National Parks Traveler Episode 174: Listening To Park Sounds

Waking up in the middle of the night in the backcountry of a national park can often be an interesting, or even unnerving, experience. What was it that caused you to wakeup? Fourteen years ago, deep in the interior of Yellowstone National Park it was the howling of a wolf, and when I think about it, it still seems like it was just yesterday. The melodic howl hung in the air, seesawing up and down as the wolf sang his song.

We go into national parks to view spectacular scenery, hike, and see wildlife. But have you ever just stopped to listen?

As much as a national park’s scenery catches you, the sounds you can pick up during your park visits are just as memorable. And, in the case of a howling wolf, bellowing grizzly, or bugling elk, I would suggest that they’re more memorable.

This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at the National Parks Traveler. This week, we’re doing away with talking and focusing on listening. 

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode Intro with Kurt Repanshek
1:06 Beyond the Reef - Tim Heintz & Grant Geissman - Seascapes: A Musical Journey
1:16 Interior Federal Credit Union
1:35 Yosemite Conservancy
1:55 Eastern National Passport
2:38 Great Smoky Mountains Association
2:58 Friends of Acadia
3:25 Listening to the Parks - What can you hear if you listen carefully in Yellowstone National Park?
15:27 Listening to the Parks - What can you hear if you listen carefully in Rocky Mountain National Park?
21:15 Listening to the Parks - What can you hear if you listen carefully in Everglades National Park?
24:35 Listening to the Parks - What can you hear if you listen carefully in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park?
31:23 Episode Closing
32:04 Wonder Lake - Various Artists - The Spirit of Alaska
32:12 Orange Tree Productions
32:44 Wild Tribute
33:08 Grand Teton National Park Foundation
33:36 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
33:56 Washington’s National Park Fund
34:28 The Everglades Foundation
34:39 Potrero Group
35:05 Splitbeard Productions
35:15 National Parks Traveler footer

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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 376 | ESA's Future

Since this past December here at the Traveler we’ve been bringing you a series of stories on the Endangered Species Act and the threatened and endangered species it’s intended to keep from going extinct.

For me, it’s been an eye-opening series because of what our editors and writers have learned about threatened and endangered species — from birds to trees and even to grasses — and the work being done to help them recover. It’s certainly not an easy task, and one that often takes decades before you can see progress.

May 31st, 2026 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 375 | Rethinking Public Lands Stewardship

Public lands stewardship has most definitely changed under the second presidential administration of Donald Trump. Land-management agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management have lost thousands of employees, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is on a mission to turn the country’s public lands into a cash cow of sorts.

May 24th, 2026 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 374 | Cook Inlet's Beluga Whales

A fast-track proposal to develop a gold mine near Alaska’s Cook Inlet and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is alarming scientists, environmental groups and local communities because of the devastating effects it is expected to have on the region’s critically endangered beluga whales.

May 17th, 2026 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 373 | Southern Campaign of the American Revolution

America’s 250th birthday is coming up this summer, festivities will be held all over the country, and history buffs will be delving into the various nooks and crannies of the National Park System to see where they can visit sites of Revolutionary War battles.

Don't overlook South Carolina and its three park sites that preserve Revolutionary War battlefields – Kings Mountain National Military Park, Cowpens National Battlefield, and Ninety-Six National Historic Site. 

May 10th, 2026 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 372 | Print Ain’t Dead

We’re living in somewhat tumultuous times in the print media industry. Well-familiar titles are either disappearing, shrinking drastically, or shifting over to the internet. On top of that, the advent of Artificial Intelligence has some readers wondering how much human effort and talent went into the piece they're reading.

May 3rd, 2026 Read More

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The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks 

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

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

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks 

FREE for iPhones and Android phones.