National Parks Traveler

Recently, the much-esteemed Ranger Ron Mackie, late of Yosemite and the National Park Service, took time off from his new career of fighting forest fires in “retirement” to send me e-mail on the subject of volunteer labor.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park to open Wednesday, citations issued at Olympic National Park, and a call for states to share in national park management are among the issues floating around the National Park System during the ongoing government shutdown.

Most people explore Acadia National Park by foot, pedal, or paddle. Contributing photographer Rebecca Latson is not like most people. She toured the park from the air...in a biplane!

A little Trail Magic will be flowing, quite literally, Friday as the Nantahala Brewing Co. celebrates the season, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Sooner or later we'll once again be able to enjoy visits to parks around the country, and while we're waiting, we can start to compile a list of potential activities in NPS areas. If you'd enjoy a challenging, ranger-guided trip into a section of "wild" cave, the Spider Cave Tour at Carlsbad Caverns National Park may be just what you've been looking for.

Wondering which national parks have been able to reopen with state funding? Here's a list, and the dates the parks are to remain open...barring some resolution in Washington or more funding from the states.

The shutdown of our national government, driven by an extremist minority in the U.S. Congress, is economically reckless and, ultimately, politically self-defeating.

They share the same lake waters, but you can spot the differences between Indiana Dunes and Sleeping Bear Dunes national lakeshores.

National Park Service officials have found themselves turned into political pawns, first as the administration's face of the government shutdown and now by being splintered through a handful of park openings.