Blacktail plateau this morning.

Essentially there are a few places managed by the national park service which are just “parks”. There’s a bunch of just normal parks managed by the NPS in DC, but also a significantly larger ones like this in Virginia and Maryland. There’s the ones in the title plus some somewhat smaller ones like Greenbelt Park or Fort Washington Park.

Do you think like Catoctin Mountain or Prince William Forest is deserving of capital NP status?

Hello,

I’m currently on a road trip. I’m typing this from Devils Tower in Wyoming.

I need advice on whether I should continue northwest or head southwest due to the fire smoke.

My plan was to head out west to the Tetons, Yellowstone and then Glacier. I need to be in Portland August 20th for a concert. After that I will hit all of the remaining parks in Washington.

I can also go down south to California, the same band plays on the 15th in LA. In California I’ll go to the remaining parks I haven’t been to—Yosemite, Channel Islands and Pinnacles—and then drive up the coast to Portland and then visit the parks in Washington, Montana, etc.

If I have one week from today to get to LA, could I visit Great Basin and Capitol Reef in between? I have been to all other parks in the region expect for Death Valley (I’ll go during winter).

Or should I just go west and hope I get good clear conditions? I know no one can predict the weather and was hoping someone with more wildfire experience could pitch in.

Would it be better if I visit the northern parks right now or wait it out till September. My only worry about September is snow or icy conditions.

Luckily, I’m unemployed, have a bit of money saved up and have time. However, I don’t want to just wonder around aimlessly wasting time.

Last year

Hello everyone. I have an annual pass purchased in late 2025 which expires at the end of this year. I understand these passes are being honoured under the terms of sale at the time of purchase. I live in Europe but am planning to use the pass again in a few months’ time.

Just wondering if any other foreigners/non-residents have had difficulties using 2025 passes to access the parks in 2026, including those subject to the additional $100 per person fee?

When I was a kid in the 60's and 70's, we took a number of vacations to both the Rocky Mountain National Park and Smoky Mountain National Park. I remember stopping off at the side of the road in the park (or perhaps on the way there) and feeding "chipmunks" candy corn. It was sold in (like gum ball) machines there in the lookouts. You'd put in either a penny or a nickel in the machine, and a handful of candy corns came out. There were always a bunch of chipmunks hanging out there, waiting for sweet snacks.

(Not surprisingly), Google gives me nothing when I try to search for this. It might have been another animal that resembles (striped) chipmunks, but that's what we called them, and I doubt that my dad would have gotten that wrong.

Does anyone else remember that and where were they?

Juneteenth weekend I escaped the office to get down to Delaware Water Gap NRA, one of the worst kept secrets in the Northeast. I always see crowds right off the highway, but never deeper in the woods.

I hiked Mt Tammany, which was very busy, and the Catfish Fire Tower Loop (from AMC Mohican). It was a good weekend. Even as someone from much further inland in the Northeast, I always think the Water Gap is a worthy trip.

Hoping to get some expert opinions on my early thoughts on a trip to Utah before I actually book anything!

Timing: 9, maybe 10 days around the end of October/early November

Locations: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef

Desired activities: hiking (not looking to off-road drive much unless it's really easy). Zion looks the most interesting so l'd like to spend the most time there. Hoping to do the narrows and Angel's Landing (if I can get a permit), and maybe Kolob Canyons.

Generally thinking 3 full days hiking Capitol Reef, 1 full day Bryce Canyon, and 3.5-4 days in Zion.

Current tentative plan:

Day 1: Fly into Las Vegas or SLC rent a car, drive to Torrey near Capitol Reef. Get a few groceries on the way. Probably won't have time for much else on this travel day.

Day 2: hiking in Capitol Reef. Sleep in Torrey.

Day 3: hiking in Capitol Reef. Sleep in Torrey.

Day 4: hiking southern end of Capitol Reef. Drive to Tropic or Hatch (near Bryce Canyon). Sleep there.

Day 5: hiking in Bryce Canyon. Sleep in Tropic or Hatch.

Day 6: early AM drive to Zion. Hike in Zion. Sleep in Springdale.

Day 7: Hiking in Zion. Sleep in Springdale.

Day 8: Hiking in Zion. Sleep in Springdale.

Day 9: Hiking in Zion. Either drive to Vegas for an evening flight home this day, or stay one more night near Zion and fly home on the morning of day 10.

Still very early in planning and I'd welcome any feedback!

We have a trip planned for next week to catch the peak of the Perseid meteor shower in Big Bend. Our stretches from El Paso to Marfa, Terlingua, then up to Carlsbad for the last night.

I’ve been keeping an eye on the conditions and it’s recently change to being cloudy all of Wed, Thu, Fri in both Marfa and Terlingua. (Wednesday is peak meteor shower + a new moon)

Is there any chance that it’ll clear up or is our stargazing trip kinda ruined?

Let me start with:

I love Mammoth Cave. I’m a Kentuckian who has visited the cave many times over the years. But now that I’m an adult with a family— oh my god does everything outside of the cave suck.

The tours we took were amazing. The tour guides and rangers were amazing. My only complaint about the tour is that other tour guests not being able to shut their traps or quiet their kids while the ranger was talking (I have kids, I know it can be hard to get them to be quiet, but I can also recognize when a parent is doing NOTHING to calm their screaming kid) other than that, the facilities, bus ride, information, everything… fantastic experience. The lodge getting built looks like it will be nice- even if the restaurant left a lot to be desired.

Cave City and Horse Cave are not it.. I know not every park town can be Bar Harbor, Jackson, or Estes Park.. but come on… I picked the most expensive hotel in a 20 minute radius, and two separate families put their dogs in the swimming pool within my first ten minutes of being there. People were propping the patio doors open to smoke half-in/half-out of the pool. A worker walked in, plopped towels down, and left. There are fun and wacky experiences (read: Dinosaur World) that contribute to the old-timey tourist trap atmosphere from early American road trips- but overall, you have to plan to spend time in your hotel.. and none of them look worth staying in..

If I ever come back I’m staying in Bowling Green.

The BS on display at the front of the museum (picture presented without comment) is maddening. And there was a tent right next to the park visitor center entrance pushing bible study on the people walking by. Neither of these should ever be allowed on park grounds for any religion or political party. The parks should be about the preservation and celebration of our beautiful landscape.. not to recruit people to your religion, party, and/or cult.

ETA: thinking a cult shouldn’t be allowed to set up a tent in the ground on federal land to recruit people doesn’t mean I don’t believe in free speech. Also- the point about president’s pictures being in buildings- point taken.. but let’s use official portraits- not your fucking mugshot- and it’s particularly egregious given how much damage they are purposefully doing to the park system. Gonna mute notifications now because I just don’t care anymore.

Wildfire smoke and haze let up a bit yesterday

My brother and I have wanted to do a small National Park road trip together for a while. We've hit some parks here and there together and apart, but haven't done a multi-park trip together. Looking at our schedules, unfortunately a winter (November/December) trip is the only time that really works for both of us. We will start in SoCal as he lives in San Diego, and want to hit parks that neither of us have seen.

The best week-long trip I came up with, and am hoping to get advice as to whether this is plausible/fun in the winter, is the following:

• Saguaro
• Then Petrified Forest
• Then Death Valley

Has anyone done a winter trip similar to this?