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4-Year-old Dies in Fall off South Rim of Grand Canyon

Apr 5th - 13:03pm | Michael

C'mon people! Of course the Grand Canyon is Dangerous. This is NOT Disney Land! Its a Mile Deep hole in the Ground. But, don't let that ruin your excitement for going there. If you ever thought that the Grand Canyon or any canyon or wilderness area wasn't a potentially dangerous place, then it is good that you finally realized that.

What Do You Think About Sightseeing Tours Circling Mount Rainier National Park?

Apr 5th - 11:56am | Random Walker

Unlike the "DisneyWorld" atmosphere of Grand Canyon, Crater Lake or Grand Teton National Parks, 97% of Mount Rainier National Park is designated Wilderness. Which also happens to border on the Glacier View, Clearwater, Norse Peak, William O Douglas and Tatoosh Wilderness's.

Apr 5th - 11:00am | Valerie

When hiking in the back country in Glacier, I find the helicopter flights very intrusive. I would think the same would hold true to Mt. Rainier. You want to hike to find solitude. Hiking miles into the back country only to be buzzed by a helicopter would truly be a shame.

Apr 5th - 09:00am | Wendy Andrews

As an regular visitor and advocate of this country's national parks, it is with dismay that another short term idea is presented for revenue and profit for the NPS.

National Park Service Renews Partnership With Mountain Bike Community

Apr 5th - 10:52am | Mark E

What an odd notion -- unfettered bicycles roaming free in national parks. Not only grammatically suspect but plainly not what the NPS/IMBA partnership has achieved. As the IMBA press release makes explicitly clear, there are now dozens of successful examples of well-planned mountain bike venues in national parks.

Apr 4th - 17:11pm | toothdoctor

Mike---Thank you for pointing out the Federal Court verdict at http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtb10. Quite a long read, but very informative. But, after having read it, I find myself confused. Why is there a new memorandum of understanding to explore cycling opportunities in the National Park System? Can someone explain this to me?

Apr 4th - 14:41pm | Zebulon

FYI, MVD is a well known mountain bike hater from the San Francisco bay area who has been spreading the same misinformation for the last 20 years. A quick look at his website will give you a good overview of the character. :) For those interested, there is a fun Mike Vandeman FAQ floating around the web.

Apr 4th - 03:01am | Mike Vandeman

How about telling the TRUTH, for a change? A mountain biker does NOT experience the park, any more than the driver of a motor vehicle experiences the park. If you don't give 100% of your attention to controlling the bike, you will crash! Permissing bikes on trails benefits ONLY mountain bikers, and harms the wildlife and other trail users. So where's the net benefit? There ISN'T any!

Apr 3rd - 19:40pm | Zebulon

A step in the right direction. Cycling opportunities at Point Reyes are still a joke though, but then again, it's in the heart of Marin, a hotbed of bike haters.

Summering in Yellowstone National Park: The Logistics

Apr 5th - 10:39am | y_p_w

YNPGal: YPW,

Apr 5th - 07:35am | YNPGal

YPW,

Apr 5th - 07:02am | Anonymous

Old Faithful Inn is our favorite place place to stay in the park (or anywhere else, for that matter), but it is rather far from some sections in the park. On our last visit, we stayed two nights at Old Faithful and two nights in a cabin at Mammoth. This worked out really well and cut down on the amount of driving we had to do.

Apr 4th - 13:43pm | Bogator

My wife and I visited Yellowstone in September, 2008, staying at the Old Faithful Inn and the Yellowstone Hotel. Everything that Carl said about the Beartooth Highway is right on and more so. It truly is a spectacular drive. We spent the night in Red Lodge (a delightful little town) and drove through the pass the next morning.

Apr 4th - 12:11pm | y_p_w

It's not that far to drive if you pick a central location. My original plan on my family trip was to stay at one of the Canyon cabins for 4-5 days. I personally prefer a single location compared to moving around all the stuff in the car. Canyon is actually pretty much within 50 miles of major sites in Yellowstone.

Apr 4th - 11:44am | Kurt Repanshek

Carl,

Apr 4th - 07:16am | Connie Hopkins

I agree, West Yellowstone is one of our favorite gateway towns as well. On our recent Christmas trip we stayed there awaiting to board our snowcoach the next morning to enter the Park. They have a wonderful IMAX theatre there, with interesting movies like, ALASKA, BEARS, LEWIS & CLARK, YELLOWSTONE, etc.

Apr 4th - 06:16am | Carl Robinson

2 tips I would add, buy a National Geographic road guide. Don't wait until you get there either. Buy it now and check out what is at every turn-out ahead of time. This way you won't miss the ones you are interested in and not waste time at the ones you aren't. There are several one way side roads, they are all worth driving on if you have a car and a little extra time. No RV's allowed.

National Park Mystery Photo 20 Revealed: A Door Knob At Scotty's Castle In Death Valley National Park

Apr 5th - 10:28am | Kurt Repanshek

Sorry former Scotty's Ranger, we aim for the Mystery Photos to be challenging. If they're too easy they're solved five minutes after they're posted and others don't always get a chance to showoff their knowledge of national park trivia.

Apr 5th - 10:15am | Former Scotty's...

I agree that it was unfair to say it wasn't Scotty's Castle - I mean, how specific do you want people to be? I would have said Scotty's Castle was right, and I should know what is in there pretty well, since I worked there for 3 years.

Are National Park Brochures Beginning to Rely on the Internet For Depth?

Apr 5th - 10:19am | Kurt Repanshek

>>when there's less text, people are more likely to read it.<< Ah, yes, the USA Today effect on America's attention span...sigh.

Apr 5th - 10:05am | A Ranger (at an...

What is obvious when you look at the new and old brochures side by side is that the text is bigger - this is a new standard across the park service for the brochures, which is slowly being rolled out park by park when they get revised. The reason is that it makes the brochure easier to read, especially for people with bad eyesight.

Photo-shopped or Actual?

Apr 5th - 09:22am | Connie Hopkins

We lived in Trinidad, CO for 3 years and The Great Sand Dunes (I recognized it immediately!) was a favorite spot of ours. The kids always enjoyed Medano Creek and the surges in water! We hiked to the top numerous times enjoying not only the views but our accomplishment. I have never seen an elk in the park, deer have always been the norm.

Voyageuers National Park Officials Mulling Reservation and Fee System for Campsites

Apr 5th - 08:29am | Mike Ward

Thank you for your question. You may walk into any visitor center and be assisted in reserving sites. We will not refuse this as we are a service agency. We are discouraging it for several reasons. One, you may not get a site by walking in. They may all be reserved.

Creature Feature: The American Crocodile is Florida’s Comeback Kid

Apr 5th - 01:57am | Reptiles Alive

What a great article on American Crocs. I especially like the alligator croc comparison. Sans counting the teeth of course, not recommended:)

Add Zion National Park to the List Of Parks With Road Construction Nightmares Planned

Apr 4th - 23:15pm | Anonymous

The repairs are needed. The road is sagging and rocks are falling. This area is loose soil and continues to sag. It's a wonder it is there at all.

Next Time You're In Washington, Stop By the Old Stone House

Apr 3rd - 18:30pm | NPSfan

I too lived in the DC area for quite a few years, and visited the Old Stone House often. On the rare occasions that ranger led tours were offered, they were never in costume. Pardon my assumption that is still the case.

Apr 3rd - 10:30am | Rebecca Johnson

@NPSfan

Apr 2nd - 17:15pm | NPSfan

A couple of corrections are in order. Eastern National, the cooperating association for the National Capital Region, operates the store, and thanks to the EN presence the building is actually open to the public seven days a week. Also, I think it's been quite a few years since anyone has done costumed interpretation.

Apr 2nd - 07:04am | Anonymous

I walked right by this place on Wednesday. Thanks for the information. Next time, I'll stop in and take a peek.

Apr 2nd - 05:20am | Raoul Pop

We visited the Old Stone House in August of 2006, and it was certainly an interesting experience. We posted our photos here.

Plan An Earth Day Visit To Olympic National Park to Help Clean Up the Park

Apr 3rd - 11:57am | tahoma

Visitors not staying at the above lodges can still participate in this annual effort to help clean up the entire Washington coast. I believe a few spots are still available for the Olympic wilderness beaches further north: http://www.coastsavers.org/

National Park Service, Alaska Game Officials Publicly Settle Differences Over Wolf Killings

Apr 3rd - 11:51am | Jim Bob

I find it amazing that the state of Alaska doesn't just fess up to their mistake - in their zeal to kill wolves, they shot collared NPS wolves knowing full well that they were most likely the very research wolves they said they would not shoot. Instead they cajoled the Park Service into this story about lost paperwork. Come on.

Creature Feature: The Banana Slug is Living Proof that a Slimy Little Gastropod Mollusk Can be Loaded with Charisma

Apr 2nd - 17:32pm | Kurt Repanshek

Geez, guys, at least you could have left us with a song......like this one:

Apr 2nd - 17:27pm | Ahem, Banana Sl...

We are delighted that you have recognized and publicized our charisma. Thank you, thank you! ... Seriously, though, thanks for your great fun facts on our namesake, the banana slug. Keep up your great blog.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement on ORV Use at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Released

Apr 2nd - 14:52pm | Anonymous

>Yes/no? I will say I am on the side of the ORVs Got it, I know Dapster does not give anyone that does not believe in his agenda any slack whatsoever, so that clears it up for me.

"Upper Lot" At Ridge Trailhead on Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park To Be Permanently Closed

Apr 2nd - 13:36pm | Anonymous

In response to the anonymous response from 3/17: ... If our elders and young can't manage the shallow grade/paved hike from the lower parking lot to the trailhead, they should never, ever be attempting to hike Old Rag itself. Americans (well, in fact, anyone) can continue to enjoy OR for what it is -- a beautiful and exciting adventure, albeit from a more manageable parking lot.

Collapse of "Wall Arch" Proves Gravity Does Work at Arches National Park

Apr 2nd - 11:03am | Anonymous

We were in the Canyonlands this week and we saw a couple pose for a picture at the top of this bridge. The mom was holding twin toddlers!!!!! There is nothing below that bridge but air and the bottom of the canyon. I was amazed at the stupidity of such a move!

Dining At The Parks: Jalepeno Cheese Cake from the Furance Creek Inn in Death Valley National Park

Apr 2nd - 07:06am | Death Valley is...

Death Valley is an amazing National Park - there is no where in the country which I have been that looks like this moonscape. This is another way to show how unique of a place this really is!

"Wall Street" In Bryce Canyon National Park Closed By Rockfalls

Apr 2nd - 05:13am | dennis g.

That's really a shame, but it's nature at work. And who knows, after things settle down it may well prove to be even more photographic. I'm just glad I have all of my pictures to remind me of one of the nicest 'walks' I've ever taken.

Reader Participation Day Bonus Survey: What Do You Think Of The President's Off-Shore Drilling Plan?

Apr 1st - 22:35pm | Anonymous

Please, let's look at alternative energy sources. How about wind, wave, solar....before drilling!

Apr 1st - 21:23pm | RLMiller

It's a horrible idea for political, policy, and moral reasons.

Apr 1st - 19:13pm | MIN

Not a phony. Just smart enough to realize that it is a bad idea to rely on others for our oil, that while we grow our alternatives, oil will still be needed, and that when it comes to social and environmental impacts drilling platforms out at sea appear, and in many ways are, minimal.

Reader Participation Day: Which National Park Are You Heading to This Year?

Apr 1st - 22:01pm | Jason Daniel Brown

I'll be moving to Los Angeles in August/September. I'm looking forward to hitting up Joshua Tree and Death Valley ASAP--hopefully this year. Will be great to be so close to Sequoia/Kings Canyon and Yosemite too!

Apr 1st - 19:26pm | Sharlene

Definitely Sequoia/Kings Canyon. Hopefully Olympic. Probably Joshua Tree. And many more possiblities incluiding Zion come fall.

Commemorative Quarter Places Old Faithful Geyser, Bison On a Quarter

Apr 1st - 21:41pm | Jason Daniel Brown

I'm excited to to collect all of these. I have a cardboard book I got at Barnes & Noble to collect them all in. Apparently the dates changed though, because I bought the book in December but it showed that the first quarters were to already be out by now.

Pruning the Parks: Platt National Park (1906-1976)

Apr 1st - 20:43pm | Jason Daniel Brown

Thanks for your comment, Bruce. You beat me to it. Mr. Janiskee's account shows a complete bias against the "flyover states" and our particular brand of scenery and quite frankly, I'm offended by it, especially the part you pointed out regarding the Chickasaws' deeding of the land.

Botanists At Grand Canyon National Park Working to Bring Plant Back from the Brink

Apr 1st - 18:42pm | Dad/Douglas

Hi Red, Congratulations on your work, it is especially gratifying to me that your hard work, (at ASU) is paying off and that you are involved in something that is building on something for the future. Kuddo's kiddo...Love, Da

By the Numbers: Crater Lake National Park

Apr 1st - 16:41pm | Ron Mastrogiuseppe

Owen, The Crater Lake Institute still has copies Why Is Crater Lake So Blue ? (depression blue ! not Lake Transparency)) from the first printing: Price approx: $18 incl. shipping PO Box 2, Crater Lake, OR. 97604

Though Revered As America's Iconic Long-Distance Trail, the Appalachian Trail Could Use Some Help

Apr 1st - 16:31pm | Kurt Repanshek

Jeff, Don't blame the messenger. The comment pertaining to mountain bikes was included in NPCA's report, it was not my observation. That said, I'm not familiar with Mr. Marion's study. Perhaps you could provide a link to it.

Apr 1st - 16:11pm | Jeff

As someone who maintains multi-use trail networks in NJ, I can appreciate the challenge that the AT trail must present. Its a monumental task due to its shear size and complexity due to the associated groups being responsible for sections throughout. That said I don't understand your statement:

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