Some of us are lucky enough to have memories of summertime family trips to national parks. In those warm summer months, the most popular parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite can feel as crowded as Disneyland. But now that kids are back in school, you might be able to have some parks to yourself. A few of these destinations even offer pleasant weather during winter. Of course, other parks may leave you shivering, but the solitude, bare trees, and dramatic snowy beauty are a fair tradeoff. If you want to explore some of the country’s charming cold-weather scenery, check out this list of the best United States national parks to visit during winter.
With autumn in full swing, Halloween is the holiday on everyone’s mind. As visions of trick-or-treating and haunted houses dance in your head, don’t forget that there are plenty of fun ways to get outdoors during spooky season. In fact, the fall foliage makes Halloween a particularly stunning time to explore nature. If you’re looking for a way to shake up your haunted holiday celebrations, try embracing the wilderness with these activities at national parks. From Yosemite to Big Bend, national parks across the United States will offer various fascinating Halloween events this year. Find a festival, tour, or hike near you with this helpful list.
“Discover verdant forests, majestic scenery, and cosmic terror.” That’s the tagline on this eye-catching poster for Mystery Flesh Pit National Park. Never heard of the place? Don’t feel bad. After all, this strange and intriguing park never actually existed.
Let’s start this strange tale from the beginning. In 2019, artist Trevor Roberts (StrangeVehicles on Reddit) created a Mystery Flesh Pit National Park tourism poster. The poster depicts a cavern full of a strange, red substance — the park’s eponymous mystery flesh, one would assume. Roberts shared his poster design in the worldbuilding subreddit, a community where creatives can discuss the fictional worlds they create. As Roberts explained to Snopes, he never intended for people to think the park was real.
“I am surprised that some people believe it is real, as that was never the intention. I do try my best to mimic the style of real NPS brochures and materials through layout, typeface selection, color choices, and general wording, but I had imagined that the absurdity of the basic concept would be enough for someone to see that it was all an art project,” Roberts told Snopes.
So, if Roberts never claimed Mystery Flesh Pit National Park was a real place, how did rumors about it spread across the internet? Apparently, misinformation on Facebook and TikTok helped generate confusion about and interest in the park. Rumors allege that in the 1970s, Mystery Flesh Pit National Park was an actual destination located in Odessa, Texas. A viral Facebook post elaborates on the claims, saying that the park closed in 2007 following a “major disaster with 750 fatalities.”
As Roberts explained, the absurdity of these tales should be enough for people to understand that the park is a work of fiction. Still, it’s easy to see why audiences are so intrigued by the concept. A wealth of incredible Mystery Flesh Pit National Park artwork is available on Roberts’ website, where fascinated readers can further explore the fictional world. You can even snag a Mystery Flesh Pit National Park tourism poster here.
Can you spot the Yellowstone National Park pika in the photo?
Pikas that inhabit Yellowstone National Park are heard more often than seen because of their diminutive stature and ability to blend in with their rocky habitat.
This is evident in an image captured recently by Jordan Holst and posted to social media Wednesday by Yellowstone JOBS.
Can you spot the pika in Holst’s image, featured in this post? (It might take a few seconds; the answer is posted below.)
Pikas, identifiable by their high-pitch alarm calls or shorter “mew” sounds, are adored by those who occasionally spot and photograph them.
Photo: Jordan Holst
At this time of year mountain-dwelling pikas are gathering mouthfuls of grasses and other vegetation to construct food “haystacks” to sustain them through the harsh winter, since they do not hibernate.
According to the park website, shrill calls and visible haystacks are obvious signs of pika activity.
Are you ready for the most delightful wildlife holiday of the year? After months of anticipation, Fat Bear Week 2022 has finally arrived. Hosted by Katmai National Park and Preserve, the event invites people worldwide to explore a “March-Madness style bracket” of the park’s fattest bears. You can even get involved by voting for the season’s beefiest bears. Voting opened today, Oct. 5, and closes on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Tune in for a live chat on the 11th (also known as Fat Bear Tuesday) to see which bear won the battle of the fattest.
As a news release from the park explained, “this game isn’t about keeping your eye on the ball, but rather keeping all the senses alert for the jumping salmon. Their competition isn’t about putting points on the board, but putting pounds on their weight. There are no such things as lightweights for the bears of Brooks River; doubling body weights in a matter of months is just par for the course around here.”
In July, excitement for Fat Bear Week grew as audiences tuned in to Explore.org’s live Katmai National Park bear cam. Sockeye salmon began their summer migration, and hungry bears waded into the water to feast on the fish. As the bears continue feasting this week, the live cam remains open for curious viewers. Pull up the livestream and cheer on those grizzly animals as they prepare for winter.
Katmai National Park’s Fat Bear Junior competition concluded at the end of September. This smaller event began in 2021 and focuses on younger bears. The adorably rotund 132’s spring cub won the 2021 Fat Bear Junior competition, and 909’s yearling won for 2022.
Keep your eye on this week’s competition by learning more via Katmai National Park’s Fat Bear Week hub. And don’t forget to visit Explore.org to vote for the fattest bear.
Across the United States, 63 national parks welcome tourists looking to explore the country’s natural beauty. Majestic mountains, powerful rivers, and vast canyons are just a few of the treasures hidden within these parks. Every year, these stunning landscapes draw in millions of visitors. While most states enjoy at least one national park, it takes time and dedication to visit all of them. If you’re on a journey to fill the pages of your national parks passport, an ambitious itinerary can help jump-start the process. For inspiration, check out this cross-country road trip route that will take you to 15 gorgeous national parks
Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcomes millions of visitors a year. An expansive collection of spellbinding natural wonders and captivating historical landmarks make the park a beloved destination for people from all walks of life. While Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers many things to do and sights to see, a few popular spots stand out above the rest. If you’re planning a trip to this neck of the woods, make sure you don’t miss out on the area’s most exciting attractions. With this helpful gallery of five places to visit in and around Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can get a taste of what it’s like to adventure into one of the gems of Appalachia.
Every year, millions of people flock to Zion National Park. While guests can enjoy the park through everything from camping to climbing, hiking may be the best way to experience the area’s beauty. Dazzling landscapes sweep across the land and invite adventurers to explore.
While the popular Zion Canyon trails offer plenty of picturesque vistas, the park boasts even more gorgeous sights along the East Rim and Southwest Desert. Curious to take a look at these lovely locations but don’t have the time to visit in person? Don’t sweat it. With these 10 photos, you can enjoy a virtual hike through Zion National Park. Make sure to check out these virtual tours from the National Park Service, too.
Journey north of Puerto Princesa in the Philippines for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. On a coast dotted with stunning waterfalls and gorgeous beaches, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park shines as the area’s most famous natural wonder.
The underground river’s mysterious waters draw in adventurers from all over the world. Those who brave Puerto Princesa Subterranean River’s intimidating, craggy entrance will find breathtaking caves and rock formations shaped over time by the tides. A boat tour through the area also illuminates the environment’s biodiversity. Bats, snakes, crabs, and more make their homes in the cave system alongside a diverse collection of plant species. Dive into this vibrant world with these five incredible photos.
No road will lead you to Alaska’s remote Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Those who wish to explore the area’s wild and enchanting landscapes must board a plane or boat. After an adventurous journey to the park, visitors step into a fantastic world with natural beauty as far as the eye can see. Lively meadows, frosty mountain peaks, thriving waters, and even stunning volcanoes welcome guests who want to immerse themselves in pristine outdoor environments. If you’re curious to discover more about Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, here are all the incredible details you will want to know.
What makes Lake Clark National Park and Preserve special?
As the National Park Service (NPS) explains, “Lake Clark preserves the ancestral homelands of the Dena’ina people, an intact ecosystem at the headwaters of the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world, and a rich cultural wilderness.”
The Dena’ina people know Lake Clark as Qizhjeh Vena. This community’s “traditional ecological knowledge” connects them to the land in a way few, if any, others can. Qizhjeh, or Kijik (Qizhjeh) National Historic Landmark and Archeological District, houses over a dozen sites that speak to Dena’ina history in the area. Today, students of the Quk’ Taz’un, ‘The Sun Is Rising,’ Dena’ina outdoor learning camp can directly engage with this history.
This protected landscape also thrums with wildlife. Brown bears graze near the gorgeous Chinitna Bay, salmon swim in the waters of Crescent Lake and Silver Salmon Creek, and caribou hoof through the park’s tundra plains. Historic public use cabins invite visitors to experience a rustic night in the wilderness, but guests seeking a more intense experience can backpack and camp throughout the park.
Hikers will also enjoy exploring Lake Clark’s Tanalian Trails. From Beaver Pond Trail to Tanalian Mountain, the park’s beautiful natural landmarks make the journey worth it. Of course, no visit to Lake Clark National Park is complete without a trek to see the volcanoes and glaciers. Explore a park map to plan your route, and check out the Lake Clark NPS site to learn more about the area’s iconic sights.
