Latest News

The latest news from around the National Park System.

Aztec Ruins National Monument Schedules Holiday Luminaria

Candles will be flickering December 21 at Aztec Ruins National Monument when the park staff hosts a luminaria display with its Evening of Lights event.

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By NPT Staff - December 10th, 2011 3:00am

Grand Teton National Park Opens Winter Season on December 15

The winter season arrives in Grand Teton National Park next Thursday, when the park will transition to winter hours and fees.

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By NPT Staff - December 10th, 2011 3:00am

"Lake Superior Overlook" Improvements Completed At Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

With snow on the way, officials at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore are happy to announce the completion of significant improvements at "Lake Superior Overlook" along the newly completed Alger County Road H-58.

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By NPT Staff - December 9th, 2011 3:00am

Glacier National Park Ready For Winter

The winter season has officially arrived at Glacier National Park, where reduced entrance fees are in place and snows are encroaching on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

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By NPT Staff - December 9th, 2011 3:00am

Snakes Alive! There's An App For That At Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park officials are turning to technology -- an app, not surprisingly -- to help them stay on top of non-native snakes and other plant and animal species invading the park.

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By NPT Staff - December 8th, 2011 3:00am

1 comment

Are You an American Homesteader—or a Descendant of One?

It's the true grit stuff of legends and dreams, the inspiration for TV series and countless books: homesteaders overcoming adversity to gain free land on the American frontier. The Sesquicentennial of the Homestead Act of 1862 will be celebrated in 2012, and if you're a homesteader or a descendant of one, the staff at Homestead National Monument of America would like to hear from you.

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By Jim Burnett - December 8th, 2011 3:00am

3 comments

House Natural Resources Committee Hearing On ESA Presents Diverging Viewpoints

Depending on your perspective, the Endangered Species Act is either an incredible waste of money and effort, or a highly successful tool that protect species from extinction. Both viewpoints were presented to the House Natural Resources Committee, where the Republican majority came away seeing a need to "strengthen and update" the ESA.

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By Kurt Repanshek - December 8th, 2011 3:00am

9 comments

Yellowstone National Park A Week Away From Opening For Winter Season

Snow conditions willing, Yellowstone National Park will open for the winter season a week from today.

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By Kurt Repanshek - December 8th, 2011 3:00am

Nearly 6 Years After Being Vandalized, Statue Honoring 4th New York Battery Returned To Pedestal At Gettysburg National Military Park

Nearly six years after a statue honoring the 4th New York Battery's role at Gettysburg was vandalized, it has been repaired and returned to its pedestal.

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By NPT Staff - December 7th, 2011 3:00am

Reader Participation Day: Why Are National Parks So Controversial?

Why are national parks so dang controversial?

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By Kurt Repanshek - December 7th, 2011 3:00am

27 comments

Lodging Plan For Flamingo Area Of Everglades National Park Continues To Evolve

Costs, seasonality, and even climate change have planners at Everglades National Park revisiting how best to provide lodging for visitors to the Flamingo area of the park.

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By Kurt Repanshek - December 7th, 2011 3:00am

1 comment

Last Body From Trio Swept Over Vernal Fall in Yosemite National Park Identified

Authorities have identified the last victim of an accident back in July in which three people were swept over Vernal Fall in Yosemite National Park.

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By NPT Staff - December 6th, 2011 4:28pm

Passport Picks For Winter: Where In the National Park System Should You Visit?

How would you like to enjoy our national parks this winter? The folks at Eastern National put together the following list to highlight some of the activities that are taking place in December, January, and February

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By NPT Staff - December 6th, 2011 3:00am

2 comments

Acadia National Park Will Hold Holiday Open House At Jordon Pond Gate Lodge

Acadia National Park will hold a holiday open house at the Jordan Pond Gate Lodge on Saturday, December 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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By NPT Staff - December 6th, 2011 3:00am

Hiker Wants Great Smokies Mountain National Park To Divulge Comments On Proposed Backcountry Fee

Officials at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are being asked to make public all the comments they received on a proposal to charge for overnight backcountry use.

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By Kurt Repanshek - December 6th, 2011 3:00am

8 comments

Orphaned Florida Panther Released into the Wild at Big Cypress National Preserve

The tale of a young Florida panther known as K304 reached an important milestone last week when the cat was released into the wild at Big Cypress National Preserve. Just over a year ago, the animal was found orphaned in the park after the death of its mother.

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By Jim Burnett - December 6th, 2011 3:00am

Second Body Of Trio Swept Over Vernal Fall At Yosemite National Park Recovered, Identified

Nearly five months after three people were swept over 317-foot Vernal Fall in Yosemite National Park officials have recovered and identified the body of a second victim. Officials also were waiting on the positive identification of yet another body recovered this past Saturday.

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By NPT Staff - December 5th, 2011 6:21pm

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Ready For 36th Annual Festival of Christmas Past

The 36th edition of Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Festival of Christmas Past is set for Saturday at the Sugarlands Visitor Center.

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By NPT Staff - December 5th, 2011 3:00am

Grant Will Rehabilitate Boone Fork Trail Portion of Mountains-to-Sea Trail on Blue Ridge Parkway

A $75,000 grant from the North Carolina Recreation Trails Program will fund rehabilitation and improvement of one the most popular trails in Julian Price Memorial Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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By NPT Staff - December 20th, 2011 2:57pm

Where Can You See Wildlife Right Now: Whales At Cape Cod National Seashore

Far and away, most people who want to see whales at Cape Cod National Seashore go looking during the warm summer months. But, according to seashore officials, the winter months can offer glimpses of these leviathans as well.

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By Kurt Repanshek - December 5th, 2011 2:00am

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The Essential RVing Guide

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

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