| Page 1213 | National Parks Traveler

A friend of mine who works at Grand Teton NP got a call at the visitor center from a woman who wanted to know if it was okay for her to bring her pet ducks to the park with her. She went on to say that they wear diapers when out in public. I wonder how people would feel about diaper-wearing ducks on trails?

Aug 4th - 09:57am | Tom V

Gila Cliff Dwellings has a shaded set of kennels behind the visitor contact station, staffed by volunteers, for visitors to leave their pets in a cool place while hiking the trail to the sites. Nice idea.

Aug 4th - 09:56am | Gaelyn

I too have been on both sides of the fence on this issue. Many summers ago I traveled with my dog and visited several National Parks. There were many trails I couldn't take because I just couldn't leave my dog in a hot car. Now I am a Park Ranger and I better understand why dogs aren't allowed on trails.

Aug 4th - 09:31am | ecbuck

Great topic Kurt ;) As I understand it, there are two major objections to dogs in the parks. 1) Dog poops 2) potential conflicts with animals/other users.

Aug 4th - 09:29am | Rangertoo

I think it depends upon the park. It is more than just loose dogs and public safety. Research shows that dogs engaged in scent marking can affect wildlife patterns. They also decrease the likelihood of viewing wildlife from trails where dogs are common because herbivores and prey animals tend to stay away from those areas.

Aug 4th - 09:27am | MikeD

Kurt,

Aug 4th - 09:18am | Jan

Absolutely NO to allowing dogs in our National Parks. We take numerous road trips to our National Parks and the very last thing I want to see is some irresponsible dog owner allowing his dog off leash to approach me and to leave ungodly messes on trails. I live in the foothills of Denver, Colorado and I am a hiker.

Aug 4th - 09:13am | MikeD

The most obvious issue is dogs going to the bathroom on/off trails. Most owners would surely be good about picking it up, but certainly not all.

Aug 4th - 09:05am | Anonymous

Working in a park and owning pets, I can see both sides of the issues. Half the dogs visiting the park are not well behaved and shouldn't be trusted near a cliff with a 1,000 ft drop. The other half are wonderful. Having worked in a NPS site that allowed dogs on leash, I would love to see all horse trails opened up to dog visitation as well.

Aug 4th - 08:48am | pkrnger

Kurt, you have introduced a reader participation topic that should be a major issue. It will be interesting to see if this article get's as much reader interest as did past articles on carrying hand guns in parks.

Aug 4th - 08:43am | Kevin M

I like the idea of allowing pets on those trails where horses are allowed. Pets are not going to do as much damage as horses, and it would allow some access to those with dogs. While those responding here (and many others) would exercise great control, there are too many who would not. I generally avoid trails where horses are allowed, so this compromise would not bother me.

Aug 4th - 08:30am | Anonymous

I travel often with my 2 Golden Retreivers. They are well behaved and more importantly their owner is respectful of other people and dogs they meet along the way. Because of the National Park rules I spend more time in National Forest areas. Colorado is a good example. I avoided Rocky Mtn. National Park but enjoy the surrounding areas (Monach Lake as an example has a nice 4 mile hike)

Aug 4th - 08:29am | Random Walker

No.

Aug 4th - 08:27am | Laurie B.

I always travel with my dogs and would never consider leaving them in someone else's care. While this limits the places we can go, I'd rather stay home with my dogs than travel without them. Not all pet owners feel this way, and I certainly understand that.

Aug 4th - 08:12am | Darrell

I used to buy the National pards pass every year and try to visit at least 3 parks a year while on vacation. But primarily because of the current restrictions on pets I have stopped visiting or supporting the national parks in any way.

Aug 4th - 06:34am | Anonymous

It is hard for me to be objective as I am a leash wearing, poop-picking-up dog owner with dog-friendly dogs but, having walked many a trail in local parks with not so responsible dog owners, I realize everyone does not heed to my standards. It is not enjoyable to step around piles and be accosted by overly friendly or underly friendly dogs. I really can see both sides of this issue.

Investigation Launched Into Grizzly Bear Mauling of Botanist Outside Yellowstone National Park

Aug 4th - 10:25am | Anonymous

THE RESEARCHERS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE BEAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT ALONE.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Hatchlings Released Into the Atlantic Ocean

Aug 4th - 09:27am | Kurt Repanshek

Could Interior have gotten that point wrong? http://www.doi.gov/news/doinews/Sea-turtle-hatchlings-relocated-from-the...

Aug 4th - 09:16am | Anonymous

The release was actually at the Canaveral National Seashore beach.

Aug 3rd - 20:32pm | Anonymous

So great to hear! And great to see a company like FedEx donating their services for such a great cause.

Secretary Salazar Hopes To Negotiate R.S. 2477 Solution With Utah Officials

Aug 3rd - 22:52pm | d-2

I wish someone would explain to me the value of Secretary Salazar parachuting in to 'negotiate' RS 2477 claims. Even more, what benefit these conservation groups see in these discussions.

Aug 3rd - 09:46am | Anonymous

I've hiked the East Rim Trail in Zion and that one stretch is blatantly an old road. As a hiker, I'm not sure if it should go back to being that though. As an issue of access and bringing people into more areas of the park, I'm even less sure.

Aug 2nd - 12:58pm | George

Secretary Salazar is wise to allocate the pilot project to a county that hasn't been using R.S. 2477 claims to bash national parks or wilderness proposals.

Young Woman Dies After Being Submerged in Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park

Aug 3rd - 22:04pm | Shannon

First , I want to thanks u all to be thoughtful for her, also thanks the doctor and nurses who try to save her life , thanks u all . Lin Ching-Ling is her chinese name , English name is Irene , such a beautiful name~~

Aug 3rd - 15:35pm | Teresa Johnson

I was in the park that day as well. My children, along with my mother were on their way to the Firehole to swim, when we heard the sirens, and I knew something bad had happened. To everyone that had to see the tradegy, and to all that tried to save the young woman, I'm so sorry. I will concur that Yellowstone is a wilderness of which only 2% is developed, and it needs to stay that way.

Aug 3rd - 03:25am | Anonymous

I also agree with Cheryl Gilbert. Very well put. My family and friends enjoy swimming in the Firehole each time we go to Yellowstone when the weather is good. We live 2.5 hrs away and go just to swim at times. We have never found a place like it anywhere around. But again swim at your own risk and use good judgement. Its unfortunate this young woman lost her life.

One More Bear Put Down in Yellowstone National Park

Aug 3rd - 19:16pm | y_p_w

Don't these backcountry campsites have bear hangs? I saw some photos of the typical Yellowstone bear hands, and they didn't seem that secure. They were typically set up about 10 ft high between two trees. Some Sierra Nevada bears would climb a nearby tree and jump down at them. They're called "kamikaze bears", and they've left blood when attempting that.

Wolverine Photographed in Rocky Mountain National Park

Aug 3rd - 18:19pm | Dave Pinkernell...

My wife and I saw two wolverines today in RMNP, less than 1 mile up the Trail Ridge Road from the Estes Park entrance. I snapped a photo of one of them in the rain. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_3F0iM8O4Jbw52Rea_wW3q2gCLGA5G89AO4...

Aug 3rd - 17:57pm | Dave Pinkernell...

My wife and I saw a wolverine today in Rocky Mountain National Park, about 1 mile up the Trail Ridge Road from the Estes Park national park entrance. I was able to snap a picture in the rain and low light. Our best guess is this an immature wolverine. There were two of them walking along the highway, looking rather wet and confused. Luckily they safely crossed the road.

Three Canyoneers Survive Flash Flood in Zion National Park

Aug 3rd - 18:10pm | Andy andrews

Wow, glad to hear all survived. I've been down spy twice. The first time it started to rain at the last narrow drop. Buy the time we got down to the canyon floor it was coming down pretty good. I believe the weather report for that day was also 30% chance.

National Parks Road Trip 2010: Great Falls to Fort Benton

Aug 3rd - 15:07pm | Anonymous

Nice travel log and great succinct video. I have been to Great Falls and spent conciderable time at the L and C Interpretive center.

Aug 3rd - 11:40am | Julie Kay Smith...

I would caution readers not to put too much credibility in what "interpretive" folks say. After all, the real history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was in the heavy-handed, dishonest way in which state and federal representatives forcibly removed the people of Cade's Cove. Look it up and study the real history.

Sale of Limited Edition Posters To Benefit Glacier National Park

Aug 3rd - 12:23pm | Rick Sheremeta

Thanks for the publicity - poster sales are booming and it's ALL for a good cause

Does the National Park Service Need a Quota System for Peak Seasons?

Aug 3rd - 11:47am | mark smith

Something must be done to curb the overuse of our parks and wilderness areas. The national park services only concern is how much money they make. I have been trying for the past year to come up with an way to ease the use of such parks as yellowstone and glacier. However theres no real fair way to do it. However its either do something or lose these places forever.

Angler Cited For Keeping Bull Trout Caught in Olympic National Park

Aug 3rd - 11:21am | Richard

Bull trout are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Aug 2nd - 23:37pm | R Stefancik

Given that it was a catch and release area, the angler has no excuse. But if it were not catch and release, many anglers have a hard time distinguishing brook trout from bull trout if they do not fish them very often. Personally, I don't keep Brookies if I'm fishing Bull Trout waters. The price of a mistake is too high for my wallet and the species.

The Ghosts Of Yellowstone National Park

Aug 3rd - 09:34am | MDL

I am not usually one to believe in ghosts. After our recent trip to Yellowstone (and the Old Faithful Inn), I am a bit more inclined to open my mind to the possibility. Nothing dramatic, but here is our story for what it is worth.

Fans of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Being Asked to Contribute Ideas to Lakeshore's Future

Aug 3rd - 08:52am | Dave

The clothing optional beach is a great idea, you would have all of my vacation dollars.

Search Under Way For Missing Hiker In Katmai National Park and Preserve

Aug 2nd - 23:54pm | Ray Bane

The area described is extremely hazardous, particularly when the Lethe is high. The trail crosses the river well up the valley on a fairly flat stretch of ash. However, it rushes down into a nearby canyon and literally boils over numerous falls and rapids. The sides of the canyon are vertical rising directly out of the river.

Lodging in the Parks: Beware the St. Mary Lodge & Resort

Aug 2nd - 15:03pm | y_p_w

pkrnger: Thanks for posting this review Kurt. Although the NPS gives park concessioners a "report card" of sorts each year, this information is seldom made readily available to the public. What is sorely needed is a Consumer Reports review and rating of experiences and costs of park lodging and campgrounds inside and near our great parks.

Aug 2nd - 14:49pm | pkrnger

Thanks for posting this review Kurt. Although the NPS gives park concessioners a "report card" of sorts each year, this information is seldom made readily available to the public. What is sorely needed is a Consumer Reports review and rating of experiences and costs of park lodging and campgrounds inside and near our great parks. Such a review would have a noticeable effect, I'm sure.

Aug 2nd - 14:06pm | y_p_w

Kurt Repanshek: Actually, it's no longer owned by DNC. The current owner is Johnny Noe. I guess that would explain the layout of the website. I would suggest to them to clean up their website to at least note it's no longer a DNC property. And CAPTCHA says "sequential overeat". That's making me hungry.

Aug 2nd - 13:17pm | Kurt Repanshek

Actually, it's no longer owned by DNC. The current owner is Johnny Noe.

Aug 2nd - 13:06pm | y_p_w

R Stefancik: You would also do well to try to figure out who owns the lodge and write a letter of complaint similar to the one above, including how you were a loyal customer up until now.

Aug 2nd - 12:03pm | Anonymous

We recently had lunch in the St. Mary's Lodge restaurant. The place was nearly deserted. The food was ok but that MUSIC??? was awful! Indeed, why such loud music outside a National Parks area lodge?

Aug 2nd - 11:53am | R Stefancik

I can't say anything about the lodging, as I have no experience, but the food at their restaurant was very well prepared and a good buy for the price when we visited 1 and 2 years ago.

Traveling the Oregon National Historic Trail: Looking Back

Aug 2nd - 12:42pm | Keith

I'm in the process of planning an Oregon Trail trip myself. I'll be going from Oregon to Missouri though, eastbound. I'm definately using Franzwas books.

Thundering Water

Aug 2nd - 12:21pm | Anonymous

Cool, I have a large poster with a photo of this exact spot (taken from footbridge). More moss on rocks to right in my pic. Nice.

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