National Parks Traveler

Is Outsourcing Parks A Key To Solving The National Park Service's Financial Woes?

With a park system that is being strangled by its maintenance backlog and operating costs, would the National Park Service, and the system, be better off if the agency outsourced entire parks?

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October 12th, 2014

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Study Shows Southern California Mountain Lions Lack Genetic Diversity

A genetic sampling of more than 300 mountain lions in southern California, including within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, shows the big cats lack genetic diversity.

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October 12th, 2014

Winning The Denali Road Lottery, And Loving Every Mile Of It

There are 3,381 miles that separate my quaint and humid Baton Rouge neighborhood from the front door of Mount McKinley in Alaska's Interior. I have no doubt you can envision the stark contrast between the two, but let me give you a first-hand perspective.

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October 12th, 2014

National Christmas Tree Lighting Set For December 4; Ticket Lottery Opens October 17

The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation have set the date for the 92nd annual National Christmas Tree Lighting on the White House Ellipse at President’s Park. This year’s kick-off to the holiday season in the nation’s capital will be held Thursday, December 4, at 5 p.m. Free tickets for the lighting ceremony will be awarded through an online lottery.

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October 11th, 2014

New Bridge Aids Hikers On The Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail

Long-distance hikers, and even weekend warriors, in middle America can thank the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service for rebuilding the Lick Creek Bridge on the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail that runs 319 miles from Morehead, Kentucky, south into the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Tennessee.

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October 10th, 2014

National Fossil Day Celebrated In National Parks Next Week

Fossils large and small will be the stars of the National Park System next week when National Fossil Day is celebrated on Wednesday.

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October 10th, 2014

Joshua Tree National Park Campgrounds Reopen For The Season

While more than a few parks are winding down their high seasons and getting ready to ease into the winter months, at Joshua Tree National Park in California the high season is coming and to prepare the park has reopened all of its campgrounds.

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October 10th, 2014

Grand Canyon National Park's Concessions Issue Impacting National Parks Nationwide

A problem roughly a century in the making that left Grand Canyon National Park in a nearly $200 million hole is impacting parks from coast to coast, with superintendents forced to find programs and projects they can postpone, cutback, or simply cut.

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October 9th, 2014

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John Muir Trail, The Essential Guide To Hiking America's Most Famous Trail

By now, it's getting a bit late to be hiking the entire John Muir Trail. In fact, you should be nearing the end of your trek. But if you've wondered about taking on that long-distance walk, there's a good book you should read.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 9th, 2014 2:21am

Shenandoah National Park Trust Funds Research Fellowships At Shenandoah National Park

Funding provided by the Shenandoah National Park Trust is enabling Shenandoah National Park officials to offer a research fellowship program designed to facilitate and encourage scientific research in the park.

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October 9th, 2014

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