobcats Strike!"

Jan 1st - 19:24pm | katrina

Wow, after Rangers and Fish & Game Officers found several resort employees feeding wildlife (probably including Bobcats), it would seem mgt. would step in and remind their staff that it's not right to invite wildlife in, that their life is in danger, and guests too! Remind everyone that feeding wildlife is just inviting serious problems!

Jan 1st - 09:50am | Kath

The article fails to mention how these individuals came to be attacked. In other words, with bites to the hands, was the woman feeding or attempting to feed the bobcat? I've seen bobcats in my area. They're no larger than a cocker spaniel and not aggressive.

Dec 31st - 19:33pm | Lynn Berk

Now there is a smart person. Too many times it's "Death by Stupid" at our national parks, although these two attacks don't fit in that category. I read a book called "Deaths At Yellowstone" that should really be called "Stupid Deaths at Yellowstone."

Dec 31st - 10:41am | mare

Encroaching is nothing new to hear about. I lived in Estes Park, just outside Rocky Mountain National

Resolutions and the National Parks: What Will You Do?

Jan 2nd - 14:04pm | Bob Janiskee

I resolve to spend more time in 2008 working as a volunteer at Congaree National Park. I also intend to recruit at least one more person for the Volunteers-in-Parks program.

Jan 1st - 19:39pm | katrina

I'm personally most concerned with snowmobiles in Yellowstone. My husband & I have visited several national parks, but have not been as deeply moved as we were upon visiting Yellowstone. Why allow the movement of snowmobiles through the park? For money? Can we not sustain enough revenue during the rest of the year to not allow this? Oh please...can we not let wildlife be for winter?

Giving a Name to Yosemite Area Peak for Longtime Ranger Carl Sharsmith.

Dec 30th - 19:04pm | Anonymous

I'm with Lone Hiker. I don't doubt he was a great man, but we should not be naming natural features after people. Name a ranger station or BC cabin for him, but not a peak. What will we do when we run out of things to name? Take his name off to put a more recent one on?

Dec 30th - 11:49am | Donnie Priest

While Dr. Sharsmith was definately a great and influential person for Yosemite, I believe that this choice of peaks should be looked at, with regard to its history. In naming a peak, the history of the mountain itself should be evaluated, as well as Dr. Sharsmith's direct relationship to this peak, and compare this with the contribution of others/groups.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Studying Interpretive Options for Moccasin Bend

Dec 30th - 14:27pm | Anonymous

Thanks Mookie and Chance for the information on the Trail of Tears. For some reason I was under the impression it was one major trail leading to Oklahoma.

Dec 30th - 13:15pm | jr_ranger

The Trail of Tears, as Mookie said, is more of a conglomeration of trails than anything else, not like the Appalachian Trail or Oregon Trail, which have one route. There are many different routes, and land and sea/river routes as well.

Dec 29th - 22:03pm | Mookie

There's not one actual trail, but generally the Native Americans were pushed from their lands in northern Georgia, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and northern Alabama, through Tennessee and Arkansas, into Oklahoma.

Dec 29th - 20:04pm | Anonymous

Chance, where does the "Trail of Tears" begin and end?

What Will 2008 Bring the National Park System?

Dec 30th - 08:56am | Linda

So, people that own land within park boundaries can do whatever they wish with that land, even build a resort? That doesn't seem right. Do you think that will actually come to fruition? And, yes, that photo is incredibly beautiful.

Dec 29th - 12:05pm | repanshek

Linda, regarding development inside parks, there are quite a number of privately owned parcels within borders of national parks. For instance, recently there was a case in Zion National Park when a parcel was put up for sale. The Park Service wanted it, but didn't have the funds to buy it. So it went to a California couple that, I think, is trying to develop a small resort.

Dec 29th - 11:04am | Anonymous

Kurt, nice looking photograph! What kind of camera do you use and what time of year was this picture taken? Great shot!

Dec 29th - 08:43am | Linda O'Neal

I'll go one step further than you, Kurt, about Mary Bomar. Since her eight predecessors have not increased snowmobile trails, I'd like to see Bomar resign her position. She obviously isn't thinking about the long-term protection of our park system. And, I have a question: How can land within park boundaries be threatened with new development?

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Dec 29th - 22:50pm | Stolifer

I read the article with great interest. I have heard for years about the deaths of a couple of students who climbed the dome in stormy weather with 7 other companions. Is this the July 25, 1985 occurrence? If anybody knows any more details about this I would appreciate it. I would like to know how the others involved have fared. Thanks

Groups Sue Park Service Over ORV Use in Big Cypress National Preserve

Dec 29th - 08:46am | Linda O'Neal

Sorry, Mookie, I meant ORV use. I've just got snowmobiles on my mind lately with all the talk about it. Swamp buggies in Alaska - well, you never know what might happen with global warming.

Dec 28th - 21:06pm | Anonymous

it really looks like from the photo that clear cutting is he big issue here not the trail

Dec 28th - 21:03pm | Anonymous

i 'm not with the shutting down of orv but limit it to clubs and club trail permit rides and then fine the entire club if rules are broken the club is fined or have a gunner from the state park system and by the way i want his or hers job. get real we spend moneys on a lot more trivial things in the park system and permits could offset cost

Dec 27th - 08:54am | Mookie

Snowmobiles in Florida? What's next, swamp buggies in Alaska?

Park History: National Parks Built Around Caves and Caverns

Dec 28th - 21:11pm | Chris Harbin

Mammoth Cave is in south-central Kentucky, near Bowling Green. Also, it is a National Park - I don't recall any lava tubes.

Park Service OKs Monetary Settlement On Great Smoky Mountains National Park's North Shore Road

Dec 28th - 20:00pm | p.scott rattermann

Better late than never?

Top 10 Most Visited National Parks

Dec 27th - 12:35pm | Frank N

Grand Teton is a tricky one. It is very easy to visit without being counted. Unless you drive the "inner road" you don't even pass through an entrance station. You can even camp at Gros Ventre (the park's largest campground) without going through a gate.

Park History: Shenandoah National Park

Dec 27th - 08:50am | Mookie

Hoover's requirement that it be above 2,500 feet was due to the fact that (at that time) mosquitoes could not live above that altitude. Having spent many nights in Shenandoah above 2,500 feet, I can tell you that is no longer the case, and I'd guess you have to get above at least 3,000 feet to be 100% out of the mosquito's wrath.

White House Holiday Ornament

Dec 27th - 08:44am | Mookie

Kurt/Jeremy: Happy Holidays, and thanks for all you do keep the latest NPS news and discussion flowing. This site must take up a huge amount of your time, and I am very grateful you do it. I wanted to pass along an idea, which is to ask folks to post their New Years Resolutions as it pertains to the NPS.

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.