Parkography

Latest Episodes:

NEWS: New Volcano & Geyser Eruptions, Border Wall May Go Through Big Bend, Big Sur Wildflowers Destroyed Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

This week in national park news:

Mount Rainier National Park has officially dropped its timed entry reservation system for 2026 — joining Yosemite, Arches, and Glacier in abandoning the pandemic-era crowd management experiment.

Meanwhile, one of Yellowstone’s most unusual geothermal features — Echinus Geyser — has suddenly begun erupting again after years of dormancy.

We also cover:

• A fatal incident near the Kīlauea caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
• A controversial proposal to build new border barriers through Big Bend National Park
• One of the best wildflower blooms in Death Valley since 2016
• A strange act of vandalism at Big Sur’s famous Calla Lily Valley
• Possible campground closures in Washington state parks
• And the opening of a brand-new Texas state park for the first time in 24 years

00:00 Intro
00:46 Mount Rainier Drops Timed Entry
02:01 Hawaii Volcano Fatal Incident
02:57 Yellowstone Geyser Returns
04:47 Big Bend Border Wall Proposal
06:58 Death Valley Wildflower Bloom
08:14 Big Sur Flower Vandalism
09:46 Washington Campground Cuts
10:58 Texas Opens New State Park
12:05 Wrap Up

The Darkest Day in Carlsbad Caverns History Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

In 1979, armed men took control of one of America’s most famous national parks — 750 feet underground.

More than 100 visitors were trapped inside the Big Room at Carlsbad Caverns while gunshots echoed through the darkness. The hostage takers demanded money, a flight to Brazil, and a reporter to tell their story. What happened next became one of the strangest and least-known incidents in National Park Service history.

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News: Entry Reservations end at Arches & Yosemite, New NPS Director, Firefall Chaos Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

The National Park Service announces Arches and Yosemite will not use timed-entry reservations in 2026, Rocky Mountain will continue timed entry from late May through mid-October. Glacier will not require vehicle reservations anywhere, but will pilot a ticketed shuttle to Logan Pass starting July 1. Yosemite’s Firefall weekend saw full parking, gridlocked traffic, overcrowded shuttles, long lines in near-freezing temperatures, President Trump nominates Delaware North executive Scott Socha to lead the National Park Service, a federal judge orders the National Park Service to restore removed slavery-related exhibits at Philadelphia’s President’s House site, and more.

00:00 Headlines
00:36 Timed Entry Update: Arches & Yosemite Drop Reservations
01:19 Glacier’s 2026 Plan
03:39 Arches Dropping Timed Entry Is a Surprise
04:51 Yosemite Firefall Weekend: Snowstorm Evacuations
06:35 White House Pick for NPS Director
08:52 Court Orders Slavery Exhibit Restored
10:46 Glacier Mountain Goats Down 45%
12:19 Apostle Islands Ice Caves Reopen
13:34 Wrap-Up

News: Pride Flag Removed at Stonewall, LA Coast National Park Proposal, New NPS Media Gag Rules Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

THIS WEEK’S STORIES:
• Pride flag removed at Stonewall National Monument following new federal guidance
• New Interior Department communication rules reshape how parks share information
• A possible new national park along the Los Angeles coast enters public comment
• Special resource study launched on historic lynching sites in the Memphis area
• Historic restoration underway at Grand Canyon’s Lookout Studio
• Olympic marmot may be headed toward Endangered Species Act protection
• Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall “Firefall” returns for 2026
• Oregon State Parks visitation dips after years of record crowds

If you care about national parks, public lands, and the stories shaping how we experience these places — subscribe for weekly coverage and deeper context behind the headlines.

Comment on the LA Coastline National Park Study: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsOpenForReview.cfm?projectID=133718&parkID=415

Comment on the Memphis Lynching Site Study: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsOpenForReview.cfm?projectID=124261&parkID=415

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Giant Trees Once Blanketed The Eastern US, Can They Return? Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

At the turn of the 20th century, the American Chestnut tree was the most important plant in the eastern United States, accounting for over 25% of the forest canopy. But in a period of just 50 years, a mysterious blight, an imported fungus, swept the country and killed over four billion trees.

Join Jason Epperson for Parkography as we explore the rise and fall of the majestic American Chestnut and the incredible, ongoing effort to bring the species back. A major part of this mission is taking place on one of our nation’s most hallowed grounds: the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Learn about the tree's vital role in the American landscape and economy, the devastating chestnut blight, and the pioneering "backcross" technique scientists and volunteers are using to plant blight-resistant seedlings in the memory of American heroes.

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

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News: Sweeping National Park Exhibit Removals, Rescues Surge, and Fossils Found Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

This week on Parkography, we look at the Trump administration’s directive that’s leading to the removal of exhibits and signs about slavery, Native American displacement, labor history, and climate change at national parks across the country. We also examine new polling showing strong bipartisan opposition in Western states to the nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, and a lawsuit challenging new federal rules that limit public input on logging, drilling, and wildlife management projects in national forests.

We’ll also cover new policies making it easier to lease public lands for oil and gas development — even as recent federal lease sales in Colorado draw zero bids — and a major reorganization of federal wildfire programs with the launch of a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service.

On the ground, we’re tracking a record year for search and rescue at Yosemite, recent vandalism near Bridalveil Fall, illegal off-road driving that damaged rare desert plants at Death Valley’s Eureka Dunes, and adaptive reopening plans for the Grand Canyon’s North Rim after last year’s wildfire.

And we’ll end with some good news: a surprise dinosaur fossil discovery at Dinosaur National Monument and major restoration projects underway at memorials and fountains across Washington, D.C. ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

The video on explaining passes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBfqPOoEu4w&t=357s

Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:
@RVMiles
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00:00 Intro
01:10 Exhibits Removed From National Parks
06:31 Controversial Nominee for Bureau of Land Management
08:43 Lawsuit Against New Federal Rules on Public Lands
10:24 Expanding Oil and Gas Development in National Forests
12:20 Unified US Wildland Fire Service
13:26 Updates on National Park Service Sites
16:55 Dinosaur Fossils and Restoration Projects
18:09 Conclusion and Farewell

A Fall in the Rockies: The Death That Wasn’t an Accident Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

When Toni Henthorn fell to her death during an anniversary hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, it was first reported as a tragic accident in rugged terrain. But almost immediately, park rangers noticed that the scene didn’t match the story. The location was far from the trail, the drop was steeper than described, and photographs taken just minutes before the fall raised troubling questions.

As investigators began to dig deeper, they uncovered another death years earlier — one that had also been ruled an accident, and that now looked disturbingly similar. What followed was a long and complex investigation that would ultimately lead to a murder conviction and expose how a carefully planned crime unfolded in one of America’s most visited national parks.

In this episode of Parkography, we examine the evidence, the investigation, and the critical role that park rangers and forensic analysis played in uncovering the truth behind a case that shocked both the National Park Service and the public.

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

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UPDATED: National Park & Federal Land Passes Explained - NEW Non-Resident Fee Details and more Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, I'm again breaking down the various types of passes available for national parks and other federal recreation areas, now updated with the new non-resident pass and non-resident fees. We have all of the details about how that will work for residents and non-residents alike. I'll explain the America the Beautiful Pass, the Senior Pass, the Access Pass, and the Military Pass, detailing their benefits and eligibility criteria. Learn which pass is right for you, how to obtain it, and how to maximize your visits to federal lands.

Order your passes online here: https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes

Get the Every Kid Outdoors 4th & 5th Grade Pass here: https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:
@RVMiles
@RVMilesPodcast

00:00 Introduction to National Park Passes
00:26 Major Changes to Passes in 2026
01:00 Understanding Interagency Passes
02:08 Annual Pass Details
05:49 Non-Resident Fees and Passes
09:25 Digital vs. Physical Passes
13:10 Special Passes: Senior, Access, and Military
19:20 Purchasing and Using Passes
21:59 Common Questions and Tips
24:37 Conclusion

NEWS: Nat'l Parks Told To Remove "DEI" Merchandise, Grand Canyon Closes Services, New State Parks Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

The Grand Canyon's South Rim has closed lodging due to significant waterline breaks, while Theodore Roosevelt National Park completed a $51 million road rehabilitation project. The Interior Department is reviewing park merchandise to remove DEI themes, and the 'American Products in Parks Act' was introduced to mandate that all products sold in National Park Service gift shops be American-made. Additionally, Arkansas is creating a new state park at Blanchard Springs, and Florida State Parks need $760 million in repairs. New Jersey is rebranding its state parks in preparation for the USA's 250th birthday. Finally, there are concerns about reduced wildfire mitigation efforts on US Forest Service land.

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

The video on explaining passes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBfqPOoEu4w&t=357s

Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:
@RVMiles
@RVMilesPodcast

00:00 Introduction
00:07 Grand Canyon Waterline Issues
02:05 Theodore Roosevelt National Park Road Rehabilitation
02:59 National Park Service Merchandise Review
04:29 American Products in Parks Act
05:55 Sponsored Segment: Slinky Stove
06:33 Arkansas's Newest State Park: Blanchard Springs
07:22 Florida State Parks Infrastructure Needs
08:07 New Jersey State Parks Rebranding
09:15 Wildfire Mitigation and Forest Service Staffing
10:59 National Helicopter Repel Program Achievements
14:11 Conclusion and Farewell

Early 1900s Christmas at YELLOWSTONE National Park Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, how three young boys petitioned the Department of the Interior to open the gates to Yellowstone National Park each Christmas Eve, in anticipation of Santa's annual visit.

Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

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