One of the great pleasures of visiting Yellowstone National Park is seeing bears in the wild. Both black bears and grizzly bears call the park home and are active—and therefore visible—for a large part of the year. However, the bears in Yellowstone do hibernate in winter. After starting this months-long sleep sometime in November, they’re…
This news story about the closing of national parks in case of a government shutdown is based on a September 29, 2023, Department of the Interior press release. You can read the original release here. People who’d been planning a fall trip to a national park—and that includes me—will be sorely disappointed if the U.S….
Despite their remote location in the High Desert of central Oregon, the Painted Hills are one of the most-visited natural attractions in the state. It’s a popular day trip destination from Bend, as well as a fantastic two-or-three-day road trip from Portland. The Painted Hills are famous for their extraordinary colored stripes of yellow, gold,…
Meandering its way for 18 miles across a landscape dotted with striking red rock formations, the Scenic Drive in Arches National Park offers access to all of the park’s top attractions. From the Visitor Center just off of Highway 191 to Devils Garden, motorists pass by numerous natural landmarks and some truly breathtaking views. Famous…
This news story about flooding in Death Valley National Park due to Tropical Storm Hilary is based on an August 20, 2023, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. A statement from Death Valley National Park management on Sunday said that “Death Valley National Park is closed due to active…
Situated in the far northwestern corner of the contiguous United States, Mount Baker has some of the greatest (sub)alpine trails in the nation. Rising 10,781 feet to the heavens, Mount Baker—also known as Komo Kulshan or simply Kulshan—is the third highest mountain in Washington State, after Mount Rainier and Mount Adams. Located within sprawling Mount…
This news story about a cougar attack on a child in Olympic National Park is based on a July 30, 2023, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. On Sunday morning, Olympic National Park wildlife personnel and law enforcement were actively searching for a cougar—also known as mountain lion or…
Although (parts of) the park are open throughout the year, summer is the absolute peak season in Mount Rainier National Park. And there’s one main reason for that: spectacular displays of subalpine wildflowers. While you can enjoy this natural spectacle from your vehicle or from crowded tourist areas, nothing compares to walking through these vibrant…
This news story about the establishment of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument is based on a July 25, 2023, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. On the 82nd anniversary of Emmett Till’s birth, President Biden established the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument through proclamation during…
Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, on the border of Oregon and Washington, Portland is the ideal starting point for a Pacific Northwest national parks road trip. This outdoorsy, eco-friendly city offers easy access to some of the greatest U.S. national parks.
As America’s national parks become more and more popular each year, many of them have to deal with huge crowds, traffic congestions, and other issues, such as incidents involving wildlife. Therefore, planning a trip to a national park can be somewhat more difficult nowadays than it used to be. This is especially true when also…
This news story about the opening of Tioga Road is based on a July 19, 2023, Yosemite National Park Facebook post. You can read the original post here. “Great news!” Yosemite National Park posted on its Facebook page on Wednesday, July 19, along with the announcement that Tioga Road opens to vehicles on Saturday, July…
This news story about a food-conditioned grizzly bear that was euthanized in Glacier National Park is based on a July 21, 2023, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. The actions of careless visitors have resulted in the euthanasia of a grizzly bear in Glacier National Park. The bear—a sow…
This news story about a bison goring in Theodore Roosevelt National Park is based on a July 18, 2023, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. A recent bison goring in Theodore Roosevelt National Park serves as yet another reminder to visitors that animals in national parks are wild and…