NPS

The Interior Department reportedly sent a memo threatening to void America the Beautiful Parks Passes that have stickers on them. The artist behind a line of protest stickers has found a workaround.

YOSAR members, NPS sources, and other experts help us unpack and understand the uptick in rescue missions inside the iconic California park.

An artist in Colorado has begun selling stickers for American the Beautiful Passes that covers up the president's face with an image of natural beauty

Our articles editor plans to start a conversation about politics at the Thanksgiving dinner table—specifically, the devastating cuts to the NPS and the attacks on public lands

Shannon ‘SJ’ Joslin was terminated from their position at Yosemite National Park in August for flying a trans pride flag on El Capitan

As the federal government reopens, a new survey shows that most Americans oppose the NPS staff cuts, removal of signs and placards inside parks, and the proposed $1 billion budget reduction to the NPS

A visitor found graffiti and toilet paper on a popular trail near one of the park’s iconic geologic formations

We spoke to labor experts and multiple NPS rangers about the push to unionize, and whether it can protect Park Service jobs from the federal government’s cutbacks

Authorities published a detailed account of the recent apprehension of an illegal flyer in the California park. The news comes on the heels of a scathing press release about illegal jumps from El Capitan.

For Heather Lapre, feeding park employees isn’t just a charitable act—it’s a personal one. Her husband was also furloughed during the federal government shutdown. October 28 marked the first skipped payday for National Park Service employees, like her partner, who were furloughed

The Interior Department’s latest cuts, which total 2,000, target the NPS, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Division, and United States Geological Survey, among other agencies

The attempt to sell millions of acres of Forest Service land united Republicans and Democrats. Advocates took valuable lessons from the battle.

Amid dramatic cuts to the U.S. Forest Service, nonprofit groups have had to supply the chainsaws, shovels, and manpower to clear America’s hiking trails

The effigy was emblazoned with the words “Make America Wait Again,” and it toured the park on Saturday, July 12

Officials in Arizona and Colorado have closed huge swaths of parkland to visitors after lightning-sparked blazes destroyed thousands of acres and hundreds of structures

The author of the proposal says the plan will generate millions for the beleaguered National Park System, which faces steep budget cuts in 2026

The plan to sell millions of acres of Forest Service and BLM land just encountered a major hurdle. The plan's author says he still wants to auction off some areas.

Signs are popping up at NPS sites asking visitors to report any instances of rangers speaking negatively about America. Critics say it’s an attempt to whitewash U.S. history.

The White House released its budget request for 2026, and the plan calls for the Park Service to hand over control of some federal parklands to states

Charitable foundations that raise funds and organizer volunteers for the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and other U.S. National Parks have seen an uptick in donations and manpower

In the wake of the 2025 federal layoffs, Outdoorable offered to pay NPS rangers for their expertise. Now, dozens work as "trip therapists" for the fledgling travel-planning platform.

Sites operated by the National Park Service recorded more than 331 million visits last year—the most in history. The news comes as the NPS weathers its worst staffing crisis in years.

A nonprofit is tallying up how many NPS employees have been let go from each park. A key asset has been social media posts from terminated employees.

Petting bison, cooking food in geysers. Ride along with our writer on a wild trip to our nation’s most iconic national park at the height of tourist season to see all the bad behavior.

It’s becoming harder to find a slice of nature all to yourself. But there are plenty of secluded sweet spots around the country if you know where to look. From national monuments and lakeshores to forests and scenic waterways, here are some stunning, uncrowded wildlands that are definitely worth exploring.

A recent survey of employee satisfaction returned abysmal scores for the NPS

When it comes to advocating for adaptive athletes, the climber and National Park Service employee will never hold back

We asked the experts—and this is the one trail you can't miss in each of the 61 U.S. national parks

Outside visits every state in the U.S. to find the best parks—national or state—in every region. What park made the cut in your state?

Grand Canyon National Park has some of the best views in the United States. Here’s how to make the most out of a visit, whether its hiking, boating, biking, camping, or so much more.

Those iconic bulbous boulders, lucid skies, and namesake trees are mere backdrops to a Californian desert playground filled with jaw-dropping vistas, dynamic hiking trails, and that famous grippy rock. Here’s everything you need to know to explore it.

Here’s how to make the most out of a visit to one of the wildest places in the U.S., from kayaking to birding to fishing and so much more

Congress approves Sams as NPS director, Canadian cops raid indigenous protest, and Steamboat locals pray for snow

Some of the most popular national-park sites come alive this season, offering vibrant hikes, cool camping weather, and amazing wildlife spotting

The National Park Service hasn’t had a director in four years. The Biden administration is trying to fix that but faces a host of major challenges.

Many major national parks implemented new reservation systems intended to give visitors a more positive experience by decreasing gridlock, parking issues, and long lines for public services. But are they actually helping or making it more difficult to visit a park?

At the most recently declared national park, the adventure starts and ends with the 1,000-foot-deep New River Gorge. The 73,000-acre stretch of rugged canyon in West Virginia is home to Class IV+ whitewater rafting, some of the best rock climbing on the eastern seaboard, purpose-built singletrack, and more than 100 miles of hiking trails that capture this dramatic part of the country.

We found the best places to pitch your tent in all 50 states, so you don’t have to.

The nonprofit Native Skywatchers has spent more than a decade collecting and preserving Indigenous star knowledge. Now organizations like NASA and the NPS are joining the movement.

I gave my 12-year-olds the Rand McNally on our 300-mile drive from Atlanta to the South Carolina coast to impart the joys of reading an old-school physical map

Drawing parallels with the Galápagos Islands, this marine wonderland is a similarly diverse treasure found just off the Southern California coast, home to 2,000-plus species, some 150 of which can be found nowhere else

If you want a swath of stunning wilderness all to yourself, book a trip to Lake Clark, says our 62 Parks columnist of the 37th stop on her quest to visit all the parks in the U.S.

In ‘Camping Grounds,’ Phoebe S.K. Young reminds us that sleeping outdoors is far more than just a recreational hobby

Here’s how President Biden plans to address climate change, pollution, and public lands in the greatest detail we’ve seen so far

Mountaineers come to summit this Alaskan park’s namesake 20,310-foot peak, the highest in North America. Our 62 Parks columnist set out on a mountain bike to see the stunning terrain and bountiful wildlife during the 36th stop of her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.

From Maine to Alaska, we’ve done all the research for you to camp in style while visiting America’s best idea this summer

A wild place—and an American ideal—are heading for destruction. We can stop it now.

From surfing the coast of Maine to exploring slot canyons in Utah, these adventures will make the whole family happy

From miles of accessible trails to nearby boarding services to dog safety, these are the best (and worst) parks to visit with your best friend

From a trail in Isle Royale National Park with spectacular views to a hike that hits four 6,000-foot peaks in 30 miles, these are our favorite classic routes in the U.S.

Put this Alaska gem high on your bucket list for epic backpacking, rafting, and mountaineering, says our 62 Parks columnist about the 34th stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park

Gage Lorentz was pulled over for speeding on a dirt road in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Minutes later he lay on the ground, dead from a point-blank shot to the heart. How did a trivial traffic stop lead to his death?

This 76,000-acre wonderland is less a park and more a sandstone sculpture garden of sunset-hued arches and domes that look like they were carved by some alien magic. Here’s how to outsmart the crowds.

Key beta on snagging a ticket to your favorite park this year

Not much tops seeing the the massive glaciers and vast empty wilderness in Glacier Bay—that’s the verdict of our 62 Parks Traveler about the 33rd stop on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.

And how to stay safe in them this summer

A visit to this northwestern Wyoming park, which is as thrilling for wildlife watchers as it is for climbers, hikers, and backcountry skiers, comes with a warning: it’ll be the beginning of a lifelong love affair

Thanks to their proximity, these Airbnbs book up fast. Make your summer reservation now.

A new ruling calls into question previous regulations and norms around film and photography on these spaces

Investigators, family, and friends are still trying to close the case of Paul Fugate, a naturalist at Arizona’s Chiricahua National Monument who vanished without a trace in 1980. What keeps them motivated to stick with a mystery that may be unsolvable?

From a new route that provides access to some of British Columbia’s best surf spots to a 1,400-plus-mile path that will connect all of Italy’s national parks, these aren’t your average walking journeys

There’s nothing quite like swimming in Oregon’s Crater Lake for the first time, an experience our 62 Parks Traveler enjoyed at her 32nd park on her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.

With cruise traffic set to be at an all-time low this summer, you’ll be able to have the 49th state all to yourself

Snag some of the best spots to pitch a tent during peak season

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.

Forget visiting the app store every time you visit a national park. This new, free release provides all kinds of maps, must-hike trails, food recommendations, and more for all of its 423 units.

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.

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.

From day one, the new administration has showed itself to be in favor of protecting the wild spaces and species we love

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