Stay ConnectedNational Parks Traveler is the world’s top-rated, editorially independent, nonprofit media organization dedicated to covering national parks and protected areas on a daily basis.
Traveler offers readers and listeners a unique multimedia blend of news, feature content, debate, and discussion all tied to national parks and protected areas.
There is no shortage of hiking trails in the National Park System. From coastal walks and boardwalk trails to trails that run the ridges of the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park and the wildly popular hike to the top of Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park, the options can be overwhelming even if you had endless time to explore the parks.
It might come as a surprise to those who view Yosemite National Park as an iconic valley and a grove of soaring sequoias, but there are more than 800 miles of hiking trails in that park. And to get a feeling for those trails, we're joined today by Elizabeth Wenk, the author of the 6th edition of Your Complete Hiking Guide/Yosemite National Park from Wilderness Press.
Camels, lions, and mammoths once roamed the landscape around Las Vegas, Nevada. Such was the case during the latter part of the Pleistocene era, which spanned a period of time between 11,000 years and 2.5 million years ago. The area -- known as the Upper Las Vegas Wash –- is rich with the fossils of these and many more creatures as well as ancient plants and pollens.
This trove of fossils is preserved within Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. Lynn Riddick talks with Tule Springs Superintendent Derek Carter to learn about the treasures contained in the monument.
Today we're talking adventures, friendships, and the environment with Rick Ridgeway, who has traveled the world seeking adventure and, along the way, debated and discussed environmental consciousness with his friends, colleagues and peers. Rick, a climber, kayaker, explorer, filmmaker, and thoughtful writer, has a new book out, Life Lived Wild, that chronicles many of the adventures he's embarked upon the past five decades or so.
It's been said that the night sky represents the other half of the National Park System. It's in the national parks where you can experience some of the darkest skies you'll find anywhere.
Our guest this week knows all about that. Artist, author, astronomer and Night Sky Ambassador Doctor Tyler Nordgren talks with the Traveler's Lynn Riddick about the cosmic opportunity that the parks offer to teach the public about astronomy.
Feral hogs are just one of several species of invasive mammals that are posing immense challenges for national park managers. Unlike invasive insects or reptiles, invasive mammals are often larger and more "charismatic" animals, difficult for parks to eradicate from a logistical, financial, and emotional perspective.
Enter the National Park System and you won't come away disappointed when you realize all that awaits you. At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, it's impossible not to be awed by the volcanism that created the Hawaiian islands, and which is on full display at the crater atop the Kīlauea volcano.
Jessica Ferracane, the park's public affairs specialist, gave me a primer on Kīlauea during an early November visit. Her broad knowledge of the park and its two volcanoes and enthusiasm in discussing all things Hawaii Volcanoes National Park quickly came across.
The national parks have never been more popular...or more threatened. Now through the end of the year, we are asking for your support for a fundraising campaign to ensure the National Parks Traveler's ongoing coverage of national parks and protected areas.
For Grand Teton National Park, this year has, to put it bluntly, been crazy busy.
In September the park counted 570,584 visitors, the second-highest tally for that month in park history. Notably, it pushed the park's year-to-date visitation to 3,493,937, a record for an entire year, and with October, November, and December to go.
Grand Teton Superintendent Chip Jenkins discusses the impacts of that visitation.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee questioned Mr. Sams this past week during his confirmation hearing. He's an interesting nominee. He's from outside the National Park Service, and if confirmed he would be the first Native American director of the Park Service.
Discussing his nomination are Phil Francis of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, and Kristen Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association.
Editor-in-Chief Kurt Repanshek and Contributing Editor Kim O'Connell discuss news from around the National Park System, from black bear incidents along the Blue Ridge Parkway to a Yellowstone visitor being sentenced to jail for getting too close to a grizzly bear sow and her cubs.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
