National Park After Dark

Latest Episodes:

The Colorado Cannibal: Gunnison National Forest Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

In April of 1874, Alfred Packer stumbled out of the Colorado wilderness after months spent missing. Initially claiming his five companions had died in harsh winter conditions, investigators later found evidence that the men had been killed and cannibalized, leading to Packer's arrest for murder. What followed has since become one of the most famous and debated survival stories in American history.

COME SEE US ON TOUR!

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Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

Thank you to this week’s partners!

IM8: Use code npad at http://im8health.com/npad and use code npad for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order.

Whatnot: Download Whatnot today and get $20 Off and free shipping on your first purchase. Search Whatnot, W H A T N O T, in the app store, sign up, and start finding the best deals on the products you love with $20 Off and free shipping on your first purchase.

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The Deadly Hunt for the Lost Dutchman Mine: Tonto National Forest Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

When a dying prospector revealed the secret of a hidden gold mine deep within Arizona's Superstition Mountains, he ignited a mystery that has lured people to their deaths for more than a century. Cryptic maps, mysterious stone carvings, suspicious deaths, and countless expeditions have failed to reveal it’s location. More than 130 years later, the Lost Dutchman Mine remains one of America's greatest treasure hunts.

For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes

For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:

Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdark
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Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

Thank you to this week’s partners!

Blueland: Reduce single-use plastic at home with Blueland's innovative household cleaning products. Get 15% off your first order at Blueland | Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products | Blueland .

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Trail Tales 98: Spooky Sleuths, Tentacle Bunnies & Shaming Monkey Owners Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Today’s stories include spooky sleuths, tentacle bunnies, satisfying curses, bully grouse, and shaming monkey owners. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!

For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:

Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdark
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Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

Thank you to this week’s partners!
Bilt: Download the Bilt app and join the membership for where you live, at http://joinbilt.com/park
Fora: Become a Fora Advisor today at fora.com/npad
Warby Parker: Buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at http://WarbyParker.com/NPAD
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What Happened to Sheila Kearns? Mount Rainier National Park Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

In the fall of 1996, 43 year old Sheila Kearns had just finished her first summer season working in Mount Rainier and was excited to begin a winter season in the park she had grown to love. When she failed to show up for work at the National Park Inn, a search was dispatched. It wasn’t until seven months later when her scattered remains were found less than a mile from her housing. 30 years later her death remains unsolved.

Internal Memo NPS Guidance

For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes

For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:

Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @‌nationalparkafterdark

Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

Thank you to this week’s partners!

Avocado: Find an Avocado near you or shop online at http://AvocadoGreenMattress.com/NPAD and check out their mattress and bedding sale!

PAKA Apparel: To grab your PAKA hoodie, go to www.pakaapparel.com

Quince: Go to quince.com/npad for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

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card. Cash App Green features, Savings, Direct deposit, Round ups, Overdraft coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.

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The Cog Railway Disaster: White Mountain National Forest Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

Mount Washington became the location of one of the deadliest accidents in American Railroad history in 1967. Home to the world's first Cog Railway, a routine descent turned catastrophic when the locomotive left the tracks, sending a passenger car full of tourists into a terrifying runaway ride down one of the steepest railroad grades in the world.

For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes

For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:

Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @‌nationalparkafterdark

Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

Thank you to this week’s partners!

Ka'Chava: Go to https://kachava.com and use code NPAD for 15% off your first order.

ButcherBox: As an exclusive offer, new listeners can get their choice of free ribeyes for a year, or ground beef or chicken breast for life, PLUS $20 off their first box. Visit http://ButcherBox.com/NPAD to claim your offer.

HelloFresh: Get 10 Free Meals + Free Breakfast for Life with HelloFresh! Go to http://HelloFresh.com/npad10fm.

IQBAR: Get 20% off all IQBAR products plus FREE shipping by texting PARK to 64000.

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Trail Tales 97: Hot Cowboys, Cold Nights & Bathroom Ghosts Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

Today’s stories include cold camping, hot cowboys, haunted first dates, high evacuations, bathroom ghosts, and a bad night in the Badlands. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!

For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:

Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @‌nationalparkafterdark

Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

Thank you to today’s sponsors!

Bellessa: EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE WhisperVibeTM OR a FREE Rose toy with any WhisperTM order!
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The Mysterious Death of Mostly Harmless: Big Cypress National Reserve Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

In July of 2018, two hikers in Big Cypress National Preserve stumbled across a deceased camper. The man was emaciated, surrounded with food and cash but no form of identification. The mystery surrounding who this man was stretched nearly two years. Law enforcement, the media, and thousands of online sleuths worked tirelessly to identify the man in the yellow tent, but what they ultimately discovered unsettled them all.

For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes

For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:

Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @‌nationalparkafterdark

Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

Thank you to this week’s partners!

Task Rabbit: Get $15 off your first task at Taskrabbit.com or on the Taskrabbit app using promo code NPAD
Blueland: Make the switch today! Get 15% off your first order by visiting our link.
IM8: Use code npad for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, & 10% off your order.
IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get twenty percent off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.
DwarfLab: Chase the night sky! Visit http://dwarflab.com and use promo code NPAD.

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The Grizzly Mauling That Changed Yellowstone National Park Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

In June 1972, 23-year-old Harry Walker left Alabama for the adventure of a lifetime. Days after arriving in Yellowstone National Park, he was killed by a grizzly bear. Harry's death exposed decades of controversial bear management practices and sparked a legal battle against the federal government. At the center of it all was a question that Yellowstone had been struggling to answer for generations: how do you keep bears wild while keeping people safe?

For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes

Book Recommendation: Engineering Eden by Jordan Fisher Smith and Taken By Bear in Yellowstone by Kathleen Snow

For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:

Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @‌nationalparkafterdark

Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

Thank you to this week’s partners!

Fora Travel: Love planning trips? Turn your passion for travel into a flexible source of income as a Fora Advisor. Learn more at https://www.foratravel.com/NPAD

Nutrafol: Get $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you use promo code NPAD at https://www.nutrafol.com

Smalls: For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to Fresh Human-Grade Cat Food Delivery | Smalls

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Trail Tales 96 ft. LGBTQ Outdoors Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

Today’s stories includes campsite sabotage, bigfoot gaslighting, Yosemite Valley spookiness, type 3 fun, finding belonging, and titanic-ing in Voyageurs National Park. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!

Connect with LGBTQ Outdoors!!

For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:

Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @‌nationalparkafterdark

Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

Thank you to this week’s partners!

Avocado: Go to http://AvocadoGreenMattress.com/NPAD and check out their mattress and bedding sale!

Jones Road Beauty: Use code NPAD at http://jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Gift with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad

Warby Parker: Our listeners can buy one prescription pair and get 20% off any additional pairs at http://WarbyParker.com/NPAD — using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #ad

WhatNot: Download Whatnot today and get $20 Off and free shipping on your first purchase.

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The Sasquatch Scapegoat: Sierra National Forest Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

In June of 1987, 16 year old Theresa Ann Bier vanished while on a camping trip outside of Yosemite National Park. The man who accompanied her, 43-year-old Russell “Skip” Welch, returned alone days later with a startling story - Bigfoot took her.

For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes

For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:

Instagram: @‌nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @‌nationalparkafterdark

Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

Thank you to this week’s partners!

Blueland: Make the switch today! Get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland dot com slash NPAD.
FirstDay: Our listeners get up to 57% Off AND a Free Gift with code NPAD at http://FirstDay.com
IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.
Keeper: Get 60% off personal and family plans at http://Keepersecurity.com/NPAD
PAKA: To grab your PAKA hoodie, go to WWW DOT PAKA APPAREL DOT COM
Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at http://square.com/go/NPAD ! #squarepod

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