national parks

National

2 men are charged with toppling ancient rock formations at Lake Mead trail

3:12pm August 28, 2024

A federal grand jury has indicted two men in connection with the April incident at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Uptick in visitors to North Carolina's national and state parks is a 'mixed bag'

3:24pm August 27, 2024

by David Ford

National park tourism in North Carolina contributes billions to the state economy and creates thousands of jobs. But the rising number of visitors to nature areas is in some ways a double-edged sword.

Wyoming offers to sell land to Grand Teton park -- or it could go to developers

10:15am August 04, 2024

by Chris Clements

Wyoming lawmakers have given two years for the Grand Teton National Park to buy the Kelly Parcel for $100 million. But the pristine land has become a bargaining chip for other things too.

Queue Listen Now

New rules on tourist flights seek to return some serenity to national parks

4:15pm December 04, 2023

by The Associated Press

One of the strictest plans was announced at Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park, where tour flights will be banned from getting within a half mile of the South Dakota sites starting in April.

Government funding runs out at the end of the day on Sept. 30, meaning many federal government services will halt until funding resumes.

Politics & Government

What closes and what keeps running in a federal government shutdown

11:01am September 29, 2023

A government shutdown is looming but not every federal office will close completely. Some critical services will continue as employees work without pay.

March 1944: A cloud of ash hangs over Vesuvius during its worst eruption in more than 70 years. In the foreground is the city of Naples. The nearby towns of Massa and San Sebastiano were destroyed by the flow of lava. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

The Second Biggest Disaster at Mount Vesuvius

6:30am June 27, 2023

by Greg Rosalsky

Like an increasing number of national parks in the United States, Mount Vesuvius has begun rationing access with a quota system. The system has had some problems.

A mother bison leads her calf through deep snow toward a road in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo., Feb. 20, 2021.

Environment

The federal government is planning to phase out single-use plastics at national parks

4:46am June 09, 2022

by Ayana Archie

More than 300 million tons of plastic are produced in the U.S. each year, with 14 million of them ending up in the ocean, according to the Department of Interior.

A diver explores Grecian shipwreck at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Hudson Canyon, a giant underwater chasm, could be the newest national marine sanctuary

7:02pm June 08, 2022

by Eric McDaniel

The site — comparable in size to the Grand Canyon — is about a hundred miles off the coast of New York City. It's home to a number of sensitive species including sperm whales and sea turtles.

People hike under trees as snow falls near Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada, in November.

Health & Safety

A new program in Canada gives doctors the option of prescribing national park visits

8:36am February 09, 2022

by Sharon Pruitt-Young

And the best part? The annual passes are free.

Lindsey Cho (left) with her mother, Judy Lee, and her father, Wesley Cho, after taking their turn at Delicate Arch.

National

An Explosion In Visitors Is Threatening The Very Things National Parks Try To Protect

5:01pm July 09, 2021

by Kirk Siegler

Growing crowds at America's national parks have prompted some of them to allow entry by reserved tickets only. Arches National Park in Utah may be next, and there's renewed controversy over that step.