Exploring the Parks

Volunteering In A National Park

Looking to add a little spice to your life with an adventure that includes new friends, new skills, a new environment and, perhaps best of all, appreciation of the work you do? If this sounds appealing, it may be time to consider volunteering in one of America’s 433 national park units.

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By David and Kay Scott - September 5th, 2025

Footbathing And Flower Trekking In Northern Japan's National Parks

The sulfurous scent of boiled eggs hung in the forest air as Hell Valley hikers neatly arranged themselves along a wooden platform, kicked off their shoes and plunged their aching feet into the milky-blue water of Oyunuma Brook.

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By Jennifer Bain - September 4th, 2025

New Study Sheds More Light On Everglades Mangrove Recovery After Hurricane Irma

Mangrove forests in the Florida Everglades took up to four years to bounce back from Hurricane Irma, a new study shows.

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By NPT Staff - September 3rd, 2025

Transition Of Marine Life At Duck Harbor Breach In Cape Cod National Seashore

When you stand at the edge of the Duck Harbor parking lot in Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, Massachusetts, it may not be obvious why this quiet, sandy beach is called a “harbor.”

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By Kaitlyn Button, NPS - September 2nd, 2025

A Day In The Park: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is situated in the city of Vancouver along the Columbia River in Washington State, with a small separate unit in Oregon City, Oregon. This national historic site is a window into the Pacific Northwest frontier and its culture. It’s a great stop along the way to your planned destination and you could easily spend a day there.

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By Rebecca Latson - September 1st, 2025

Elk Bugling Programs At Wind Cave National Park

Rangers at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota will be leading programs throughout September and early October to listen for the bugle of the Rocky Mountain elk. The elk’s high-pitched whistle heralds the arrival of fall and the elk’s mating season.

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By Compiled from NPS releases - September 1st, 2025

Cracks In The 2018 Kīlauea Lava Delta: What Do They Mean?

Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption transformed the lower Puna District of the Island of Hawaiʻi, including its coastline, where 875 acres of land were added in a large lava delta. The area is still subject to sudden, dynamic changes, as evidenced by recent observations of new ground cracks in the lava delta near Pohoiki.

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By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory - August 30th, 2025

Photography In The National Parks: Mesa Verde Revisited

Back in 2012, Traveler contributing photographer Rebecca Latson visited Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado for the first time and later wrote about that trip for a 2013 Traveler article. Thirteen years later, she stopped off for a couple of days at this national park again.

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By Rebecca Latson - August 26th, 2025

Cascade Volcanoes Are So Much More Than Towering Peaks

Massive volcanoes dot the Cascade Range from British Columbia into Northern California, but what about the space in between the peaks? Volcanoes in those places aren’t unlike those found along the track of the Yellowstone hotspot in Idaho.

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By Yellowstone Volcano Observatory - August 26th, 2025

A Day In The Park: Cedar Breaks National Monument

Whether you are on your way to, or heading from, Bryce Canyon National Park, or you simply want to check out landscapes in nearby areas, spending all or part of a day at Cedar Breaks National Monument is worth the drive there. You’ll find few crowds, amazing views and geology, and, depending upon the time of year you visit, plenty of wildflowers.

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By Rebecca Latson - August 25th, 2025

INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Exploring the Parks

INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

FREE for iPhones and Android phones.