Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park - National Parks Near Salt Lake City, Utah
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What to Do in Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky)

It’s impossible to exaggerate the magnificence and sheer vastness of Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Situated in the heart of the Colorado Plateau and bisected by both the Colorado and Green Rivers, this wild park protects literally hundreds of canyons, and countless spires, mesas, buttes and arches.

First Yellowstone Grizzly Bear of 2021 - Credit NPS Jacob W. Frank

Pilot Spots First Grizzly Bear of 2021 in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is unofficially awakening, albeit slowly, after a long and cold winter. This moment is typically marked by the first grizzly bear sighting of year, which, according to the National Park Service, occurred on March 13, 2021. The bear was seen interacting with wolves at a carcass in the northern area of the park.

Pa'Rus Trail, Zion National Park

How Many National Parks Are There in the United States?

How many national parks are there right now? The answer to that question tends to change each year, as U.S. Presidents create national monuments and Congress designates new National Park Service units and “proper” national parks. This post tells you exactly how many national parks and other NPS units there currently are.

Cuyahoga Valley wetland pool in 2015 - NPS Chris Davis
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Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Krejci Dump Cleanup is Complete, Site Fully Restored

After a multi-year cleanup process, the National Park Service and Ford have succeeded in cleaning up the former Krejci Dump site. The NPS announced that the project is complete and the site fully restored. It’s now in a stable natural state, ensuring its long-term success as a natural wetland and wildlife habitat.

Love Is King couple

Love Is King: Featured Outdoor Diversity Organization

Our monthly outdoor diversity feature, Love Is King views access to the outdoors as a human right, knowing that all people deserve to benefit from what nature has to offer. Their mission is to create a humanitarian movement, through love, empathy and respect, where all children, families and communities of color can have equitable and safe access to the outdoors.

Wizard Island in Crater Lake, Oregon
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The Ultimate Pacific Northwest National Parks Road Trip

One of America’s most diverse regions, the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is home to massive volcanoes, pristine temperate rain forests, high desert plains, sea stack-lined coasts and spectacular mountain ranges. In this post, I talk about the many must-visit Pacific Northwest national parks and offer a couple of suggested road trip itineraries.

Wedding in the Meadow
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Best National Parks for Weddings and Elopements

Are you ready to swap out your dress shoes for hiking boots and add a backpack to your wedding day wardrobe? Elopements and small weddings in national parks have become increasingly popular recently. Check out the best national parks to elope to or get married at!

Grand Canyon visitors - National Park Visitation Numbers 2020

National Park Visitation Was Down 28% in 2020, But Some Parks Still Set Individual Records

The coronavirus pandemic and related closures, restrictions and lockdowns caused a huge drop national park visitation numbers in 2020, a 28% decrease from 2019. Yet, some parks in the NPS system still set individual (seasonal) visitation records, as more people sought refuge in the great outdoors.

Colorado Desert wildflowers in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Joshua Tree National Park Expects to Be Extremely Crowded in Spring 2021

Already the busiest time of the year in Joshua Tree National Park, the 2021 spring season is expected to be even busier than usual, as more people continue to look to national parks for their annual spring holiday. The National Park Service shared its concerns about this and offers tips to make the best of your spring 2021 trip to Joshua Tree.

Tumalo Mountain Trail hiker view of Mount Bachelor, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon
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8 Awesome Things to Do in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon

A sprawling area of forests, volcanoes, mountains and lakes south(west) of Bend, Oregon, Deschutes National Forest is a dream destination for hikers, kayakers, rock climbers, campers and other adventurists. Check out the top attractions in this spectacular national forest here.

Official National Park Service App for Smartphones

The National Park Service Now Has An App That Includes All 420+ Sites

The brand new “National Park Service” app is the Park Service’s official app. Created by National Park Service staff—the people who know the parks best—it provides information, guidance, tips and suggestions for all its 420+ sites, from historic sites and battlefields to national monuments and national parks. It’s a great tool for on-the-road planning and checking conditions.

See You At The Top - SYATT

See You At The Top (SYATT): Featured Outdoor Diversity Organization

The Cleveland-based organization See You At The Top (SYATT) aims to make outdoor spaces more accessible to people of color, while simultaneously creating joyful experiences in them. Consider supporting this month’s organization by donating to their cause and/or sharing their content and work on social media.

Hiker Watching Sunrise at Bearfence Mountain, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
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Where to Watch the Sunrise in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Watching a sunrise in Shenandoah National Park is one of the five absolute highlights in this magnificent park in central Virginia. It’s incredibly easy to do, too. Skyline Drive winds its way across the crest of the Blue Ridge, cutting across the park from north to south, lined with more than 70 overlooks. These are the best viewpoints and mountaintops to see the sunrise in Shenandoah.

Washington Monument in Washington, D.C - Top U.S. Presidential National Parks
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33 Fascinating Presidential National Parks: Birthplaces, Homes, Monuments & Memorials

There’s always been a close historical link between America’s presidents and its national parks, from the creation of Yellowstone National Park to the Antiquities Act and many national park sites related to the presidents themselves. There are over 30 presidential national parks, dedicated to presidents like Washington, Lincoln, both Roosevelts, JFK, Eisenhower and more.