National Parks

Latest Stories

National Parks

Not Ready for Summer to End? Here Are 6 National Park Water Adventures to Take Now.

From mellow rafting to swimming holes to backcountry lakes, these national parks offer a refreshing cool-down before autumn arrives.

Graham AverillAugust 23, 2026

National Parks

It's National Park Week. Celebrate with Us.

From towering redwoods to sweeping desert canyons, here is your ultimate guide to finding wonder in America's Best Idea.

August 22, 2026

National Parks

I Used to Think National Parks Were Too Soft for Real Outdoors People. I Was Wrong.

Getting deep into the backcountry is great, but there is profound value in sharing iconic views with the rest of the world.

Mikaela RulandAugust 22, 20261

Environment

A Watchdog Group Says Yosemite Is Using Flock Cameras

DeFlock claims that Yosemite National Park has installed the controversial surveillance technology. The NPS says the cameras are part of a system to monitor congestion and parking.

Kristy HamiltonAugust 17, 20262

Environment

Bulldozers Just Arrived in Big Bend. Locals Fear a Border Wall Could Cut Off Public Lands.

Photos show that heavy machinery has broken ground along the Rio Grande inside Big Bend National Park. Local outfitters fear a loss of public river access and devastating effects to the outdoor recreation economy.

Kristy HamiltonAugust 11, 20262

Environment

We Now Know What the Trump Admin Did with 51 Removed Signs and Exhibits

According to court documents, officials threw away signs, placards, films, and brochures describing topics like women’s rights, slavery, and Indigenous massacres.

Kristy HamiltonAugust 7, 2026

Environment

After the National Park Service Removed Historic Signs, One Former Ranger Is Fighting to Keep Their Stories Alive

Signs about slavery, climate change, and other historical topics continue to quietly disappear from national parks. Former park guide Melissa Dalley quit over the removals, and now she travels the country handing out the missing texts.

Kristy HamiltonAugust 6, 20265

Environment

Did a Guy in a Bison Suit Really Scare Tourists in Yellowstone? We Asked the NPS.

A trending social media story claims that a 34-year-old man dressed in a homemade bison costume chased tourists in Yellowstone while shouting, “Now you know how it feels!” But is there any truth to the claim? We asked the National Park Service.

Madison DapcevichJuly 28, 20262

National Parks

America Just Got Its First National Park City. We Went to Check It Out.

This Southern adventure hub's blend of adventure, culture, and outdoor access helped earn it recognition as North America’s first National Park City. Here’s what it is actually like to hike and paddle through the area.

Mary Beth SkylisJuly 22, 2026

National Parks

I Have a National Park Trip Planned. Should I Cancel Because of Smoke and Wildfires?

Amid one of the driest years on record for much of the Mountain West, wildfires and smoky skies make recreating challenging. Here's how to decide whether to go or cancel, and what to do if a fire breaks out on your trip.

Mikaela RulandJuly 7, 2026

Environment

Heavy Flooding Forces Mass Evacuations and Major Road Closures in Glacier National Park

A prolonged, historic rainstorm has triggered evacuations at Many Glacier Hotel and shut down massive sections of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Here is how to navigate the closures and salvage your trip.

Madison DapcevichJune 30, 20261

National Parks

Hear Me Out: Eastern National Parks Are Better Than Our Ones Out West

Sure, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon are impressive, but our national parks columnist argues national parks in the East rival their popular counterparts out West when it comes to biodiversity, accessibility, and more.

Graham AverillJune 29, 20263

National Parks

The 6 Best National Parks to See Spectacular Firefly Displays This Summer

Early summer brings one of nature’s most impressive displays as thousands of fireflies light up forests across national parks. Here’s where you can still catch the show.

Abby PriceJune 26, 2026

Environment

The Feds Just Reportedly Ordered NPS to Stay Silent on Visitor Deaths

Newly revealed guidance issued by the Department of the Interior reportedly prohibits National Park staff from publicly releasing information about deaths across 435 sites nationwide. Experts say this puts visitors at risk.

Madison DapcevichJune 25, 20262

Environment

Meet Blue, the Grand Canyon’s New Secret Weapon for Saving Wildlife

As tourists flock to the South Rim, habituated elk and bighorn sheep are moving into hotel complexes—and putting themselves in the line of fire. Outside went on patrol with Brady Dunne and Blue, the Catahoula Leopard Hound tasked with barking wildlife back to safety.

Madison DapcevichJune 25, 20261

Water Sports

America’s Deadliest National Park Site Just Quietly Suspended Its Dive Team

Facing severe staffing shortages and equipment issues, the National Park Service has quietly dismantled its underwater recovery team at America's highest-fatality recreation area.

Owen ClarkeJune 24, 20261

Environment

The Threat of a Border Wall in Big Bend Won’t Go Away. Former NPS Leaders Are Raising the Alarm.

Former leaders of Big Bend National Park and more than a dozen lawmakers are urging the Trump administration to reconsider a border wall through one of America’s most remote national parks.

Gabrielle SaulsberyJune 17, 2026

Environment

A Judge Ordered the NPS to Restore Signs About Slavery and Climate Change. The Trump Admin Is Fighting Back.

A federal judge gave the Department of the Interior until Independence Day to bring back purged exhibits on climate change and slavery. Here is how park staff, advocacy groups, and the White House are scrambling to respond.

Madison DapcevichJune 16, 2026

Books & Media

My Grandma Joy and I Traveled to Every National Park Together. The Hardest Part Was Facing Our Past.

Their quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks together made them internet sensations. Outside talks to the duo about their new book, which reveals how the 100,000-mile journey forced them to confront a painful history.

Kinsey GidickJune 16, 20262

Exploration & Survival

Everything We Know About the Young Hiker Who Just Died in the Grand Canyon

After a young man collapsed on the Bright Angel Trail, rangers are reiterating a stark warning: Never underestimate the psychological and physiological trap of hiking into the Grand Canyon.

Owen ClarkeJune 8, 2026

National Parks

Latest Stories

Not Ready for Summer to End? Here Are 6 National Park Water Adventures to Take Now.

It's National Park Week. Celebrate with Us.

I Used to Think National Parks Were Too Soft for Real Outdoors People. I Was Wrong.

A Watchdog Group Says Yosemite Is Using Flock Cameras

Bulldozers Just Arrived in Big Bend. Locals Fear a Border Wall Could Cut Off Public Lands.

We Now Know What the Trump Admin Did with 51 Removed Signs and Exhibits

After the National Park Service Removed Historic Signs, One Former Ranger Is Fighting to Keep Their Stories Alive

Did a Guy in a Bison Suit Really Scare Tourists in Yellowstone? We Asked the NPS.

America Just Got Its First National Park City. We Went to Check It Out.

I Have a National Park Trip Planned. Should I Cancel Because of Smoke and Wildfires?

Heavy Flooding Forces Mass Evacuations and Major Road Closures in Glacier National Park

Hear Me Out: Eastern National Parks Are Better Than Our Ones Out West

The 6 Best National Parks to See Spectacular Firefly Displays This Summer

The Feds Just Reportedly Ordered NPS to Stay Silent on Visitor Deaths

Meet Blue, the Grand Canyon’s New Secret Weapon for Saving Wildlife

America’s Deadliest National Park Site Just Quietly Suspended Its Dive Team

The Threat of a Border Wall in Big Bend Won’t Go Away. Former NPS Leaders Are Raising the Alarm.

A Judge Ordered the NPS to Restore Signs About Slavery and Climate Change. The Trump Admin Is Fighting Back.

My Grandma Joy and I Traveled to Every National Park Together. The Hardest Part Was Facing Our Past.

Everything We Know About the Young Hiker Who Just Died in the Grand Canyon

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