Musings From the Parks

Musings From The Florida Reef Tract

BISCAYNE NATIONAL Park, Florida — The view of a sampling of the Florida Reef Tract through my face mask was disturbing: No forests of staghorn or elkhorn corals, no schools of fish darting about, no black spiny urchins, no colorful riots of sponges.

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By Kurt Repanshek - May 4th, 2026

Musings About The Parks: Are Crowds Damaging The Park Brand?

Congressional hearings often are about as interesting as the proverbial paint drying on walls, but on Tuesday the question of overcrowding in the National Park System will be dissected by a House subcommittee and the discussion could prove illuminating at times.

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December 6th, 2022

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Musings From The Parks: Navigating National, Wild, Recreational, And Scenic Rivers

There are relatively few rivers and streams across the country designated as either "national," "wild and scenic," or "recreational," and so it seems to reason they should be held to a higher environmental standard than their peers. But when you look at those rivers, you'll see a range of regulations when it comes to how big of an engine can be placed on a boat plying its waters.

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January 19th, 2022

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Musings From The Parks: Sustainable Parks, Fee-Free Days, Bureaucracy

Just before 2021 closed for business, the National Park Service announced the entrance-fee-free days for 2022. Oddly missing was August 25, also known as Founders Day for the National Park Service.

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January 3rd, 2022

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Musings From The Parks: "Lake Culture" At Lake Mead National Recreation Area

There is a certain "culture" that helps define Lake Mead National Recreation Area, one that is clinging to this manmade oasis in the desert that climate change is shrinking and threatening its purposeful existence.

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June 11th, 2021

Musings From The Parks: Day After The Election Edition

While it's still a bit early to declare the presidential election and all the legal wranglings done and behind us, it's not too early to think about what a Biden administration might do on the environmental and National Park System fronts.

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November 5th, 2020

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Musings About The Parks: A New Acting Director, Confederate Statues, Cape Cod ORVs

Margaret Everson's introduction to the National Park Service, an attempt to rid the National Park System of Confederate statues, and a desire to have more off-road access at Cape Cod National Seashore are among the issues you might have missed last week.

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August 16th, 2020

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Musings About The Parks: Fleeing Bears, Secret Salmon Streams, Crater Lake Crazies

There never is a shortage of interesting news and tidbits flowing from the National Park System. Take, for instance, what happened at Crater Lake National Park the other day...

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August 10th, 2020

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Traveler's View: Waiting On The Parks...

Various musings while waiting for the coronavirus pandemic to become a thing of the past and the National Park System to completely open and get back to normal...

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April 14th, 2020

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Musings From The Parks: About Those Visitation Numbers...

Another year of estimated visitation numbers has been released by the National Park Service. As unreliable, unhelpful, and unsustainable as the numbers are, the head counts should be tossed aside.

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March 5th, 2020

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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.

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The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Musings From the Parks

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