| Page 281 | National Parks Traveler

This was a missing 411 case. Same as Dennis Martin. No way she made it into those thickets without leaving one hell of a trail. No way she would even go there. No one walks off trails like that. She had no reason to. How many more stories like this do we have to read before the government finally admits something terrible is happening and starts earning people properly.

If You're Keeping Count, There Are Now 61 "National Parks"

Feb 18th - 17:41pm | Scott Jorgenson

I agree this is a classic example of "grade inflation" and extends a recent trend in that direction.

Feb 18th - 17:01pm | y_p_w

tazzman:

Feb 18th - 14:16pm | tazzman

John Thompson, are you actually blaming Trump for this? A POTUS cannot designate a national park. Ask the congressional delegation first. That being said, I do agree that the last two new NPs have been baffling. Gateway Arch should have been made a national historical site or park.

Feb 18th - 07:52am | Average Joe

John thompson, my reading is that Trump had nothing to do with the Indiana Dunes designation. The congressional delegation buried it in the recent "wall" bill and it was thus signed. The acting NPS director actually testified against the NP designation. Say what you will about the Trump administration, but I think Smith's testimony is spot on:

Feb 18th - 00:57am | y_p_w

Gpost: Parks create more money for the economy than a lesser park unit such as a monument, historical park, lakeshore, etc...Therefore, for example in this case, Pences state of Indiana would benefit from even greater tourism and dollars that come with it with the name change.

Feb 17th - 22:08pm | Gpost

Parks create more money for the economy than a lesser park unit such as a monument, historical park, lakeshore, etc...Therefore, for example in this case, Pences state of Indiana would benefit from even greater tourism and dollars that come with it with the name change.

Feb 17th - 21:59pm | John thompson

what a joke, the Gateway Arch and this Dune Shore park are nothing signifiant when compared to the national parks legacy. it makes me sick that this legacy of national parks has been tarnished with these low quality unwonderous parcels of land. All national parks prior to this have a wow factor and this low grade move shows how unconnected our president is to reality

Feb 17th - 14:55pm | CJDillon

The name change also reflects the diversity of the park. It is in the top ten most biologically diverse parks in the National Park System and contains dozens of historic buildings, ancient and modern dunes, archeological sites dating back more than 10,000 years, trails, campground, an education center, a USGS field station, and more.

Feb 17th - 14:53pm | CJDillon

Exactly how does changing a park name consist of a "political payoff?" The park gets no more money or staff because of the name change and the employees do not get raises. Literally, the only thing that changes is the name. Changing the name of a place from "national seashore" to "national park" is not an "upgrade." It is nothing other than a name change.

Feb 17th - 14:51pm | CJDillon

The 1966 law that created Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore specified that "The Indiana Dunes State Park may be acquired only by donation of the State of Indiana, and the Secretary is hereby directed to negotiate with the State for the acquisition of said park." So, the law does direct the National Park Serivce to seek the acquisition of the state park.

Feb 17th - 12:39pm | Adam Peterson

The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore had just celebrated it's 50th anniversary in 2016, it's been around for a while. The designation as a National Park recognizes its import with respect to it housing the greatest biodiversity in the continental US east of the Rockies. It is not just beaches.

Feb 17th - 11:12am | @parkstraveler

It is just me, or do the last two National Parks (Indiana Dunes and Gateway Arch) feel like political payoffs rather than meaningful and necessary upgrades?

Feb 17th - 07:16am | Michael Kellett

It is a beautiful and ecologically significant place. But it is too small. The park should be expanded to include 2.200-acre Indiana Dunes State Park and some key adjacent tracts of land should be acquired from willing sellers.

Feb 16th - 15:49pm | y_p_w

CJDillon: Chicago businessman and the first Director of the National Park Service, Stephen Mather, proposed protection of the Indiana dunes as Sand Dunes National Park in 1916.

Feb 16th - 10:31am | CJDillon

Chicago businessman and the first Director of the National Park Service, Stephen Mather, proposed protection of the Indiana dunes as Sand Dunes National Park in 1916. It was the first park he proposed after he became Director. If Congress had acted on that proposal Indiana Dunes would have been the 10th national park in the country.

Interior Department Approves Expansion Of Coal Mine Near Bryce Canyon National Park

Feb 18th - 15:38pm | LA

Light pollution? Tropic, with a population of around 800? Come on you can do better than that in support of 19th and 20th century energy technology.

Feb 18th - 13:40pm | tazzman

It says this coal will be shipped to the west coast via rail. Is this being shipped overseas?

Feb 18th - 10:17am | Dan G

Sounds like fear mongering. The mine is on the opposite side of the park that 99% of the people visting Bryce canyon even see. What about the town of Tropic which is in direct view of most of the view points at the park? The light pollution there? Should we move the town?

Grand Canyon Superintendent Lehnertz Cleared Of All Allegations

Feb 17th - 21:20pm | NPS partner

I never for a moment believed anything against Chris. I have had the pleasure of working for her at GGNRA, and Chris is nothing but professional, honest, and full of integrity. She is the most ethical person I have worked with and for. Chris, so glad you are back where you belong -- in the parks doing wonderful work for the parks and your staff.

Feb 13th - 17:45pm | d-2

y_w_p ". . would you prefer a system. .where no final action. . means automatic retribution against the accuser?" Hmm. Well, in a great deal of Civil litigation, if you bring a case and lose, you are responsible for all court costs and attorneys' fees. So, the concept is not as entirely alien as you insist.

New Lodging In America’s National Parks

Feb 17th - 14:34pm | David Scott

We always thought the interios of the cabins in Yellowstone were considerably nicer than would have bveen expected based on the exteriors. On the other hand, the cabins in the Canyon area had gone downhill, most likely because both NPS and the concessionaire expected them to be replaced. This had been the case with Giant Forest Lodge that had gotten in pretty bad shape.

Feb 17th - 12:33pm | y_p_w

I don't know about some of these replacements. We stayed at one of the Pioneer cabins at Canyon Lodge in 2006 for $74 a night for 3. There was really nothing wrong with it even though it did seem a bit dated with linoleum floors and lots of paint layers. But it was clean, comfortable, and warm.

The Cemeteries Of Big South Fork National River And Recreation Area

Feb 17th - 13:39pm | Randy d brown

Could not find chimney rock cem.on Google maps or bsf maps of cem. Will visit soon. If I can find it

Legacy On The Land: A Black Couple Discovers Our National Inheritance And Tells Why Every American Should Care

Feb 17th - 13:03pm | Jake

Easy Hal, take it easy buddy!!!! It's a book title. Hal, who is US??? I love the book, I read this about a year ago. Educational & fun book.

Drugs, Not Bear Attack, Killed Man At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Feb 17th - 10:05am | Dogman Hunter

Missing 411. Another cryptid kill. Don't believe anything coming from a government agency

Buffalo National River Rangers Shoot And Kill Man, Investigation Under Way

Feb 16th - 20:26pm | Fishyfishy

So Don would you have resolved this situation as well? https://www.cbsnews.com/news/park-ranger-killed-by-gunman-in-national-park/ Come on now.

Listen For It. It's Coming

Feb 16th - 18:11pm | Kaeleen

maybe just the rain against my window

Feb 16th - 12:25pm | Amarillobymorning

I think I hear it....a sort of faint, scratchy, gravelly sound.....Oh, never mind, that was just the puppy digging in the cats' litter box.

Feb 16th - 10:56am | Gila Monster

???

Essay | The Last Train To Grand Canyon: How Amtrak Fails The National Parks—And America

Feb 16th - 15:59pm | y_p_w

Railman: Would he have been happier if there had been no long- haul trains to or at least any National Parks (or anywhere else) after April 30, 1971?

Feb 16th - 14:27pm | Railman

I can understand A.R.'s frustration, especially from a National Parks perspective. His criticism apparently of Amtrak's management is surely oftentimes valid. But his bitterness is apparent and his economics are at best often questionable and to a large extent contrary to the facts. This is more of a convoluted rant than a logical essay.

Record Visitation At Rocky Mountain National Park In 2018

Feb 16th - 07:32am | Anonymous

I was there this past year and saw many dogs on the trails. Worst they knew it was illegal but just didn't care.

Senate Passes Extensive Public Lands Bill, Which Now Heads To House

Feb 15th - 17:56pm | Anonymous

There has been very little mention of all this in Utah. There has been much more information here than in any news locally in Utah.

Feb 15th - 15:19pm | tazzman

I went through and read the specifics of the bill last night. Desolation Canyon in UT is designated as a 140k wilderness area and Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry becomes a new UT NM. Jurassic NM. I counted over eleven new wilderness areas in UT alone. I am curious about this new John Wesley Powell NCA too. Sounds like it is in Duchense Co. Anyone know where this is?

Feb 14th - 15:45pm | Nick

This is the biggest conservation of lands by Congress since 2009. The San rafeal Swell in Utah gets recreational area status for some of its southern part, and a big chunk of area surrounding it is wiilderness.I expect the Swell to become a huge national monument sometime in 2021 when the next Dem president is running things.

Feb 14th - 13:30pm | Dan Kiple

I'm Flabbergasted!

Feb 13th - 17:54pm | Anonymous

What's the catch? If the GOP is involved, there must be some hidden agenda.

Effort To Tackle National Park Service's Maintenance Backlog Renewed In Congress

Feb 15th - 15:22pm | tazzman

This is at least as important as permanently funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

African Protected Areas Congress: A Watershed Event For Africa's Parks And Wildlife

Feb 15th - 02:13am | Bepi

Peter Mills, you are so politically correct, this is going to change the world.

Ohio Congressmen Want "Mount Denali" Changed Back To "Mount McKinley"

Feb 14th - 22:11pm | justinh

"President McKinley's legacy should not be compromised by a political stunt," wrote 11 Congressmen from Ohio in a public letter to the President.

Feb 14th - 16:41pm | Rick B.

Nor would Alaskans, Andrew.

Feb 14th - 00:45am | Andrew Steel

As a conservative Alaskan who voted for Trump. I can tell you in a majority conservative state, everyone wanted this name change for quite awhile. Native Alaskans, Alaskans of all walks of life conservative moderate democrats liberals have all wanted this. It's a Alaska thing. I should have never been Mckinley to begin with.

Grand Canyon National Park Ranger Elyssa Shalla Receives National Freeman Tilden Award

Feb 14th - 20:44pm | tomp2

I won't look up her email and post PII, but in general, NPS email addresses are firstname underscore lastname @nps.gov so [email protected]

Feb 13th - 21:43pm | Martha McKee Krueger

Is there any way I could email Ellysa Shalla? I would like to ask her about speaking at the North Rim this coming summer in August about the 17th. We will be there the nights of the 16th , 17th, and 18th. She told me to let her know when I would be back at the NR. I would love to give another talk, if you think people would be interested. Vishnu Temple Press is publishing my book which con

Paintball Vandals Deface Petroglyphs at Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Feb 14th - 16:53pm | Erin

For anyone reading this in the future, it turned out the paintballs were actual paint and the areas were permanently defaced. A very sad case of ignorance.

National Park Lodges That Vanished

Feb 14th - 04:53am | David Scott

We actually forgot about the lodge in Denali that we visited in 1983 when we drove our 1978 VW van from Georgia to Alaska. We only walked through the hotel and didn't stay overnight since we were camping in the VW. We had something like four days of rain during a five-day stay in the park. One morning when we had just woken up Kay rolled over and said "Why in God's name am I here?" Regardi

Feb 13th - 23:57pm | tahoma

Don't forget the several hundred Sunrise cabins at Mount Rainier: https://www.blackdiamondnow.net/black-diamond-now/2013/09/sunrise-at-mt-... There was a similar slum at Paradise:

Feb 13th - 21:29pm | y_p_w

Since various lodges have been mentioned, there was the old Glacier Point Hotel at Yosemite. Supposedly damaged by heavy snow, but then burned down the next year from an electrical fire. The employees from the hotel operated the famous firefall from Glacier Point where they would drop embers to look like a waterfall of fire.

Feb 13th - 21:00pm | Matt C

There is also the lodge at Denali National Park, which I think was closed around 1999 and demolished when the frontcountry area of the park was reconstructed. They chose not to rebuild it because of the amount of lodging available in nearby towns.

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