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

Aug 20th - 00:17am | Amie

When I visited the Grand Canyon with two children, 8 and 5 years old we were very cautious. out of an over abundance of caution I put my 5 year old on a backpack leash and my spouse held my older sons hand. We had so many people, including other families, making fun of us having a backpack leash for our younger son.

Op-Ed | Time For Mount Rainier To Institute A Timed-Entry System?

Aug 19th - 09:43am | Amarillobymorning

You put your finger on the real problem when you addressed the (mis)behavior of so many park visitors. Timed entry can spread out the crowds, but can't fix the "Tourons" who think it's fine to tramp wherever they like, leave trash, harass wildlife and generally act like fools. I don't know if a media blitz on park etiquette would be productive; are such people even capable of learning? 

Blue Ridge Parkway Campground Closing Early Due To Staffing Shortage

Aug 17th - 19:47pm | Charles Jamison

Not only are the two fore mentioned comments spot on, some of the higher paid positioned employees need to get off there you know what and start helping to close some of those gap.

Aug 17th - 09:30am | Loui

The NPS, like many low-pay employers, is learning that in the modern age you can no longer treat employees poorly with long hiring processes, short notice, inadequate housing, and various other empty promises (like we can cut your season at any time for any reason), and expect to attract and/or retain quality people.  

Aug 17th - 08:49am | CS

In some ways I am unsurprised. I've been in the area for 2 1/2 years and have ardently tried to volunteer in that specific area of the Blue Ridge Parkway to no avail but one cleanup at Peaks of Otter. There's some outreach coordinator that replies back excited, but never any follow-up of opportunities.

USFWS Agrees To Conduct Status Review On Pinyon Jay

Aug 17th - 11:40am | Mike Painter

Good news!

Rush To The Outdoors Has Challenged Recreation.Gov

Aug 15th - 17:11pm | Robert Bernardini

The frustration with the Rec.gov is real and until improvements in system fairness happens, the NPS will continue to bear the perception of incompetence.   The NPS' stated mission is to make the parks available to the citizens of the US and visitors.  Of course there's a balance to be maintained: to make the parks available while providing the natural experience visitors expect. 

Traveler's View: E-Bikes And Safety Concerns

Aug 15th - 16:43pm | Sally House

E bikes allow seniors and others accessibiltiy.  Education and rules regarding acceptable trail use will solve alot.  Our parks are for the use of all.

Aug 15th - 14:41pm | Jessica

The agency's decision to dismiss and exclude impacts to Wilderness from analysis in the proposed PEA reflects the agency's legal obligations and poor and/or limited understanding of how and where its resources and visitors are actually affected by its policies.

Aug 14th - 17:28pm | Mick

I have ridden (on a human powered bike) the bike paths at Zion, Grand Canyon, Golden Gate NRA, Acadia, and extensively at Yosemite. The biggest thing that I notice when riding my bike and interacting with people on e-bikes is the large number of the e-bike users that ignore basic biking etiquette.

Aug 14th - 15:04pm | ccg

I just read your article and all the negative things you pointed out about E bikes can be done on many conventional and mountain bikes. So if you're using that as a reason to restrict E bikes and/or ban you bikes, I don't understand why all bikes would not be banned. The national parks belong to everyone and shouldn't make every effort possible to include all users recreational desires.

Aug 14th - 08:49am | Jim Kenney

E-bikes are a blessing for seniors and allows them to enjoy longer and more difficule rides than they could on a typical bike.  But Class 1 e-bikes should be the only class allowed in parks.  It is the best comprise, it allows for e-bike usage but limits to e-bikes with a top speed of 20 miles per hour with an electric motor that works only when the rider is pedaling - no throttle.  

Utah Appeals District Court's Ruling On National Monument Boundaries

Aug 15th - 15:26pm | Nick

Good point Kyle. this Supreme Court doesnt give a toss for precedent. However,John Roberts is clearly on his own in regards to narrowing the scope of the Antiquities Act. Thats because none of the other 8 joined him in his griping about the Northeastern Canyons and Seamounts marine monument.

Aug 15th - 14:34pm | Kyle

Not so fast on the precedent argument. This current Supreme Court doesn't care or regard what is precedent (ie Roe v Wade, Affirmative Action, etc). But they may be unwilling to overturn this case because it is based on congressional legislation rather than an executive order or judicial decision.

Aug 15th - 13:08pm | Nick

They can appeal all they like, but there's no chance that they will get this decision overturned. Why? Simple. Binding Supreme Court precedent. Large monuments were settled as valid under the Antiquities Act in 1920.

National Park Service Mulling Three Options For Managing Yellowstone Bison

Aug 13th - 09:35am | Loui

I don't think there's any data to support the idea that 7K bison instead of 5K bison would materially affect visitation.

Judge Chastises Fish And Wildlife Service For Ignoring Wolf Recovery Plan

Aug 11th - 17:48pm | Mike Painter

Great news!

Three Days In Redwood National And State Parks

Aug 9th - 19:24pm | y_p_w

I finally made a visit to Redwood National and State Parks, which has always been on my bucket list.  I have lived in Califonria nearly all my life and have gone to the big national parks, but have never been on the California coast north of Sonoma County until recently.  We stayed in Arcata, although Eureka is reasonable too.

Higher Camping, Permit Fees Proposed At Zion National Park

Aug 8th - 00:03am | Sam Ray

We stayed at watchman campground in the winters of 2020/21 & 2021/22. About half of the RV campsites & almost all of the tent campsites were empty. Raising fees when the park is busy may raise revenue, but raising fees in the off-season will decrease both visitors and revenue. Perhaps you need a busy season rate & an off-season rate?

Tracking Sooty Terns On Their Comings And Goings From Dry Tortugas National Park

Aug 7th - 21:24pm | Kim Woolfenden

I was part of the banding "crew" in the 70's Lead by my dad, Glen E. Woolfenden and William (Bill) Robertson. Wonderful memories! When is the last time this was done? 2014?   [email protected]

National Park Service Sued Over Termination of Indian Trader at Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site

Aug 4th - 16:33pm | Sina Brush

Bill Malone was the real treasure at Hubbell. He knew Navajo arts and crafts like no one else, I did business with him over the years and always enjoyed his classic self. The ham-handed misrepresentation of him was nothing more than the NPS suspecting him of what they themselves would do. I was there a few days after this fiasco, completely unaware of what happened.

Groups Call On Interior Secretary To Officially Restrict e-Bikes' Access In National Parks

Aug 4th - 10:45am | Jessica

Will DOI make the submitted comments available for public viewing?

National Park Service Sued Over Cumberland Island National Seashore's Feral Horses

Aug 3rd - 12:28pm | Lyn Riley

What about relocating them to Payne's Prairie in Florida,  a marshy land with wild horses in Florida south of Gainesville?    

Protecting Biodiversity Through National Park System Expansion

Aug 1st - 15:21pm | d-2

Reading this, implying the need to protect additonal resources for the system of National Parks, and reading another article on this site, about the large "Legacy" funding through what Trump renamed as the Great American fund, it really blows me away that all those who offered opinions that there should be no more new parklands protected because funding was tight, really need to acknowledge how

Interior Officials Urged To Support NPS Rule On Hunting And Trapping In Alaskan Preserves

Aug 1st - 15:00pm | d-2

This rule does not apply to Native subsistence users.  This rule is about SPORT HUNTERS, and only fixes a screw-up from the State of Alaska. 

National Park System Expansion Key To Biodiversity Protection

Aug 1st - 09:00am | Michael Kellett

Hi Still, National Parks and Wilderness are not mutually exclusive by any means. In fact, most designated Wilderness is in National Parks.

Jul 30th - 12:43pm | Still anonymous

Wilderness Areas provide greater protection of species and biodeversity than national parks, no mater how we spin the elements of the topic. Protect and inforce the Roadless Rule. Transfer lands to Wilderness Area, not more National Parks with their roads, cell towers, shopping complexes, deadly automobile/wildlife collisions and ever expanding mass of millions of human visitors.

New Thermal Activity On Geyser Hill In Yellowstone National Park

Jul 30th - 21:36pm | Melanie Smith

Very nice topic I find it very interesting and educational 

Old-Growth Trees, Some Dating To 17th Century, Protected At New River Gorge

Jul 30th - 16:20pm | Peter Kornwolf

Be the Lorax, speak for the trees!

Dozens Of Conservation Groups Oppose eBikes On Non-Motorized Trails

Jul 30th - 13:20pm | Rick

Unfortunately most people have no skills and on a motorized rocket are a danger to the rest of us.  You feel so strongly about it go to moto cross pa where you belong 

National Park Service Approves Caneel Bay Redevelopment Plan

Jul 28th - 15:43pm | James Kevin Roche

Thanks for covering the Caneel Bay recovery as we enter yet another "human created hurricane season". Not everyone will be happy but can we come together to protect the beauty of Caneel?

National Park Service Studying Impacts Of eBikes

Jul 28th - 14:58pm | connie marshall

E bikes are a hazard to both hikers and  equestrians .   The silent surprise ot bikes and the whirl of the E bike produces anxiety for both horse and rider and hiker. Hardly what I call a relaxing enjoyable experience in our prestine parks and wilderness areas.  They should not be allowed. 

Jul 28th - 14:52pm | Anonymous

I believe that E Bikes create a hazard for hikers and equestians alike.  Speed and indisgression of the users, erosion concerns and anxiety of wondering what is around the next corner makes the pleasure of the outcoor experience experience disappear. 

Jul 20th - 09:07am | Josette beaumont

my concern is the speed ebikes can travel. This puts people walking at risk for injury from collisions and injuries, often in places difficult to reach by emergency personnel. Equestrian are also put at risk.  Disparity in speeds is areal risk factor.

Biden Designates Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument

Jul 27th - 21:51pm | RR

Couldn't agree more, Doug. Turn off comments or ban the serial antagonists. Nothing of value is contributed by the people who comment most of the time. Sad but true.

Jul 26th - 20:45pm | Doug

The post above stating that because there is now a memorial to Emmet Till means there should be a park site dedicated to Ruby Ridge is exhibit A for the argument why this website is much better without reader comments.

Jul 26th - 19:49pm | Kurt Repanshek

Editor's note: The NPS release and other accounts mention that Till was lynched and that he had a "75-pound cotton gin fan" and barbed wire wrapped around his neck.

Jul 26th - 17:59pm | A. Johnson

, Emmett -- who was lynched on August 28, 1955   Mr. Till was not lynched--he was brutally beaten,  tortured, amd shot with a .45.  Let's be as factual accurate as posible so as to ensure that what actually happened to him at the hands of Evil will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.  

Jul 26th - 17:45pm | A. Johnson

When will we have a Ruby Ridge Nat'l Monument? Our country needs to tell the WHOLE story.  What happened to young Mr. Till parallels the murder of young Sammy Weaver. The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.  Let's acknowledge the hate, the evil, and the injustice no matter where it occurred.   amen

The Challenges Of Recreation.gov

Jul 26th - 01:15am | quietfreedom

Some campgrounds have loops that open at 6 months out, 2 weeks out, and 4 days out...see Olympic Peninsula campgrounds in Washington State.   This is the answer...satisfy long term planners, medium, and "nearly last minute" folks.   Also max # of days per year at a site...stop a lot of gaming.

The Trouble With Horses On Cumberland Island

Jul 24th - 16:22pm | Kelly Schueman

We visited the wild horses there around 33 years ago. Humans try and say that wild horses are not native to the US, ranchers love that... but, LaBrea Tar pits show that modern horses were here. They were one of the first animals humans drove to extinction. I'm tired of the excuses for the sick roundups. The horses have managed to survive there for 100's of years.

House Appropriations Bill Slashes Interior, National Park Service Funding

Jul 21st - 13:54pm | Loui

Drilling within Big Cypress is a fascinating part of this article.  I was unaware that any official NPS unit owned something less than the property in fee simple.  I was recently in Saipan and the NPS rangers there explained that American Memorial Park is not an official unit b/c the agreement with the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands bars federal ownership of land.  Would love to see m

Jul 19th - 19:59pm | ecbuck

Kurt, your article re rec.gov quoted senators as saying the operating budget was 2.923 in 2023.  The link in your article to the 2024 budget puts the operating budget at 2.654.  Are they talking about the same thing?  Who knows.

Jul 19th - 18:38pm | Kurt Repanshek

E.C., the NPS budget is closer to $3.5 billion, of which about 3.6 percent are fixed costs, according to NPCA.

Jul 19th - 18:07pm | ecbuck

Slashes?  the NPS operating fund in 2023 was $2.923 billion.  The 2024 proposal is 2.654.  A drop of 269 million.  By shifting some $200 mil away from climate change and racial equality - which have nothing to do with the NPS mission, the net change too legimate operations is a couple of percent.  And that ignores the increases in gate, facilities and franchise fees that the NPS doesn't report

Senators: Why Is A Private Company Managing Recreation.Gov?

Jul 18th - 22:49pm | Will Skowronski

Very timely for me because I just took a road trip across California and got clobbered by fees by both recreation.gov but mostly reservationCalifornia.gov  Since I was unable to find blocks of dates I was forced to book on a day-by-day basis thereby incurring $8 transaction fee each day.  I also had to do a cancellation which was another $8 fee.

Jul 18th - 19:19pm | Jim Medlock

HALLEJUJA! I can't believe it's Sens. Grassley and Barrasso who are asking!

Jul 18th - 14:40pm | Bud Ramey

Here is a theory: like every other federal agency, it has gotten too big for oversight. Too much money changes hands. It is time to break up NPS into regional organizations and give the control to dozens of nonprofits. They are not beyond criticism either, but at least we will be able to watch the store.

Jul 18th - 14:04pm | Rita

Impact journalism!  

National Park Service Proposes Air Tour Ban Over Bandelier National Monument

Jul 18th - 12:42pm | xparkranger

About time. Too much noise. Parks should be havens for quiet enjoyment 

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