There are some natural resources in the National Park System that prove too tempting to some. At Mammoth Cave National Park, two individuals recently were cited for digging up more than 100 ginseng roots from inside the park in violation of federal law.

This Saturday the Tour of the Moon recreational bicycle ride will pedal through Colorado National Monument. The cyclists will travel over Rim Rock Drive, entering the monument at the east entrance off of Monument Road near Grand Junction, Colorado, and exiting at the west entrance onto Highway 340 near Fruita. Cyclists will be limited to the west bound lane.

Running an 8-inch diameter natural gas pipeline beneath Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park has been given the go-ahead from the National Park Service, which said the pipeline shouldn't cause an impact to the park.

In the event of a government shutdown, the National Park Service will tap revenues generated through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act if necessary to keep parks open, according to P. Daniel Smith, the de facto Park Service director.