County Commissioners Approve Funding For Shuttle System At Arches National Park
Grand County commissioners approved a $500,000 contribution to a shuttle pilot for Arches National Park, complementing $1 million from the Utah Transportation Commission and a proposed $1.5 million from the National Park Service. The pilot will operate in September‑October 2024 and again from March‑June 2027, using 12‑ to 15‑passenger vehicles on a hub‑and‑spoke network linking Moab with key park sites. Its purpose is to gather ridership and traffic data to evaluate a larger, permanent shuttle solution. Critics warn of transparency gaps and uncertain long‑term costs.
Heatwaves Have Led To Declining Coral Reefs In National Parks In Hawai’i
A 2026 USGS study finds marine heatwaves have driven live coral cover down across three Hawaiian national parks—Kaloko‑Honokōhau, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, and Puʻukoholā Heiau—between the early 2000s and 2022. The steepest losses occurred at Puʻukoholā Heiau, while low‑cover (0‑20%) reefs...
Wildlife Crossings Included In Bipartisan Transportation Bill
The bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act, slated for House introduction, earmarks $80 million annually for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program from 2027 through 2031. This funding renews federal support after the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $350 million allocation expires. Wildlife‑vehicle collisions affect 1‑2 million...
A Day In The Park: Oregon Caves National Monument And Preserve
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, established in 1909 by President Taft, protects a unique marble karst cave system spanning 3.5 miles of passages across 4,554 acres in southern Oregon. The park offers four guided tour options, ranging from family‑friendly walks...
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 373 | Southern Campaign of the American Revolution
The National Parks Traveler released Podcast Episode 373, a deep‑dive into the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. Host Jess Repanshek and associate curator James Taub examine South Carolina’s three Revolutionary War battlefields—Kings Mountain, Cowpens, and Ninety‑Six—while questioning the claim that the...
Virgin Islands National Park Opens Opportunities For Caneel Bay Redevelopment
Virgin Islands National Park announced a 150‑acre lease for the redevelopment of Caneel Bay, the historic eco‑luxury resort damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. The National Park Service, after securing title from a federal judge, will accept proposals...
$1 Million In Grants Will Support Appalachian Trail Conservation Projects
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Wild East Action Fund announced a $1 million grant program for 2026, the largest allocation in its history. The funding, supplied by the Dunleavy Foundation, more than doubles the 2025 award pool. Grants will support land protection,...
Operator Sought For Kalaloch Lodge In Olympic National Park
The National Park Service is opening a 10‑year concession for Kalaloch Lodge, the only Pacific‑coast lodging in Olympic National Park, effective October 1 2027. The site includes 48 guest rooms, a 106‑seat restaurant, a 1,500‑sq‑ft retail store and a small group campsite....
Study Discovers “Brain-Eating Amoeba" At Three National Park Sites
A new study detected the deadly brain‑eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri in three western U.S. national‑park sites, including Yellowstone, Lake Mead and Grand Teton. Researchers sampled 185 thermally impacted water bodies and found the organism in 34% of them, with the...
9th U.S. Circuit Court Allows Glacier House To Be Built Next To McDonald Creek
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower‑court ruling that allows John and Stacy Ambler to complete their three‑story home on a private in‑holding beside McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park. The court held that when Montana ceded the...
Groups Urge BLM To Defer Gas Lease Sales That May Affect Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Conservation and park groups have asked the Bureau of Land Management to postpone four proposed oil and gas lease sales covering 839 acres within 15 miles of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. They argue a full programmatic environmental review is needed...
New Rule Could Allow Park Service Job Cuts Based On Performance
The Office of Personnel Management has issued a proposed rule that would let the National Park Service cut jobs through a Reduction in Force (RIF) process based on four criteria: tenure, military preference, length of service, and performance rating. Advocacy...
Forecasting Hydrothermal Explosions In Yellowstone With A Geological Thermometer
Yellowstone’s hydrothermal systems host the world’s largest steam‑driven explosions, exemplified by the 2024 Black Diamond Pool blast that shattered a boardwalk and forced evacuations. Scientists aim to forecast such events by monitoring geological, geophysical, and especially geochemical signals. Historical analyses...
A Day In The Park: Devils Postpile National Monument
Devils Postpile National Monument, established by presidential proclamation in 1911, protects a striking 100,000‑year‑old columnar basalt formation in eastern California. The 1.25‑square‑mile site features 3.5‑foot‑diameter columns up to 60 feet high, a 101‑foot lava cliff, and the 80‑foot Rainbow Falls. Located...
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 372 | Print Ain’t Dead
Episode 372 of the National Parks Traveler podcast, titled “Print Ain’t Dead,” examines the turbulence facing the print media sector. It highlights how legacy titles are disappearing, shrinking, or moving online, while the rise of artificial intelligence fuels reader skepticism...