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…

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah
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Arches National Park Will Use Timed Entry System Again in 2023, With Some Updates

ByBram Reusen

This news story about the 2023 timed entry system in Arches National Park is based on a December 16, 2022, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. In a statement, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that “Arches National Park will implement an updated timed entry system pilot in 2023.”…

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…

Petroglyphs, Mesa Verde National Park
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7 Fascinating Pictograph, Petroglyph and Rock Art Sites in the National Parks

ByBram Reusen

Nearly all U.S. national parks encompass the ancestral homelands of Native American Tribes. Having lived in, or at least traveled through, these areas, they left behind plenty of archaeological artifacts and other cultural heritage. Particularly the rock art sites in national parks, created by Indigenous peoples many centuries ago, are fascinating places to visit. Today,…

Going-to-the-Sun Road viewpoint in Glacier National Park, Montana
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Awe-Inspiring Overlooks and Viewpoints in the National Parks

ByBram Reusen

Besides wildlife and outdoor adventures, many people visit America’s national parks to see some of the country’s greatest landscapes. While some views require several miles of hiking, there are also many spectacular, easily accessible overlooks and viewpoints in the national parks.

Double Arch, Arches National Park, Utah
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Timed Entry Reservation System Coming to Arches National Park in 2022

ByBram Reusen

This news story about the new timed entry reservation system in Arches National Park in 2022 is based on a December 10, 2021, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. After a decade of visitation increases, which was especially apparent in the past two COVID summers, Arches National Park will…

Angel's Landing Trail, Best Hikes in Zion National Park
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You Will Need a Permit to Hike Angels Landing in Zion National Park from April 1, 2022

ByBram Reusen

This news story about the Angels Landing permit lottery system is based on a December 2, 2021, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here. As we reported back in August, Zion National Park has been considering implementing a day-use lottery system for the popular Angels Landing hike. Now, the National…

Domes and Dripstones Tour, Mammoth Cave National Park - Longest Cave in the World
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See Spectacular Subterranean Wonders at These 10 National Park Caves

ByBram Reusen

Besides such famous places as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and Death Valley, and iconic buildings like the Statue of Liberty and the San Antonio Missions, the National Park Service (NPS) also preserves an amazing diversity of caves. In fact, the National Park Service system encompasses more than 4,700 caves. Yes, you read that right! I’ll…

Milky Way in Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii
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16 Best U.S. National Parks for Stargazing

ByBram Reusen

Preserving some of America’s last remaining pristine night skies, many national parks offer amazing stargazing and Milky Way viewing opportunities. From Mesa Verde and Death Valley to Glacier and Voyageurs, these national parks have the most spectacular star-peppered night skies. “Half the park is after dark!”

Angels Landing, Zion National Park hikes
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Zion Considers Angels Landing Day-Use Permit in 2022 to Combat Congestion, Safety Concerns

ByBram Reusen

After over 300,000 visitors hiked Angels Landing in 2019 and continued rapid growth throughout 2021, Zion National Park is now proposing the implementation of an Angels Landing day-use lottery system in 2022. This new system would prevent congestion on the trail, while also providing a better hiking experience and enhanced safety.

Tent at night, South Campground, Zion National Park
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Zion National Park Receives International Dark Sky Park Certification

ByBram Reusen

The National Park Service and International Dark Sky Association announced Zion National Park’s official certification as a Dark Sky Park on June 3. This certification means that all five Utah national park are now recognized for their incredible night skies.

Painted Hills in John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon
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10 Best National Parks and Monuments for Dinosaurs and Fossils

ByBram Reusen

If you’d like to put on your paleontology hat, learn about prehistoric fossils and dinosaurs, and maybe even look for them yourself, the national parks and monuments in this post can’t be beat. From Badlands and Petrified Forest to several Fossil Beds National Monuments, they’re the absolute best National Park Service sites for fossil hunting.

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)

ByBram Reusen

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.