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Bison That Charged Yellowstone National Park Visitors Was Provoked

Jul 22nd - 10:48am | SweetShannon

I'd love to have Letterman do a "10 Stupid People Tricks in Yellowstone NP." Should be really good because he'd have a huge amount of material to choose from.

Jul 22nd - 10:15am | thaijer

Stupid people trips. They should be charged.

Jul 22nd - 10:14am | onebigtree

We were in Biscuit Basin about noon on this same day and saw no Buffalo. However, around 7pm at night we were at the Mud Volcano Area when a herd of approximately 30-35 buffalo with three calves cut off our return to the parking lot from the loop trail. They were on both sides of the walkway and some were crossing over the walk way.

Jul 22nd - 09:46am | AnonymousD

Don't get me started about some of the visitors at Yellowstone. How many times have I seen people put a finger into hot water or get off the boardwalk when it's clearly marked that such behavior is dangerous? This just fits the pattern. Lovely park, a precious jewel of wilderness, a joy and privilege to visit, etc., etc. And evidently a magnet for tourists with less sense than a grapefruit.

Jul 22nd - 09:35am | angela

You can't piss these guys off! They are bigger than us by several pounds!

Jul 22nd - 09:12am | jay

Well this proves that it is the duty of some people's lives to serve as the warning for others. Maybe it won't happen again, but... don't get so close, idiots!

Jul 22nd - 09:07am | Brad

So it seems they threw a stick at it to get it to look at the camera for a "better shot". Well, they certainly got their closeup! Dumb decision, but I'm glad they are okay.

Bona fide Deal or Bailout? Should the NPS Acquire Grant's Farm near St. Louis?

Jul 22nd - 10:35am | onebigtree

Sounds like a great State Park, but not a National Park. The two properties bordering each other would increase attendance at both. Perhaps redraw the lines to make it more affordable for the state and include the Grant properties in the national section.

Jul 21st - 16:53pm | MikeD

Yeah basically if you read the report it sounds like NPS would gladly take the two Grant-related features of the site and add them to the US Grant NHS.

Reader Participation Day: California, or Utah, For A National Park Trek?

Jul 22nd - 09:34am | y_p_w

I found the exceptions: http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE32A/htm/32A12_021200.htm

Jul 22nd - 09:21am | Lee Dalton

Actually, I think if you check laws in most states you'll find it's illegal to import not only liquor but virtually anything else as well. It's probably one of those "just in case" laws used to nail people who transport huge quantities of things to avoid higher taxes in one state. Try buying a car in one state and see if they nail you for taxes at home when you try to get license plates.

Jul 22nd - 08:39am | RangerLady

y_p_w,

Jul 21st - 23:57pm | y_p_w

RangerLady: y_p_w, be careful with that. It is actualyl illegal to transfer alcohol into Utah from another state. I really doubt anyone enforces it since all of us here at Capitol Reef do it, but you never know when someone might be having a bad day and will want to cite!

Jul 21st - 19:28pm | deanhicks

Have been to both states. Lassen,Yosemite,Sequoia,Kings Canyon,Red Woods.Also several of the areas in San Francisco. In Utah it's Bryce,Zion,Canyonlands,Arches,Capital Reef,Cedar Breaks,Natural Bridges. And add Dead Horse Sate Park. My vote is Utah. I love em all......... Can't wait to retire to began those monthly trips to HOPEFULLY all of the National Parks.

Jul 21st - 16:50pm | Dave Crowl

I have a CA trip on my bucket list. I must say I have done several trips to Utah and it does make for a great road trip.At Zion the narrows is a great hike I also would suggest North Rim of the Grand Canyon as a side trip from Zion or Bryce. North rim has less people than the south rim But is closed part of the year so plan ahead.

Jul 21st - 16:29pm | RangerLady

y_p_w, be careful with that. It is actualyl illegal to transfer alcohol into Utah from another state. I really doubt anyone enforces it since all of us here at Capitol Reef do it, but you never know when someone might be having a bad day and will want to cite!

Jul 21st - 15:39pm | y_p_w

I would say that singularly Yosemite is the most spectacular national park among all within California and Utah. I could spend a week in Yosemite and not get tired of it. However - Utah makes for an excellent road trip where one could tick off a day or two in each park.

Jul 21st - 15:39pm | JanetinKy

I have to agree with Bob - the diversity of California is what makes it so attractive (well that and the majestic big trees). Utah is special and magical in it's own way but a girl can only take it so much 'geology'. I must vote for California!

Jul 21st - 15:05pm | George

Utah, because there's so much wild land to explore just outside park boundaries. These areas are little known because they're managed by the Bureau of Land Management. At Zion, there's the Canaan Mountain Wilderness near Springdale, which got wilderness status last year. Next door to Canyonlands there are several big proposed BLM wilderness areas.

Jul 21st - 12:16pm | y_p_w

Anonymous: For me, living all of my life on the East coast, it's Utah, hands down. Spent two weeks there last year, can't wait to spend more! The beauty of unspoiled creation is beyond compare...

Jul 21st - 12:12pm | EtO

I have been to parks in both states and am a California Resident. Both states have fantastic National Parks. My vote is California because Yosemite is my favorite place in the world and I visit it often. But my two favorite hikes are angels landing and the narrows at Zion.

Jul 21st - 11:32am | Russell

I have been to Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Santa Monica Mountains NRA, and on the National Forest side of things, Big Sur/Ventana, Muir Woods, San Gabriel, Inyo, and San Jacinto. Over 50 nights in a tent over the past couple of years, I'd say.

Jul 21st - 11:28am | Anonymous

For me, living all of my life on the East coast, it's Utah, hands down. Spent two weeks there last year, can't wait to spend more! The beauty of unspoiled creation is beyond compare...

Jul 21st - 11:06am | MRC

I agree with Bob. California is it for the diversity. The Utah parks are spectacular, the sandstone formations of Arches are defying gravity like nothing else I've ever seen. The lush green Zion canyon in the desert and mountain surroundings is a miracle. Capitol Reef lets you see the stratification of the rocks that makes all the features of the Colorado Plateau possible.

Jul 21st - 10:59am | Blackfeet Dreamer

For a true road trip, Utah hands down. Sometimes it seems a chore getting around California. With Utah it's like you are driving through a continuous national park on the way to the National Parks. There's no down time! And you have a feeling that you are in a place that is truely unlike anywhere else on Earth.

Jul 21st - 10:36am | y_p_w

Uh - Redwood National Park. ;) I haven't even been to all the national parks in California, although I've been looking for an excuse to make it to Redwood NP.

Jul 21st - 10:34am | Anonymous

If you have a couple of weeks, visit both areas. We took a road trip in May from our home near Kansas City to the west coast. We stopped at parks in several states: Fossil Butte, Golden Spike, Great Basin, Pt. Reyes, Muir Woods, Golden Gate, San Francisco Maritime, Pinnacles, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Death Valley, Lake Mead, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Arches.

Jul 21st - 10:24am | Sandpiper59

We have been to both CA and UT parks. It depends on the time of year. Traveling in the fall after the kids are back in school and college has started, I would choose CA. The crowds at Yosemite and other parks in California in the summer really detract from the experience. If you can travel in the fall or winter, there is nothing like Yosemite with little to no other visitors.

Jul 21st - 10:15am | JoAnna

If forced to choose, I would go Utah. I could go to Utah's parks over and over again without ever being bored.

Jul 21st - 10:09am | Alaska Bill

Why not both? I'm now heading into week six of a twelve week trek to the Parks of Colorado, Utah, California and Nevada.

Jul 21st - 09:47am | Keith Duke

I've been to both on many occassions and I keep going back to Utah. The beauty is breath taking and don't forget about Grand Canyon North Rim, Natural Bridges, Zion, Bryce and my personal favorite is Arches which is right across the street from Canyonlands and then you have the salt flats.

Jul 21st - 09:20am | Bob Janiskee

This is my personal opinion, not that of the Traveler. California is a miniature United States. It's just plain unfair to pit the national parks of a smaller, substantially less diversified state like Utah against California's parks. I absolutely love the Utah parks; in fact, I visited five of them as recently as two months ago.

Jul 21st - 08:44am | Gaelyn

Was just in Utah at Cedar Breaks NM, not on your list of parks of course. Went there to escape the heat. During hot weather there's quite a few parks on both these lists I might try to avoid. Yet it would still be a tough decision between the two states. Guess I'd just go for both.

Jul 21st - 08:19am | Lee Dalton

Of all the many states I've visited and lived in, Utah has far more variety and greater overall scenic wonders than any other. It's really "Life Elevated" if you can just ignore the insanity of our legislators.

Jul 21st - 08:18am | Janine Smith

For me it's Utah. The state has so much to offer in five national parks that are so close together. You can even add the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to a trip there. They are all amazing!

Jul 21st - 08:14am | Jon

Why choose? Visit them all!

Jul 21st - 07:54am | sue stickles

I live just outside Yosemite, and plan to go there again this week. Sequoia is my favorite, though both redwoods, kings canyon, and lassen are nice. Channel Islands is one I hope to get to soon. That said, I have been to Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion and they are all terrific. I just want to go back and visit them one at a time instead of all within a week.

National Park Mystery Photo 25: No Carpenter Nearby

Jul 21st - 23:50pm | Anonymous

Canyonlands!!!

Jul 21st - 13:14pm | tomp

I told you your readers would have it figured out before I even got a chance to see the quiz! [I was helping model cheatgrass in DINO as a function of current & last year's precipitation, attributes of the most recent fire including intensity, and prior conditions (soils, burns by decade since the 1950s, distance to roads, etc.)]

Jul 21st - 11:26am | Bob Janiskee

This mystery photo was taken at the Cowboy Camp in Canyonlands National Park. Congratulations to Amy for providing the correct answer - and very quickly, too. Kudos to Catherine for honoring Amy's point. Be sure to check back with Traveler tomorrow for more details about the Cowboy Camp. BTW, I was with Kurt when he took this photo.

Jul 21st - 10:23am | Catherine

Canyonlands?

Jul 21st - 10:21am | Matt W

Is it Bryce Canyon?

Jul 21st - 07:43am | Amy

Canyonlands! Cave Spring Hike in the Needles section.

Traveling the Oregon National Historic Trail: Looking Back

Jul 21st - 21:04pm | Jill Jackson

This sounds like a wonderful trip. I've done part of the Oregon Trail in Idaho, Wyoming, and Nebraska. I definitely should buy a copy of the book you recommend, I bet I've missed a few interesting historic places along the way.

Body of Missing Oklahoma Man Found in Yellowstone National Park

Jul 21st - 19:25pm | Mike Painter

A sad end to the story. Condolences to his family and friends.

Jul 21st - 11:41am | Blackfeet Dreamer

It's terrible that we have war casualities after young men return home. More blood on the hands of the Masters of War.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agrees Whitebark Pine Trees Might Need ESA Protection

Jul 21st - 18:34pm | Wally

Anonymous, Since David nor Sylvia replied to your question I'll take a stab at it.

Independent Review Calls on National Park Service To Bolster Its Natural Resource Stewardship and Science

Jul 21st - 14:59pm | tomp

There _was_ going to be a major science initiative in NPS, not getting the scientists back from USGS, but getting NPS research scientists shared among parks to do the place-based, resource-based science that doesn't fit the USGS incentive structure. Gary Machlis conducted a 6 month listening tour of regions, many parks, other agencies, etc., to characterize needs & ideas.

Man Somehow Survives Being Swept Over Waterfall In Yosemite National Park

Jul 21st - 14:40pm | JoAnna

I'm happy to hear that they ticketed these guys for being so reckless. Way too many people think they are invincible and way too many people get away with this kind of stuff. Good for the park service for fining them ~ this could have been a horrible situation for those who had to rescue this man.

Glacier National Park Visitor Pulls .357 On "Weird" White-Tailed Deer

Jul 21st - 10:49am | Former Park Ranger

The simple discharge of a firearm in a National Park is not a felony category crime and since the act was not committed in the presence of, or observed by a peace officer, issuing a citation for that discharge would not be legal. Only felony acts not committed in an officer’s presence maybe acted upon by a peace officer.

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