National Parks
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Pro photographers' best advice for shooting animals in their natural habitat
Whether you want to capture wildlife, landscapes, or action, mastering these skill will help you up your game
Hard-earned advice from expert adventure photographers
The least visited park in the lower 48 has no roads, no cars, and empty hiking trails, and it’s home to moose, wolves, part of Lake Superior, and beautiful forests. It’s the 29th stop on our 62 Parks Traveler’s quest to visit every park in the U.S.
Northern California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park is an undiscovered hiker’s dream, and it’s the 31st stop on our 62 Parks Traveler’s quest to visit every park in the U.S.
With funding from the federal government, Zion and other parks are swapping in electric shuttle buses and adding charging stations for visitors’ electric vehicles, putting the park system on the cutting edge of green technology
Vast mountains, majestic waterfalls, and a hungry bear are some of what our 62 Parks traveler encountered at her 30th park on her quest to visit every park in the U.S.
Think you already know everything about our nation’s most iconic park? Think again. There’s so much beyond its famed Yosemite Valley, from seldom visited waterfalls to the underappreciated backcountry beyond Tuolumne Meadows.
Sleep in a Navajo Nation earth home, a vintage camper, or a dome tent, all just a short drive to the South Rim
Load up the car to see snow-covered volcanoes, cool desert landscapes, and empty beaches without any of summer's big crowds
This Maine destination is a place of rugged coastal wonders and an immersion in Down East culture
From a glass-domed train to downhill skiing, these are some of our favorite adventures in our national parks. Bonus: they get you off the beaten path, too.
From cabins to cliff dwellings, here's where to post up close to two of southern Utah's best national parks
Welcome to Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes and home to the Boundary Waters. Our 62 Parks Traveler found her own private island at her 28th stop on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.
Our advice on which park to visit each month of the year to see peak wildlife, foliage, and flower blooms—and to avoid the crowds
Wildlife and endless grasslands to explore in a remote corner of North Dakota made the 27th park on our 62 Parks columnist's list a must-visit destination
These 11 beloved destinations make for ideal cold-weather trips, from soaking in hot springs at Big Bend to cross-country skiing at Rocky Mountain
Don't let cold weather stop you from exploring. These eight trails in some of our favorite national parks may be even better in the winter.
There's no better way to celebrate these holidays than by exploring our public lands
Despite cold temperatures and rain, our 62 Parks columnist still found plenty of hiking and mountain vistas at the 26th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park
With more than 200 miles of trails, there's a lot to explore in this iconic Wyoming attraction. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 25th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park.
Ten thousand geothermal features make this hot spot a must-see. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 24th stop on her journey to visit every national park in the U.S.
Our 63 Parks Traveler meets bison and sees surreal geography at this South Dakota stop, the 23rd visit on her journey to see every U.S. national park
With more than 350 miles of trails, 124 peaks, and 147 lakes, this must-see Colorado destination is a wilderness lover's paradise. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 22nd stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park.
Our 62 Parks Traveler explores miles of hiking trails and one of the largest remaining mixed-grass prairie ecosystems in the country at South Dakota's Wind Cave, the 21st stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park.
This pastoral stretch of the Southern Appalachian mountains in Virginia is packed with hiking, fishing, road biking, and other adventures—if you know where to look
Explore the dwellings and terrain of the Ancestral Pueblo people at this western Colorado park. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 20th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park.
The diverse landscape of Great Sand Dunes National Park features 700-foot-tall mounds of sand, grasslands, alpine peaks, and a creek to splash in. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 19th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park.
Scrambles, climbs, and spectacular scenery: it's our 63 Parks Traveler’s 18th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year
While most bristlecone pines are between 2,000 and 3,500 years old, a special few can live to be nearly 5,000—and they're easily found in this area of Nevada. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 17th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
With more than a hundred 11,000-foot peaks, five glaciers, and some 150 alpine lakes, Colorado's most popular park has served as an idyllic backdrop for some of our writer's bigger life moments: it's where he proposed to his wife, where his kids earned their first Junior Ranger badges, and where he said goodbye to someone special. While you'll be among 4.7 million visitors who visit every year, there's something personal to be found here.
See 300-foot-tall redwoods, banana slugs, and more in this dreamlike landscape. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 16th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
From far-flung mesas to rainy weather, our travel columnist managed to avoid the bustle at one of the Utah's most popular hiking destinations. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 15th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
Mountain-bike world-famous slickrock at our 62 Parks Traveler's 14th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year
The National Park Service has abdicated responsibility for visitor safety, compromising local mandates and leaving staff and vendors to fend for themselves
View the park's stunning sandstone sculptures. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 13th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
Seek out slot canyons and sandstone cliffs at this lesser known park in Utah. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 12th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
Years of underfunding and climate change are increasingly threatening the national park system. From the Everglades in Florida to Glacier in Montana, here are the ones we stand to lose.
Thirty-nine out of 62 park units have begun phased reopening. Several others never closed for the pandemic. Here's how to stay safe if you visit them.
The places we love will outlive us, and isn't that just a little bit wonderful? It's our 62 Parks Traveler's 11th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
From epic views to Phantom Ranch, this trek should be on every adventurer's bucket list. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's tenth stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
Wander amid 200-million-year-old stone logs in Arizona. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's ninth stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
Hike to the top of Texas and take in the views of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's eighth stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
Explore underground and see a famous bat colony in southern New Mexico. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's seventh stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
Separated from Mexico by the Rio Grande, Big Bend is a stunning national park in Texas with hundreds of miles of hiking trails, javelinas, and hot springs. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's sixth stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
Seven employees have tested positive for the virus, even while the parks have no entrance fees, are short on staff, and are overwhelmed by visitors. Sound familiar?
Welcome to America's newest national park, with endless and huge sand dunes to explore. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's fifth stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
The SkyGlow Project traveled to several national parks to document how night skies there have changed with urban development
You can visit parks for free right now, but you still need to take precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus
Despite warnings about crowds and the spread of the coronavirus, the National Park Service is keeping most of its units open for now, but a number of parks are starting to close certain facilities
Exploring the desert and cacti is so awesome and surreal that you'll feel like you're on another planet. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's fourth stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
A trip to the largest of Hawaii Island's five national and historic parks is a step back in time, a place where two active volcanoes have long altered the landscape. From 1983 to 2018, lava poured into the Pacific Ocean, as it pounded and shaped the craggy shoreline. Today, endangered birds and rare orchids fill the rainforest and grasslands, geological wonders dot the terrain, and sacred cultural sites speak to the park's mythic roots.
Go to this massive California destination for the hiking, but stay for its spectacularly colorful early mornings. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's third stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
Over 300 million people visited national parks in 2019, the third-highest total in over a century
Rock climbing, getting lost, and scouting for rare birds are all perfect pursuits in California's Pinnacles National Park. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's second stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
And it will make you one, too. The park is our 62 Parks Traveler's first stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.
An entire mountain range to itself, dramatic stretches of the Rio Grande, and 118 miles of shared border with Mexico are just a few reasons why this 801,163-acre range in southwest Texas is worth a visit
Reservations at California's national and state parks are more competitive than ever. Here's how to increase your chances of scoring a spot this summer.
As red-rock meccas like Moab, Zion, and Arches become overrun with visitors, our writer wonders if Utah's celebrated Mighty Five ad campaign worked too well—and who gets to decide when a destination is "at capacity."
The country's largest dune field has been a national monument since 1933, but now it's our 62nd national park
Of Utah's five national parks, Zion stands out for its geological wonders, a place where water and sand meet to form arguably the most dramatic landscape in the country. Here's our primer on how to see it all, from big hits like Zion Canyon and the Narrows to the gems many visitors overlook.
It isn't just the astounding geological wonders that give our country's first national park its allure, from 500 geysers that erupt up to 400 feet into the air to deep glacier-carved valleys and fossil forests. The vibrant megafauna and endless backcountry terrain make it one of the wildest areas in the country. And if you know where to go, you can avoid the crowds.
In 2016, writer Kevin Fedarko and photographer Pete McBride set out to thru-hike the Grand Canyon
The NPS announced last week that it would begin allowing ATVs to drive on roads in Utah’s parks. The move is intended to bring NPS regulations in the state’s parks in line with state law.
Skip the crowds at the national parks and head to these amazing monuments instead
Make the most out of this year's Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 28th by visiting the parks with the highest entrance fees
Forget about the booked-months-in-advance sites inside the parks. These nearby campgrounds guarantee availability, quiet, and solitude.
Together, Joy and her grandson Brad have driven more than 25,000 miles through 38 states—and they're not done yet
A national park conservation advocate shares his advice on how to avoid crowds, get off the beaten path, see wildlife, and find adventure
To kick off National Park Week, the park service is waiving all entrance fees on April 20
Size has something to do with it, but it is more about why the land is being preserved
Behind the Herculean effort to create a scientifically accurate cartographic masterpiece
As the country's second most popular park turns 100, Grand Canyon faces an unprecedented number of existential threats. Eight experts weigh in on the major changes it will undergo during the next century.
A century-long effort to designate Indiana's first national park finally paid off last week
Sitting at the doorstep of Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park is a legit year-round adventure base camp. But it’s especially sublime in winter.
Ski, snowshoe, ice-skate, or score a snowy visit without the crowds at these iconic parks
Moab has come into its own as one of America’s great multisport destinations. Here’s how to make the most out of a visit, from pedaling its world-class singletrack to hiking its famed national parks to rafting the Colorado River.
This hilarious—and informational—PSA from Ranger Lauren Ray warns river rats of the low flows on Arkansas’ Buffalo River.
Just because you didn’t land a private permit to float the Colorado doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy its 40 layers of mind-jarring beauty.
The easiest way to feel happier and healthier and connect with friends? Head to the closest park.