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.

Vibrant fall colors on the Skyline and Alta Vista Trail, Mount Rainier National Park
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Enjoy Spectacular Fall Colors at These 10 U.S. National Parks

ByBram Reusen

The most colorful of all seasons, fall brings spectacular foliage to national parks all across the United States. From Acadia and Shenandoah in the East to Glacier and Mount Rainier in the West, these are the absolute best national parks to enjoy the warm colors of autumn.

Gold Bluffs Beach Campground dawn, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California
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10 Coolest Beach Campgrounds in the National Parks

ByBram Reusen

Camping is extremely popular among holidaying Americans and what better place to pitch your tent or park your RV than a national park campground? And I’ll do one better: is there a more fun place to camp than a national park campground on the beach? I didn’t think so either! So here’s a list of…

Going-to-the-Sun Road panorama at sunrise near Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
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Which National Parks Require Reservations in 2024?

ByBram Reusen

This overview of national parks that require reservations in 2024 was last updated on June 3, 2024. If you’re planning your next national park road trip or hiking vacation, you might want to take note of the required reservations in some national parks in 2024. After another busy year across the National Park Service system,…

Trail Ridge Road Near Rock Cut - Image credit: Rocky Mountain National Park
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Rocky Mountain’s Trail Ridge Road Is Open For the Season

ByBram Reusen

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is open for the season, the park said in a press release on Friday, May 31. Due to melting snow on the road and the potential for freezing temperatures visitors should be prepared for icy conditions. At this time, nightly closures will not be implemented. However, because…

Cliff Palace cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
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6 Must-See Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park

ByBram Reusen

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park are among the most numerous and best-preserved of their kind in North America. They are one of the cultural jewels in the crown of the National Park System. Countless cliff dwellings dot the landscape of Mesa Verde—more than 600 of them—along with…

23 Spectacular Day Hikes in the National Parks
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23 Spectacular Day Hikes in the National Parks

ByBram Reusen

The health benefits of hiking are well known and well documented nowadays. And few things are better for a “nature bath” than going on a reinvigorating hike in a national park. These are some of the greatest day hikes in the U.S. National Park System.

Arches National Park Timed-Entry System 2024 - Image credit NPS Veronica Verdin
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Vehicle Reservations Returning to Arches, Rocky Mountain and Glacier National Parks in 2024

ByBram Reusen

This news story about 2024 vehicle reservations in Arches, Rocky Mountain, and Glacier National Parks is based on November 9, 2023, National Park press releases. You can read the original releases here, here, and here. On Thursday afternoon, November 9, the National Park Service released plans to implement vehicle reservation systems once again in a…

Cascade Pass hiker in North Cascades National Park, Washington State
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Escape the Crowds at These 5 Less Busy National Parks This Summer

ByBram Reusen

The 2023 summer is set to be one of the busiest in National Park Service history, if not the busiest. Parks from Yosemite to Arches and Zion have experienced exceptionally busy weekends this year and it doesn’t look like they’ll get any quieter through the summer. As more and more people visit the parks, several…

Dog at the summit of Pemetic Mountain in Acadia National Park, Maine
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Most Dog-Friendly National Parks in the U.S.

ByBram Reusen

More often than not in America’s national parks, your dog is only allowed in campgrounds, on and near paved roads, and/or in some accommodations. Only in developed areas, in other words. Some parks, however, also welcome dogs on hiking trails. Here are the most dog-friendly national parks of them all.

View of Mount Rainier from Sunrise Point, Mount Rainier National Park
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See America on These 10 Unforgettable National Park Road Trips

ByBram Reusen

Combining America’s wide open highways, charming towns and spectacular landscapes, the American national park road trip is arguably the country’s quintessential vacation. These are the greatest U.S. national park road trips, from the Appalachians to the Pacific Northwest and Southern California.

Piegan and Siyeh Pass Trail at Siyeh Bend, Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park
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Can You Forage in National Parks? 17 Best National Parks for Foraging

ByBram Reusen

If you’re a national parks lover who enjoys gardening, collecting wild edibles and foraging, you might wonder if foraging is allowed in the national parks. And, as surprising as it may be, the answer to that question is usually yes. Although the general removal, disturbance or collection of plants is prohibited in national parks, numerous…

Sand Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine
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10 Idyllic Swimming Spots in National Parks

ByBram Reusen

America’s national parks are home to numerous scenic swimming spots, whether it’s a lakeshore, ocean beach, riverbank or even hot spring. Few things are more refreshing than jumping into a lake or swimming hole in summer, especially if it’s surrounded by idyllic national park scenery. Spending some time on a  national park beach and cooling…

Lost Palms Oasis Trail, desert hike in Joshua Tree National Park
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10 Unforgettable Desert Hikes in the National Parks

ByBram Reusen

From old-growth forests to towering mountains, from rocky coasts to shimmering lakes, America’s national parks preserve all kinds of landscapes. One of the landscapes least suitable to humans, however, are the American deserts. And this is exactly why the following desert hikes in the national parks are so unforgettable. Hiking across shadeless desert flats, navigating…