National Parks Traveler

The body of a Japanese visitor who fell off the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in the fall of 2012, and which was discovered two months later, finally has been identified.

Winter is upon us and although some of our parks have closed their visitor centers for the season, there are still many ways to enjoy our national parks! We've put together this list to highlight some of the activities that are taking place in December, January, and February. Pack up the car, grab your Passport®, and explore the parks!

A popular day-use area in Everglades National Park that was scheduled to open this month will not due to budget shortfalls, according to park officials.

Ocmulgee National Monument, in Macon, Georgia, protects earth mounds from the Mississippian Period. The Earth Lodge Mound still has the original floor from more than a thousand years ago. The surrounding grounds offer a relaxing, easy, place to walk while you're exploring the monument.

Among the functions performed by the National Park Service, few can top "fire management" in terms of costs, public safety, and impacts on both park and adjacent property and activities. That said, you may wish to take advantage of the opportunity to review and comment on the agency's new Wildland Fire Strategic Plan: 2014-2019.

A tentative budget compromise reached by congressional negotiators would, if approved by the full Congress and the White House, mean some relief for the National Park Service.

The Old Fall River Road, which ascends slowly through a picturesque corner of Rocky Mountain National Park to near the summit of Trail Ridge Road, will be closed to vehicles throughout 2014 due to storm damage sustained in September.

With the 151st anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg being marked this month, the staff at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park has lined up some special events.

If you like to frequent the national parks in southeastern Utah, and not many others, you might consider spending $25 for an annual pass to Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments.

There are worries that a majority of today's younger generations are not interested in spending much time outdoors in natural areas. The Student Conservation Association exists to help nurture and immerse these generations in places such as national parks and national forests. Jane Wong discovered that working in the field with the SCA gave her a great appreciation for the outdoors. This is her story.