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Is It "Elitist" To Try to Visit All 58 National Parks?

Aug 20th - 14:00pm | Alan S.

Having enjoyed most of the National Parks and Monuments along with numerous State, County and Local remarkable, historical and natural wonders I have yet to purchase some book that is meant to defined my experiences to a single journal.

District Court Upholds Designation of Critical Winter Habitat for Piping Plovers Along Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Aug 20th - 12:00pm | Ron Saunders

Since it seems agreed "all of us own it", I assumed that included me. "Some of you think you own the place", Kinda called for the response. That may just be the most important factor that is missing in the entire dispute. Environmentalists have a hard time seeing any of this as a personal issue.

Aug 20th - 10:18am | SS1

Annon,

Aug 19th - 21:46pm | Anonymous

Ron, first of all thank you for your service. It doesn't entitle you to any greater say on our national seashore than anyone else, but I appreciate it. Must be hard to reach retirement and not be able to do what you want when you want it. Lots of us feel that way. I don't take offense. I was simply explaining the way it is and the changes that are coming.

Aug 19th - 20:46pm | cathy

Ron,

Aug 19th - 20:03pm | Ron Saunders

To Anonymous

Aug 19th - 15:13pm | Anonymous

Ron, None of the Park Service's proposals for the ORV plan ban ORVs. At no point during the negotiated rulemaking process did any of the environmental groups advocate that. What they did advocate was a reasonable balance that protects the wildlife and natural resources of the park, which, like it or not, is the park's first responsibility.

Aug 19th - 11:54am | Ron Saunders

Hey Kurt,

Aug 19th - 11:48am | SS1

“those who rely on off-road vehicles to enjoy the national seashore and fish from its shores”

August 20-21 Marks 100th Anniversary of the "Big Blowup"

Aug 20th - 11:46am | ecbuck

For a great read about the "Big Blow Up" and the history of the Forest Service get "The Big Burn" by Timothy Egan.

Here's a Yellowstone Bear Story: Grizzly Sow Has Quads!

Aug 20th - 11:24am | glasse

They look great. Bears are beautiful animals, thanks for showing the videos.

Aug 20th - 09:36am | Dave Crowl

I had to watch all the videos. Thanks for sharing the story.

Aug 20th - 08:36am | Connie Hopkins

She is beautiful, what magnificent creatures! I hope that all 4 grow up, what are their chances?

Wolverine Sightings Growing in Rocky Mountain National Park

Aug 20th - 10:58am | Ray Rafiti

This does look like a muddy badger. One of the photos I captured last summer can be found on my site (www.rayrafiti.com--->galleries--->small mammals).

Sky-High Ginseng Prices Boost Illegal Harvest in Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Aug 20th - 08:45am | Anonymous

i have been digging wild seng in western north carolina for a few years now and have had really good luck with it. last year i fetched a pound, only dug when i wasent at work or a day off. the economy crashed and now everyone is digging it. this year i have gotten 4 pounds now, dry. I have dug it in town limits....all of it.

Join Yosemite Conservancy and Get a Sweet Deal On High Country Camps in Yosemite National Park

Aug 20th - 08:43am | Kurt Repanshek

No idea if Guacamole is on the menu, Tahoma....;-)

Aug 20th - 08:40am | tahoma

$153/night?? Holy Guacamole!

National Park Road Trip 2010: Return to the Beginning

Aug 20th - 00:58am | Anonymous

Each gallon of gasoline burned contributes 19.6 pounds of CO2 to the atmosphere. The national average MPG for a passenger car is about 25 mpg, which means you generated about 6,272 pounds of CO2 on your trip. My question is: What, if anything, are you doing to offset your carbon pollution from your pleasure trip?

Cape Cod National Seashore to Celebrate Summer With Free Concert, "The Shore Thing"

Aug 20th - 00:24am | Anonymous

Why on a Tuesday and not on the weekend?

Spring in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks: The Logistics

Aug 19th - 19:02pm | Angelina

I just made a trip to Arches and Canyonlands and despite the HEAT the parks were so beautiful. I'm so glad I hiked to Delicate Arch at sunset. Everyone should visit these parks.

Guides Hired For Elk Culling Operations in Theodore Roosevelt National Park Will Be Well-Paid

Aug 19th - 11:16am | RangerLady

If only I had the heart to shoot animals. Any idea what's going to be done with the meat? I'm hoping that it'll be sent to homeless shelters. If not, I know of a certain park ranger at Capitol Reef that would love some elk meat (me!)

Aug 19th - 09:09am | Anonymous

After working elk jams in Yellowstone all summer this looks like enticing. :)

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

Aug 19th - 11:12am | RangerLady

I will call my parents tonight and ask. If so, I will be more than happy to send you a copy.

Aug 18th - 16:39pm | Kurt Repanshek

That's quite the story, RangerLady. I don't suppose anyone had a camera handy and could share a photo?

Aug 18th - 16:35pm | RangerLady

Just the other day there was an attempted attack on the Blue Ridge Parkway at peaks of Otter. A male bear tried to attack 3 young cubs and momma came to the rescue. Her and the male bear fought for quite awhile before she won and chased him off. But she was so riled up that she then turned on 3 joggers that were coming by and ran them down.

Aug 18th - 15:38pm | justinh

corv78, Nothing here seems to suggest that more bears means more aggressive bears.

Aug 18th - 14:51pm | corv78

I agree, Linda S., this year seems to be a bad bear year. Also, lots of Grizzly sows are having 3 cub litters, which is rare. Bear populations are increasing.

Aug 18th - 12:49pm | Connie Hopkins

Your bear encounter reinforces our decision to keep bear spray on us even in our tent overnight. While we were in Glacier last month, camped in the Two Medicine area, I was awakened at dawn by something moving around in our campsite. I unzipped the window of our tent and saw that our visitor was a moose!

Aug 18th - 12:40pm | Linda S

I was in Glacier National Park when this happened. There were 3-4 grizzly encounters at Glacier that week as well. All encounters were "maced" by the campers, but the campers were not hurt by the bears. My friend and I were hiking the trail at Glacier and came within 100 yards of a black bear. It crossed in front of us, did not look at us, but continued down the path.

Aug 18th - 10:43am | Anonymous

My husband and I just returned from a 5 week motorcycle trip which included tent camping in Grand Teton Nat'l Park. There are numerous warning signs posted everywhere and bear boxes for storage. We stores everything in our bear box during our three day stay. The ranger indicated that as long as we follow the suggestions that we'd be fine.

PEER Complains About Plant Collecting In National Parks, NPS Says It's Proposing Regulatory Changes

Aug 19th - 11:10am | tomp

Ike-- I'm not sure PEER is needed to cast a spotlight on fishing in National parks.

Aug 19th - 00:31am | ike

I always found it strange that plant collection is (usually) prohibited in national parks while fishing is permitted, even encouraged. In most parks I can, within state and federal law, catch and retain a fish, but if I pick a fiddle head...

Aug 18th - 16:26pm | RangerLady

The only collecting I know of is for ceremonial purposes, not for commercial sales. In that case I see nothing wrong with it. We kicked them out of their native lands for the creation of our parks, why not allow them back in to collect from sacred areas? The Hopi and other pueblo nations collect juniper branches in Mesa Verde for their dances and in turn share those dances with the visitors.

Aug 18th - 15:51pm | tomp

Bruce-- To what extent is there overlap between the species collected by Native Americans and the species commercially poached or threatened & endangered species?

Lecture Series Explores The Climatic Changes Confronting Grand Teton National Park

Aug 18th - 23:37pm | Attraction in A...

Grand Teton is a beautiful place and a very nice outing attraction. We stayed in the park and loved the views, the hikes and the abundant wildlife. We saw an ENTIRE wolf pack in the Teton National Forest. Bears are present near trails around North Jenny Lake. Ride the ferry from South Jenny Lake across the lake and take the hike to Inspiration Point. The hike is rocky but doable.

Travel Delays Up to 1 Hour Possible in Sequoia National Park

Aug 18th - 23:32pm | y_p_w

They've been doing one-way traffic controls for several years while they're repairing the road. The area isn't exactly ideal for heavy equipment, and construction seems to be slow. I was stuck there for about 45 minutes a few years ago.

Aug 18th - 21:52pm | Sharlene

Thanks for the info. We are heading up there this weekend!

Appellate Court Says National Park Service Violated First Amendent By Requiring Permits for Free Speech

Aug 18th - 22:25pm | bridget

I'm relieved by this ruling! You should have seen what the National Park Service rangers did a few weeks ago at the MLK Center in Atlanta. They clearly violated the free speech rights of Alveda King, MLK's niece, and other pro-lifers who had permission to conduct a prayer service at MLK's grave. See articles and video below.

Two Bears -- A Grizzly and a Black Bear -- Found Dead in Yellowstone National Park

Aug 18th - 20:57pm | y_p_w

Connie Hopkins:

Aug 18th - 19:48pm | Connie Hopkins

As frequent visitors to Yellowstone as well as other Parks, we've witnessed that speeding is a real problem! There are times that even the posted 45 MPH seems too fast for certain areas. Even doing the speed limit, we have drivers riding on our bumper! We use the turn outs and let them pass and it's obvious that they are disobeying the speed limit.

Reader Participation Day: What's Your Favorite Season in the National Parks?

Aug 18th - 19:04pm | Barky

Autumn, definitely autumn.

Aug 18th - 15:22pm | Kathryn

Yosemite in late winter/early spring! The waterfulls are so full and the roar of the run-off is almost deafening; the red-bud is in full bloom, so magical! I'm with Rick B- anytime no one else is there is a great time.

Aug 18th - 12:44pm | Anonymous

I love to travel in the fall. The weather is cooler, the elk are bugling, the leaves are changing and the crowds non-existent in some parks. One of my favorite memories is traveling to Yellowstone with my husband in October and being the only people at Tower Falls. Very peaceful!

Aug 18th - 10:40am | Rick B.

It varies a bit, but generally my favorite season is whatever season the majority of other tourists avoid. I like to avoid crowds and don't really mind lousy weather.

National Park Mystery Plant 11: My Cup Runneth Over

Aug 18th - 16:15pm | tomp

Go, RangerLady, Go! Beat those easterners. And, it's primarily an Eastern species. Quercus lyrata is common in Bob's beloved Congaree NP, and doesn't get west of East Texas: http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?keywordquery=Quercus+lyrata

Aug 18th - 13:54pm | RangerLady

Sorry! My competitive nature forced me to try and beat the eastern time zone folks!

Aug 18th - 13:43pm | Kurt Repanshek

RangerLady, congrats on your correct guess. Not so quick next time, OK;-) For those unfamiliar with the Overcup Oak, check in tomorrow for the "rest of the story."

Mammoth Cave National Park To Offer Free Cave Tour on August 25

Aug 18th - 14:34pm | Matt W

I was able to do the Historic Tour and the New Entrance Tour last week and highly recommend both. The cool breeze blowing out of the main entrance was quite refreshing in the hot weather we are having. These are also good tours for kids as they are not too long and not physically demanding.

Aug 18th - 13:03pm | Michael

I was at Mammoth Cave last weekend, and I took the New Entrance Tour. It was awesome! I highly recommend going to Mammoth Cave this weekend if you can make it to the free tour!!!

Cedar Breaks National Monument Approaching 77th Birthday

Aug 18th - 11:17am | Bogator

In 2007, my wife and I were traveling from Bryce Canyon NP to Zion NP. Since the trip did not take an entire day, I went looking for something else to see on the way and I found this NM. Unfortunately, it was the middle of the day, so the colors were not quite as brilliant they would be either early in the day or later on; but they were still quite beautiful and vibrant.

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.