Tag: national parks

Do national parks close during a government shutdown?

It’s complicated.

What does a government shutdown have to do with national parks? Well, since the National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government, a lot. As a potential government shutdown looms, here’s what people need to know about the country’s parks, monuments, and more.

First, let’s take a moment to discuss government shutdowns. In the U.S., a shutdown occurs when a lack of funding forces non-essential government operations to stop. Funding issues arise when Congress members fail to agree on and pass a budget. While national parks don’t always close during a shutdown, they did amid the 2013 government shutdown.

Will the government shutdown close national parks?

Each government shutdown is unique. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, parks remained open with limited staff. While many adventurous tourists probably enjoyed these lands staying open, the decision caused a lot of trouble.

As Outside writer Wes Siler explained, “Even while maintenance crews and Rangers were furloughed, park visitation boomed. Trash and toilets overflowed, sensitive ecological areas were damaged, artifacts were stolen, and people died.”

Local business owners near national parks also face trouble during government shutdowns. According to the NPS, “visitor spending in communities near national parks in 2020 resulted in a $28.6 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 234,000 jobs.” If the parks close, businesses that benefit from visitor spending face real trouble.

As Liz Skelton, owner of Yosemite Blue Butterfly Inn, told CBS Sacramento, “It’s these small little towns outside of these federal parks that get hit the worst on all this.”

During the 2018-2019 government shutdown, Utah paid to keep several of its national parks open. Governor Spencer Cox has already announced plans to do so again should a 2023 shutdown occur. Similarly, Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona has stated that she intends to use state funds to keep the Grand Canyon open during a potential shutdown.

Explore American Gothic landscapes at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Welcome to the prairie.

American landscapes vary wildly from coast to coast. The Southwest has dusty deserts and enchanting red rock formations. New England enjoys vibrant fall forests. Every region showcases unique and fascinating features. Not all of these environments get their due attention, though.

In the heart of Kansas, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve protects a rare and endangered ecosystem. Prairie lands used to cover 170 million acres of North America. Today, “less than 4% remains intact.”

Tallgrass prairies disappearing is not only an environmental loss but a cultural one, too. All it takes to understand this is one visit to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The preserve’s trails and historic landmarks embody American Gothic sensibilities in a way not even Grant Wood could hope to capture. Experience the magic for yourself with these eight incredible photos of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Peer into the fascinating forests of Congaree National Park

Find Congaree’s top spots.

A walk through a forest full of leafy green trees is an excellent way to de-stress and appreciate the world around you. In America, one of the most fascinating forests resides in South Carolina at the one-and-only Congaree National Park. Trees aren’t the only incredible things you’ll discover there, though.

Located in Hopkins, South Carolina, this park encompasses about 26,692 acres or roughly 41 square miles. Within, the biodiverse landscapes range from floodplains to old-growth bottomland hardwood forests. If you want to see this untamed wilderness for yourself, plan a trip to Congaree National Park with this list of the best things to do there.

5 things to know before visiting Joshua Tree’s Cholla Cactus Garden

Watch out for spikes!

Joshua Tree National Park attracts millions of visitors from all over the world. Each guest who enters the park will find something to love, like the famous Joshua trees or dramatic rock formations. However, only adventurers willing to drive a little further into the desert can enjoy the wonders of the Cholla Cactus Garden. Here’s what you should know about this special spot.

A winding road from the park’s north entrance leads drivers on a 12-mile journey to the garden. A small parking area marks the beginning of the Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail. This flat path takes hikers on a tour of the garden’s unique teddybear cholla. These cacti are covered in thin but sharp spikes that give the plant an almost fuzzy look in the right light. Find out the best times to see them and other helpful tips in the list below.

The top 3 hiking trails at White Sands National Park

Hike the dunes.

Venture into the wonderful world of White Sands National Park. Miles of bright white sand make this New Mexico park a uniquely gorgeous place for hiking. Trails travel along the dunes and treat visitors to a look at the hypnotic landscapes, curious critters, and intriguing plants found throughout the desert. Before you take a trip to the park, explore this guide to the region’s three best hiking trails.

As you might expect, a desert hike will expose you to a lot of sunlight. Protect yourself from sunburn with a quality sunscreen, and bring more than enough water. You don’t want to ruin a great hike with dehydration or burns. If you need to replace any old or unreliable hiking gear, check out this gear guide before your park visit.

Now that you’re geared up for a desert adventure, here are the three best hiking trails at White Sands National Park.

What to expect at the Grand Canyon’s 15th annual Celebration of Art

Celebrate art at the Grand Canyon.

Artists have been trying to capture the Grand Canyon on canvas for more than a century. Contemporary artists carry on the tradition, especially during the annual Celebration of Art. Its 15th year kicks off September 1 with a silent auction. The main event is a week of “en plein air” (outside on location) painting, where 24 artists will be working at the canyon’s South Rim.

Not only is it fun for visitors to see artists painting the canyon in real-time, but the event is also an important fundraiser for the Grand Canyon Conservancy, the canyon’s official nonprofit partner. The conservancy funds historic building preservation, trail maintenance, educational programs, and wildlife protection projects.

Look forward to these five events at this year’s Celebration of Art.

Llama loose in Yellowstone after being spooked by bison

A llama that escaped during a commercial trekking expedition in Yellowstone National Park has been on the loose since Aug. 12.

A llama that escaped during a commercial pack trip in Yellowstone National Park has been on the loose since Aug. 12.

Susi Huelsmeyer-Sinay, owner of the Yellowstone Llamas, told FTW Outdoors that the llama was tethered with other llamas near a Lamar Valley trailhead when bison stampeded through the area.

“He was terrified when a group of bison thundered through camp and ran towards the trailhead and the trailer he knows,” Huelsmeyer-Sinay said, adding that the llama, Joaquin, broke his tether. “[Then] he was diverted again by a group of bison milling around the area.”

Buckrail reported that a Yellowstone Llamas guide waited at the trailhead overnight but Joaquin “did not come back.”

Trout Lake image courtesy of NPS/Dave Krueger

Huelsmeyer-Sinay said Joaquin was sighted near Trout Lake on Aug. 14. But he has not been seen since. The search effort has focused around Trout Lake, Buck Lake and Shrimp Lake, north and northeast of the trailhead.

“Wolf watchers, wildlife companies, construction crews, horse outfitters, Park Service staff, and park visitors have been alerted,” Huelsmeyer-Sinay added. “We are still hiking the area and encouraging hikers to keep an eye out for Joaquin, who may still be dragging his line.”

Joaquin is a tall, brown llama with a white face. Anyone who spots the animal is asked to call the Yellowstone Backcountry Office at 307-344-2160.

While Joaquin faces danger from bears and wolves, another llama named Lewis once survived three months alone in the park before being located by Huelsmeyer-Sinay and led back without a harness.

Yellowstone Llamas is a licensed outfitter that specializes in single and multi-day pack trips.

–Image showing Joaquin is courtesy of Yellowstone Llamas

Yellowstone wolves caught on camera bringing ‘toys’ to den

Yellowstone National Park biologist have shared video footage showing wolves delivering animal bones and other items to their den to keep younger wolves occupied.

Yellowstone National Park has shared video footage showing wolves delivering bones and other skeletal remains to their den to keep younger wolves occupied.

The park explained via social media:

“Pups await food deliveries from successful hunts, but in the absence of food adults bring ‘toys.’ The instinct to bring items back to the den may be reinforced by evolution, and probably helps keep adults from being mobbed by sharp puppy teeth.”

The footage was captured by park biologists last spring and involved members of the Mollie’s pack.

As of January 2023, 10 wolf packs were known to reside inside the park. The overall population was estimated at 108 wolves.

The Mollie’s Pack is named after Mollie Beattie,  Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the wolf reintroduction effort in 1995.

Watch: Bull elk has last laugh after being taunted by motorist

Video footage captured in the Rockies shows why tourists should never taunt an elk, even from inside a vehicle.

The U.S. Department of the Interior last week issued a reminder that the bison rut is underway and urged visitors on public lands to give the massive animals space.

“No matter what time of year, always stay further than 25 yards away!” the agency cautioned. (Click here to witness the astonishing power of bison during a 2020 mating-season skirmish in Yellowstone National Park.)

Since the elk rut follows the bison rut in the Rockies, similar advisories are forthcoming because elk also are strong and unpredictable, and as dangerous as bison.

But, as with bison, bull elk do not need to be in the rut to become agitated, and this is illustrated wonderfully in the accompanying footage, which went viral last year.

As viewers can see, the motorist is taunting the elk through an open window while driving slowly toward the animal on a highway. “Watch out buddy,” the man goads, adding, “You wanna fight?”

The elk responded by plowing its antlers into the vehicle’s left front tire, leaving the motorist with a flat. The clip ends with an expletive issued from his female passenger.

–Generic elk image courtesy of ©Pete Thomas

Watch: Awesome power on display during Yellowstone bison rut

Dramatic footage showing a bison fight on a Yellowstone highway should remind tourists why the animals should be afforded a wide berth.

The U.S. Department of the Interior on Friday reminded those who visit public lands that the bison rut is underway and that people should be extra careful around the massive animals.

“Male bison are particularly aggressive now, as they congregate in herds to compete, socialize and breed,” the agency explained in a video tweet. “Bulls are on high alert and can get aggravated easily. No matter what time of year, always stay further than 25 yards away!”

For those who wonder just how forceful a male bison can be during the mating season, check out the awesome power on display in the following footage, captured three years ago in Yellowstone National Park.

It shows an angry bison ramming, lifting and propelling another bison 30 feet off the highway.

Male bison can weigh 2,000 pounds, and the animals can run up to 30 mph. They warrant respect at all times, but particularly during the July-August rut.