Today is National Public Lands Day, which has been set aside to celebrate service and recreation on public lands across the U.S. In recognition of the day, there are a number of volunteer projects taking place throughout the country to help protect and clean up our public spaces and ensure that they remain a viable natural resource that we can all enjoy well into the future.
Some of the projects that are being conducted today include trail and bridge building, trash removal, tree planting, and much much more. With more than 150,000 volunteers expected to take part at over 2000 different sites across the nation, National Public Lands Day is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the U.S. Last year it is estimated that the volunteers removed more than 900,000 pounds of trash, built and maintained over 1300 miles of trail, and planted more than 100,000 trees. Impressive numbers to say the least.
Additionally, the National Park Service has declared today a “fee free” day in conjunction with NPLD. More than 100 parks and monuments will have free admission today in celebration of the event. Such iconic parks as Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Acadia are all waiving their entry fees for visitors. To see a complete list of other parks that are also free click here.
Here in the U.S. we are fortunate enough to have some of the most spectacular landscapes fall into the category of “public lands.” Whether you’re one of the volunteers helping to preserve those places or simply headed out to appreciate them, today is an excellent day to reflect on those wild spaces. To find volunteer opportunities in your area go to the NPLD website.
Yellowstone National Park truly is one of the great American destinations, and judging from the fact that it is on pace to break its all time attendance record this year, many of you agree. But for those of you who still haven’t made the trip for yourself, here are ten great things to do while you’re there:
1. Catch an Old Faithful Eruption
Sure, it may be the most touristy thing to do in all of Yellowstone, but it’s still a required activity. Old Faithful, the most famous geyser in the world, erupts every 90 minutes, give or take a few, and when it does blow, it’s still a fun sight to see. Grab a seat plenty early though, as the old smoking hole still draws quite a crowd. While you’re in the area, be sure to stop by the brand new visitor center as well.
2. Take a Hike!
With more than 1100 miles of trails, you can spend a lifetime trekking Yellowstone without getting bored. With hikes ranging in length from a few hours to a few days, you’ll find yourself wandering through spectacular and rugged backcountry that is both remote and scenic. Just be sure you plan your hike accordingly and have all the necessary permits.
3. Cycle the Park
One of the best ways to take in the sights in Yellowstone is by bike. You can opt to bring your own or rent one in the Old Faithful area, then hit the road for the opportunity to see the park in a unique new way. Just don’t forget that road elevations vary between 5300 and 8860 feet, which means a brisk ride can really take your breath away.
4. Wildlife Viewing
Yellowstone is home to the largest collection of free roaming wildlife in the lower 48 states, with bison, elk, deer and sheep prominently on display. The appearance of a bear, either black or grizzly, always draws a crowd and moose, coyote, and even mountain lions are seen from time to time. With this wide variety of animals on display, a trip through Yellowstone just might be the North American equivalent of a safari. 5. Take in the Sights at Artist Point
The park is filled with breathtaking scenery, but few places are as amazing as Artist Point, a location that overlooks the “Grand Canyon of Yellowstone” and the beautiful Lower Falls. You’ll lured in by the promise of a great photo opportunity but you’ll find yourself lingering to take in every detail of one of the most stunning landscapes you’ll find anywhere on the planet.
6. Stay the Night at a Yellowstone Lodge
Yellowstone is huge, encompassing more than 2.2 million acres and hundreds of miles of road. It’ll take you several days to properly explore it all, and with a number of great lodges within the park borders, there is no need to leave to find a place to stay. From the Old Faithful Inn to the Lake Yellowstone Hotel, the accommodations range from rustic to luxurious, with something that fits within the budget of just about everyone.
7. Paddle Lake Yellowstone
With all of the geothermal activity in Yellowstone, smoking geysers, hot springs, and bubbling mud pots are a common sight. One of the best ways to get close to those natural wonders is by kayak and paddling company OARS offers just such a trip. The 2-3 hour paddle allows you to drift in close to the Lakeshore Geysers, while the knowledgeable guides offer insights into what’s happening just below the Earth’s surface.
8. Go Wolf Spotting
Sure, wildlife viewing has already made the list, but the wolves of Yellowstone deserve their own mention. The predators were reintroduced to the park back in 1995, and have been a point of interest ever since, with a dedicated group of wolf spotters tracking their every movement. If you spot one of them peering through their powerful spotting scopes, they’re usually more than happy to share their view, and if you’re lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of the mysterious and elusive creatures in the wild.
9. Go Fly Fishing
With over 100 lakes and a thousand miles of rivers and streams within the park, Yellowstone offers anglers some of the best fishing in all of North America. There are several varieties of game fish to reel in, including rainbow, brook, and lake trout, as well as mountain whitefish, amongst others. The clear, pristine waters of the park are a fisherman’s dream come true, just don’t forget to purchase a permit before you make that first cast.
10. Have Some Winter Fun Too!
Typically, the summer months are the busiest time of year in terms of visitors for Yellowstone, but there is plenty to see and do during the winter as well. Active and adventurous travelers can don cross country skis or snowshoes and explore the trails on foot, or they can elect to take a guided ride on a snowmobile or in a snowcoach, going well into the backcountry. The park is much quieter during those months, but still well worth the visit. With a fresh blanket of snow, the landscapes may be even more beautiful.
Back in 1872, Yellowstone became the world’s first national park, and now, nearly 140 years later, it remains one of the most spellbinding places on Earth. No matter what season you go, you’ll find plenty of fun and outdoor adventure to last a lifetime.
Considering that our national parks are experiencing record numbers of visitors once again this year, it is safe to say that interest in “America’s best idea” is at an all time high. The national parks encompass some of the most spectacular landscapes anywhere on the planet and are home to an equally impressive array of wildlife. Visiting one of the parks can bring back childhood memories of family vacations long past, when we’d all load up the car and hit the road for a good old fashioned cross-country road trip.
The National Park Service is hoping to help inspire an even deeper feeling of nostalgia with the recent addition of historical park brochures to their website. The page links out to literally dozens of images of the covers of the official park brochures beginning with one from Crater Lake National Park that dates back to 1913. Back then, the brochures were simple text affairs, offering helpful, but basic, information to visitors. But by the early 1920’s, the guides began to offer black and white images that gave a little more of a glimpse of what was in store for travelers who made the journey to one of the parks.
The site allows us to browse these historical brochures in two different ways. They can be examined either in chronological order or by specific parks. So, for instance, if you’re a big fan of Glacier National Park, you can check out the various brochures that have been issued there over the years. A good portion of the parks are represented in this way, although which years are available varies widely.
Personally, I found viewing them in chronological order to be far more fascinating however, as it was interesting to watch them evolve and change as the eras passed. In this format, you can begin in the 1910’s and work your way through the 1970’s, when the brochures moved to a “Unigrid” system that was created by a designer named Massimo Vignelli who worked in collaboration with the Harpers Ferry Center’s design staff. Since then, all of the park brochures have followed a similar design.
Scrolling through the images is definitely a walk down memory lane and a real treat for fans of the national parks. You can check them out, and read more about their history by clicking here.
Grand Canyon National Park is easily one of the most popular and well known destinations in the entire U.S. Each year, more than 4.5 million visitors make the journey to visit the park and take part in some of the outdoor adventures it has to offer, including whitewater rafting, hiking, camping, and more. The Canyon is considered one of the great natural wonders of the world, and the spectacular scenery that is the hallmark of the place, is practically unmatched anywhere else on the planet.
With more than 1.2 million acres of land inside the park boundaries, managing and protecting its considerable resources can be an overwhelming challenge. It was with that in mind that earlier this week the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) released its “State of the Park” report that outlines the challenges and opportunities facing the Grand Canyon in the years ahead. That report identifies such threats as mining and air pollution as potential problems, while citing the opportunity for restoring and protecting the natural habitats of native plant and animal species as an area where improvements can be made.
This new report points to a number of external threats that are obstacles to the future health of the Grand Canyon and its surrounding environments. Amongst those threats are air pollution from cities as far away as 100 miles which will have an impact on scenic vistas and possibly the health of visitors. Noise pollution has also become an issue, as the airspace above the canyon is often crowded with traffic with both commercial and scenic flights crossing over head. Perhaps the greatest of these external threats however, is ongoing mining activities in the lands adjacent to the park. Those activities could result in the contamination of both the environment and the watershed in the region, having a detrimental effect that could take decades to reverse.
Not surprisingly, the park is also facing severe financial shortfalls in its operating budget. While this is a common story in these troubled economic times, the NPCA’s report states that the Grand Canyon needs an additional $6.2 million in annual funding just to support the basic day-to-day operations of the park. While that is a large number of course, it pales in comparison to the $300 million in park maintenance that has been backlogged for lack of funds to address the issues.
As a response to their findings, the NPCA is recommending a number of changes to help preserve the park for future generations. For instance, they believe that changes to the flow of the river would help prevent erosion and promote the return of natural resources, including plant and animal life, to the canyon. They also recommend giving the Park Service the authority to manage the airspace above the park, restricting the number of flights that pass over head in an attempt to keep certain areas quiet. Perhaps most important of all, the report requests an act of Congress to permanently protect sensitive lands around the park from all future mining activities.
The national parks have been called “America’s best idea” and the Grand Canyon is chief amongst them. As one of the crown jewels in the entire system, it deserves to be protected and managed for future travelers to enjoy, which is exactly what the NPCA hopes to ensure with this report and its recommendations. There are significant threats to the park’s environment, but by identifying those challenges now and preparing to meet them head on, the Grand Canyon can remain one of the top adventure destinations in the entire world.
To read a summary of the NPCA’s report click here. For the complete 82-page report click here.
The landmark Gateway Arch, part of a National Park Service site on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, is corroding, and no one seems to know the extent of the damage.
That’s the word from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which studied reports on the corrosion dating back to 1984.
The culprit seems to be moisture leaking into the Gateway Arch – a sophisticated engineering feat made up of stacked triangular sections of carbon steel, concrete and stainless steel.
The big question is whether the streaks of rust and other discoloration, which can be seen on the upper portions of the outside of the arch, are merely cosmetic or more severe.
Let’s remember that this monument is not just pretty to look at — people ride up to the top of the Arch in a vertical tram system.
National Park Service officials insist that there is no safety issue at the Arch, for now. The agency has just funded a study to determine whether the 45-year-old arch just needs a cleaning, or whether a full-blown restoration will be required.