A Railroad And Reservoirs
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad built a 3‑ft narrow‑gauge line through the Black Canyon in 1882, a risky venture that cost the equivalent of $5.26 million per mile today. The line spurred the rise of the rail town Cimarron, which later faded as mining declined and the tracks were abandoned. Decades later, the Colorado River Storage Project created Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal reservoirs, forming the Curecanti National Recreation Area. Today, the surviving truss bridge and Locomotive #278 serve as a historic exhibit amid a popular outdoor‑recreation destination.
Hyperabundance Of Pink Salmon In Sitka National Historical Park May Put River At Risk
Researchers have documented a dramatic rise in pink salmon in Alaska’s Indian River, with annual numbers soaring from a few thousand in the 1980s to regularly exceeding 100,000 today. The spawning season has lengthened from two months to four, now...
Lawsuit Filed Against Mining Operation In Mojave National Preserve
The National Parks Conservation Association has filed a lawsuit to block Dateline Resources Ltd.’s mining at the historic Colosseum Mine in California’s Mojave National Preserve. The suit claims the Bureau of Land Management improperly allowed the mine to resume despite...
Rehabilitation Of Employee Housing Begins At Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve
The National Park Service has broken ground on a $14 million rehabilitation of employee housing at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. Thirteen units built in the 1960s will be upgraded with fire‑protection, wastewater, water‑damage repairs, interior and...
Reservoir Important To Everglades Restoration Receives Funding To Support Completion
The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir has secured more than $2 billion in federal funding, moving its completion deadline up to 2029 from the original 2034 target. The accelerated schedule is part of a 2023 agreement between the U.S. Army Corps...
Group Challenges ESA Exemption For Oil And Gas Drilling In The Gulf Of Mexico
Defenders of Wildlife has filed a petition in the D.C. Circuit to overturn a March 31 decision by the Endangered Species Committee—often called the “God Squad”—that granted a blanket exemption from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for federal oil and gas...
Great Smoky Mountains National Park To Offer Vehicle-Free Wednesdays For Cades Cove
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will close the Cades Cove Loop Road to motor vehicles every Wednesday from May through September, creating vehicle‑free days for cyclists, walkers and runners. Visitors must purchase a parking tag and park in designated lots;...
USACE To Reconstruct Company Creek Road In North Cascades National Park
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has been awarded a contract by the National Park Service to reconstruct approximately 1,000‑1,100 linear feet of Company Creek Road in Washington’s North Cascades National Park. The road was destroyed by historic December 2025...
Congaree, A National Park As Impressive As Its Trees
Congaree National Park in South Carolina, once a swamp monument designated in 1976, was upgraded to national‑park status in 2003 to protect a 27,000‑acre remnant of bottom‑land hardwood forest. The park boasts five national champion trees, including a 175‑foot loblolly...
2024 Annual Report Highlights Notable Explosions In Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone’s 2024 annual report highlights two unprecedented hydrothermal explosions—an unwitnessed event at Norris Geyser Basin in April and a well‑documented blast at Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin in July. The July explosion hurled mud and rock up to 180 m,...
Getting to Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park comprises three units—North, South and the remote Elkhorn Ranch—spanning 68 miles between the two most‑visited sections. Visitors typically fly into Bismarck Municipal Airport and rent a car to reach the South Unit in Medora or the...
Bridge On Natchez Trace Parkway Will Close For New Pedestrian Safety Barrier
The National Park Service will close the Double Arch Bridge on the Natchez Trace Parkway beginning April 15, initiating a multi‑year project to install a permanent pedestrian safety barrier. The bridge, a 1,572‑foot concrete arch completed in 1994 and a 1995 Presidential...
Deer Test Positive For Chronic Wasting Disease At Catoctin Mountain Park
Two white‑tailed deer at Maryland's Catoctin Mountain Park tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), marking the park's first confirmed case. The detection follows positive results in nearby national parks in 2024 and another in 2026, highlighting a regional spread...
U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Sued Over Plight Of Florida Panthers
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is being sued for approving a 10,000‑acre housing and commercial development that would destroy roughly 5,000 acres of Florida panther habitat. Plaintiffs—including the Center for Biological Diversity, South Florida Wildlands Association, and the...
Study Finds That Devils Tower Is In Constant Motion
A 2026 study using a summit‑mounted seismometer revealed that Wyoming’s Devils Tower vibrates continuously, swaying about once per second with movements measured in fractions of a millimeter. Researchers identified three resonant modes—two lateral sways and one torsional twist—mirroring the dynamic...
A Day In The Park: Curecanti National Recreation Area
Curecanti National Recreation Area, established in 1965, surrounds three reservoirs created by the Wayne N. Aspinall Storage Unit of the Colorado River Storage Project. The park offers year‑round water and land activities, from boating and fishing to hiking, horseback riding,...
Traveler's View | Time To Pass The Torch
National Parks Traveler founder and editor-in-chief Kurt Repanshek announced he will step away after more than two decades at the helm. Over his 21‑year tenure, the outlet has become a leading watchdog on National Park Service management, exposing policy shifts...
National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 368 | Florida’s Ailing Reef
The Florida Reef, a 350‑mile coral system stretching from Biscayne to Dry Tortugas National Parks, now supports living coral on just about 2 percent of its area. Warming seas, pollution, stronger hurricanes, anchor damage, dredging and trawling are driving the decline....
Change In Winds Could Make Kīlauea's Next Eruption Dangerous For Visitors
Kīlauea volcano is showing signs of an imminent eruption, with Episode 44 expected between April 6 and April 14. The National Weather Service predicts a wind shift from northeasterly to southerly breezes, which could trap volcanic gas (vog) and tephra near the summit....
Study Finds Forest Regeneration In Lassen Volcanic National Park After Dixie Fire
A recent study of Lassen Volcanic National Park reveals that despite the Dixie Fire scorching nearly one‑million acres, forest regeneration is already underway. Researchers found that 32% of sampled plots contained at least one seedling shortly after the blaze, and...
Interior Department Planning More Changes To National Park Service Staffing
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced a new reorganization that will shift more National Park Service employees into visitor‑facing roles. The move follows a prior reduction that eliminated roughly a quarter of the 70,000‑person workforce through retirements, firings, and attrition. Critics...
Seventy-Three Percent Of Marine Protected Areas Are Polluted By Sewage, Says Study
A joint study by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the University of Queensland found that 73% of the world’s 16,491 marine protected areas (MPAs) are polluted by sewage and non‑point source waste. In coral‑dependent regions, contamination rises to 87‑92%, with...
Gun Rights Group Challenges Ban On Firearms In National Park Facilities
The Second Amendment Foundation and partners have filed a lawsuit challenging the 1990 federal ban on firearms in National Park Service facilities, specifically targeting 18 U.S.C. § 930(a). The suit argues the law unconstitutionally bars the roughly 300 million annual park visitors from carrying...
Study Finds Microplastics On 45 Percent Of Beaches
A 2025 study sampled 209 beaches across 39 countries, finding that 45% contain suspected microplastics. The Mediterranean showed the highest contamination at 80%, while the South Pacific recorded none. Polyethylene was identified as the most common polymer. Researchers warn that...
Virginia Appellate Court Invalidates Zoning Permits For Data Processing Center Next To Manassas
A Virginia Court of Appeals has invalidated the permits for the Prince William Digital Gateway, a proposed massive data processing center adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park. The court found the county failed to properly post public notice for the...
Park Service Urges Caution As Road Repairs Continue Along Blue Ridge Parkway
The National Park Service warns visitors to exercise extreme caution as hurricane‑recovery road repairs continue along the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina. Heavy construction equipment and dump‑truck traffic are moving between Asheville (milepost 382.5) and Mount Mitchell State Park...
Federal Court Reverses Trump Administration’s Past Cuts To ESA
A federal judge ruled that several Trump‑era regulations weakening the Endangered Species Act (ESA) were unlawful, reinstating the mandate to use the "best available science" when assessing harm to listed species. The decision also struck down a Biden administration rule...
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Seeking To Allow BASE Jumping In National Parks
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by BASE Access that sought to overturn the National Park Service’s long‑standing ban on BASE jumping in national parks. The court ruled the plaintiffs lacked legal standing and noted that even if the...
Teton Park Road Up For Vehicle-Free Recreation
The National Park Service has cleared the 14‑mile stretch of Teton Park Road in Grand Teton National Park for walking, biking, running and skating, while private vehicles remain prohibited until May 1, weather permitting. The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center...
Trump Administration Cites “National Security” To Justify God Squad Meeting
The Trump Department of Justice filed an opposition brief on March 25, invoking national security to exempt all oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico from the Endangered Species Act. The filing clears the way for a March 31 Endangered...
NPS Hiring Seasonal Rangers
After a year‑long hiring freeze, the Interior Department has authorized the National Park Service to recruit seasonal interpretive rangers for nine‑month assignments this summer. A recent USAJobs posting suggests about 200 positions will be filled, though the agency has not...
Multi-Year Project Aims To Identify Water Supply Vulnerabilities At National Parks
The National Park Service has partnered with Colorado State University to launch a multi‑year assessment that maps water‑supply vulnerabilities across western parks. Early findings highlight aging pipelines at Big Bend, a $208 million waterline overhaul at Grand Canyon, and projected 30% aquifer...
North Rim To Open For 2026 Season On May 15
Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim will reopen on May 15, 2026, launching the summer season. All paved roads—including Highway 67, Cape Royal, and Point Imperial—will be back in service, though vehicles longer than 22 feet are barred on the latter two. The North...
Op-Ed | El Capitan Is Not A Billboard
Former Yosemite National Park ranger Dr. Shannon “SJ” Joslin, dismissed after hanging a trans flag on El Capitan in May 2025, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior. The op‑ed argues that her off‑duty expressive conduct violated...
Theodore Roosevelt National Park To Go Cashless
Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota will switch to a fully cashless fee system on May 1 2026, requiring mobile, credit or debit payments for entrance and on‑site sales. Cash transactions, which now represent less than 10% of sales, will only...
Study: Morale Collapsing Across Federal Government
A new Public Service Viewpoint Survey of National Park Service staff shows morale collapsing under the Trump administration, with 70% reporting lower engagement compared to 2024. Only 32% would recommend the agency as a good workplace, and trust in political...
Interior Employees Told How To Report DEI-Related Practices
On March 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Interior issued a memorandum ordering all 70,000‑plus employees to report any perceived DEI‑related discrimination, retaliation, or violations to the Office of Special Counsel. The memo declares that DEI and DEIA programs...
Interactive Map Visualizes NPS Materials Flagged For Removal
An interactive map now visualizes a leaked Interior Department spreadsheet that lists 798 National Park Service sites where content was flagged for removal under the Trump administration. The map provides searchable entries, each featuring historical narratives, archived photographs, and Wayback...
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Making Adjustments To Prepare For Lower Water Levels
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is proactively adjusting lake‑front facilities to cope with forecasted lower water levels at Lake Powell for the 2026 summer season. The Bureau of Reclamation projects the April‑July unregulated inflow at only 57 % of average, prompting...
Avian Influenza Appears To Have Reached Point Reyes National Seashore
Avian influenza has been confirmed in a common murre that died at Point Reyes National Seashore, marking the disease’s arrival in the park. The incident is linked to a larger seabird mortality event across the San Francisco Bay Area. Park biologists...
National Park Service Advertising For Superintendents
The National Park Service announced on USAJobs that it is recruiting superintendents and deputy superintendents for at least eight locations, including Redwood, Yosemite, and North Cascades. Candidates will oversee preservation, interpretation, maintenance, administration, and the safety of staff, volunteers, and...
Interior To Prioritize Sourcing Uniforms Made In The United States
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced it will prioritize purchasing uniforms and other textiles that are made in the United States, aligning with the administration’s Buy American agenda. The agency spends roughly $11 million a year on uniforms, currently sourced...
A Day In The Park: Grand Portage National Monument
Grand Portage National Monument in northeastern Minnesota preserves the historic 8.5‑mile “Great Carrying Place” trail that once linked the Great Lakes to the continental interior via a major fur‑trade corridor. The year‑round Heritage Center features Anishinaabe exhibits, a reconstructed Ojibwe...
Interior Secretary Summons ESA "God Squad" For Gulf Of Mexico Drilling
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has summoned the Endangered Species Committee, known as the “God Squad,” for a March 31 meeting to consider an exemption from the Endangered Species Act for oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The request...
Ravens Demonstrate Spatial Memory While Scavenging, Says Yellowstone Study
A multi‑year GPS study in Yellowstone National Park found that common ravens rely on spatial memory rather than trailing predators to locate carrion. Researchers tracked 69 ravens, 20 wolves and 11 cougars, recording only a single instance of a raven...
Ticket Sales For Crystal Cave In Sequoia National Park To Open March 16
Ticket sales for the 2026 Crystal Cave season open on March 16, 2026 at 9 a.m. online. Guided tours, operated by the Sequoia Parks Conservancy, will run from May 22 through November 1, 2026, offering 50‑minute explorations of the park’s only public cave....
Volcanic Eruption Causes Closure Of Kīlauea Summit In Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
On March 10, 2026, Kīlauea volcano erupted for its 43rd episode, sending lava fountains up to 1,300 feet and generating hazardous tephra. The National Park Service closed the summit area and Highway 11 between mile markers 24‑40 as football‑sized volcanic fragments rained...
National Park Service Proposes Changes To Buffalo National River Visitor Plan
The National Park Service released a draft update to the Buffalo National River visitor management plan, the first revision since 1983. The proposal calls for roughly 320 new parking spaces, realignment of roads and trails, and moving campsites out of...
"Football-Sized" Volcanic Fragments Rain Down On Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
The Kīlauea volcano erupted Tuesday, sending football‑sized volcanic fragments onto several overlooks in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. A towering plume rose 25,000 feet, marking the 43rd episode of the eruption that began in December 2024. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory responded by raising...
Trump Administration Again Sued Over Alaska Public Lands "Giveaway"
Environmental coalitions have filed a new lawsuit against the Trump administration for revoking Public Land Orders 5150 and 5180, which would open roughly 2.1 million acres in Alaska—including a 211‑mile Ambler Road corridor through Gates of the Arctic National Park—to mining...