View of Fort Jefferson while snorkeling in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
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9 Best National Parks to Visit in January

ByBram Reusen

After the holiday shopping, cooking, family gatherings, and celebrations of December, January is usually a time of contemplation, resolutions, and peace and quiet. It’s also a fantastic month to explore some amazing national parks. After all, what’s a better way to start the new year than visiting a new—maybe tropical—national park? Visiting national parks in…

Black wolf in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park
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Where to See Wolves in Yellowstone National Park

ByBram Reusen

The reintroduction of gray wolves (Canis lupus) to Yellowstone National Park is one of the greatest wildlife conservation success stories in the national parks. In fact, the return of the wolf to Yellowstone has been so successful that the park is now considered the best place in the world to see wolves in the wild….

Frances Perkins National Monument - Image credit: Library of Congress
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President Biden Establishes Frances Perkins National Monument as 433rd National Park Site

ByBram Reusen

President Joe Biden today established the Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle, Maine as the 433rd addition to the National Park System at a signing ceremony at the Department of Labor with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and leaders of the labor and women’s rights communities. The new…

Blue Ridge Parkway viewpoint in Virginia
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Complete List of ALL 433 National Park Service Sites

ByBram Reusen

America’s national parks system spans the entire country, from Alaska and Hawaii to Florida and Utah. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have one or more National Park Service (NPS) sites. This vast system also includes places in overseas territories like Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa. Together, all these…

Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument - Image credit NPS
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President Biden Establishes Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument as 432nd National Park Site

ByBram Reusen

President Joe Biden today signed a presidential proclamation establishing the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument in Carlisle, Pennsylvania as the 432nd site in the National Park System. The presidential proclamation for the new national monument, designated under the Antiquities Act, acknowledges the painful past of forced assimilation of Native children through the implementation…

Window Trail boardwalk at sunrise, Badlands National Park, South Dakota
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10 Amazing Hikes in Badlands National Park

ByBram Reusen

While the otherworldly landscapes of the South Dakota Badlands used to deter early fur trappers and pioneers, they now attract casual hikers and experienced backpackers alike. Compared to most U.S. national parks, there are relatively few hiking trails in Badlands National Park, but they do offer an amazing, immersive hiking experience. The Badlands National Park…

Hiking trail in the badlands, Death Valley National Park
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11 Top Things to See and Do in Death Valley National Park

ByBram Reusen

Snow-capped mountain peaks, vast salt pans and tickling salt creeks, tall sand dunes, multicolored canyons and ocher badlands make up the impressively varied landscapes of Death Valley National Park, California. This immense variety results in a wealth of Death Valley National Park highlights.

Grizzly bear at Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

Biggest Threats to Grizzly Bears (And How You Can Help Protect Them)

ByBram Reusen

As the unfortunate passing of grizzly 399—known affectionately as the “Queens of the Tetons”—sent shockwaves through the national park/outdoors/wildlife community, this heartbreaking event also has the potential to change things for the better. But only if we act. In the 21st century, grizzly bears in the continental United States continue to face several threats to…

Willow Flats sunrise panorama in Grand Teton National Park
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Grizzly 399’s Ashes Returned to Pilgrim Creek, Grand Teton National Park

ByBram Reusen

On November 1, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with Grand Teton National Park, honored the legacy of grizzly bear 399 by returning her ashes to the Pilgrim Creek area of the park, where she spent much of her life, both agencies said in statement. Following a respectful cremation, grizzly 399’s remains…

Grizzly bear in sagebrush in Grand Teton National Park
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Legendary Grizzly 399 Killed in Vehicle Accident South of Grand Teton National Park

ByBram Reusen

On the evening of Tuesday, October 22, 2024, grizzly bear 399, an iconic and world-famous bear known for her tolerance of people and for being an exceptionally successful mother, was fatally struck by a vehicle on Highway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, Wyoming. The bear’s identity was confirmed through ear tags and…

South Swim Beach and Moat at Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
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11 Wonderfully Warm National Parks to Escape Winter

ByBram Reusen

A summer road trip to one or more of the national parks is arguably the quintessential American holiday. And although summer is an amazing time to visit many parks, there are also numerous national parks that have beautiful warm winter weather. While some parks become spectacular winter wonderlands, others attract sunseekers, beachgoers and people who…

Grizzly bear in the Swiftcurrent Valley at Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
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Section of Highline Trail in Glacier Remains Closed After Bear Bites Hiker

ByBram Reusen

A section of Highline Trail in Glacier National Park remains closed from Haystack Butte to Granite Park Chalet after a visitor’s encounter with a bear on the morning of September 19. The trail will reopen once park rangers patrolling the area can determined that the bear is no longer in the area.  A 35-year-old male…

Cliff Palace seen from Sun Point View in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
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26 National Parks That Preserve Native American Heritage & Cultural Sites

ByBram Reusen

With all that overwhelming natural splendor, it’s easy to forget that the National Park System also preserves a wealth of other things and places. In fact, there are literally thousands of Native American heritage and cultural sites in America’s national parks, preserving archaeological sites, battlefields and cultural landmarks.