#national-parks

#national-parks

Decades of national park visitation and outdoor recreation economic data are buried in government spreadsheets. I built this to make it actually usable, whether you work in outdoor rec or just want to know how many people went to Yellowstone last year.

The early morning sun is bursting around the dark corners of High Dodd and Sleet Fell, sending a flush of light across the golden bracken and on to the hammered silver of the lake.

This is one of the largest public works projects in recent history for the U.S. It's fairly scary to think about the lack of oversight, the complete authority to build these walls without considering the environmental impacts.

Longer days, blooming flowers, and increasing temperatures make spring the perfect time for an escape to one of the 63 major US national parks. After traveling solo to all of them, there are a few I think are especially worth seeing between the months of March and June.

Channeling the look and feel of authentic national park lodges was an important part of this renovation project. We took great care to preserve its independent spirit and also invite guests to truly immerse themselves in the destination, from the captivating views from the lodge to the quiet serenity offered by the Colorado River that winds itself around the property.

When the weather warms up and the late winter rains turn trees green and fields into wildflower wonderlands, it's the perfect time to take a drive. Whether your preferred landscape is mountains, deserts, forests, plains, or coastal views, there's a spring road trip in the United States for you. Explore historic sites, regional food, wineries, or nature-all from the front seat.

"The best places to visit in California?" a proud Californian might say, lighting up with glee. "Where do I begin?" You may have heard folks from California brag about the geographical diversity of their not-so-little corner of the world. Theirs is a place where you can go from sun-drenched beach to snow-capped mountain top to sprawling desert all in one day. The pure size of the state may intimidate at first; it takes up significantly more space than the entire country of Italy.

Some travelers love vacations that involve doing absolutely nothing-trips where lounging by the beach or pool, napping, reading, or going for a light swim are the most rigorous activities on the agenda. Other travelers, however, crave trips that are a bit more ... active, whether that means hiking, biking, or parasailing. If you fall into the latter category, you should consider heading to Wyoming for your next trip, according to Wander.

The terrain is choked with rhododendron and dog hobble, ground cover that makes it easy to get lost and hard to be found. There are eight hundred and forty-eight miles of trail, and countless manways, which masquerade as trails. The many waterfalls are fed by rain on par with that of the Pacific Northwest. The rivers rise and boil with astonishing speed. There's little to no cell service.

Your stargazing experience can differ greatly based on where you are in the world. That's due in part to light pollution, which can drown out all but the brightest stars and satellites in densely populated areas. For truly unforgettable celestial views, you'll need to visit one of the darkest places in the U.S. on a clear night. DarkSky is an Arizona-based nonprofit with the mission "to restore the nighttime environment and protect communities and wildlife from light pollution."

America's national parks are treasures worth exploring, and the best part? You don't always have to open your wallet. With 63 official national parks and more than 400 additional sites managed by the National Park Service, there's no shortage of stunning landscapes to discover. Some parks charge entry fees-typically $20-$35 per person or per vehicle-but there are plenty of ways to enjoy the beauty for free.

As one of the most protected national parks in the world, the Galápagos Islands are full of incredible wildlife that are not afraid of humans and will come in closer contact with you than is possible in most other natural places in the world. You can experience a variety of landscapes in a small space, from lush highlands full of tortoises to moon-like volcanic rock covered in piles of iguanas.

The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today to prevent President Donald Trump from replacing a beautiful picture of Glacier National Park with a close-up of his own face on the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass, reads a press release. Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center, blasted the president's image being used on passes as his crassest, most ego-driven action yet.

The run clubs that took off in the past few years were outpaced by hiking. That's according to new data from Strava, a fitness tracking app, and AllTrails, a hiking navigation app. Strava's end-of-year report, analyzing data from over 30,000 users, found that hiking clubs grewsixfold in 2025 - nearly double the pace of run clubs. In 2025, AllTrails saw a 20% increase in users (i.e., people who created an account on the app) to 90 million.

When it comes to winter travel in the southwestern United States, a ski trip to Lake Tahoe or a glam Las Vegas getaway may come to mind. But a few hours' drive northeast of Sin City is a region with twisting canyons, cathedral-like spires, and delicate sandstone arches that only look more stunning with a dusting of snow. Southern Utah is home to five national parks, four national monuments, and countless hiking and biking trails.

Entering some National Parks is about to get more expensive for foreign visitors. The Federal Government announced on Tuesday a new $100 per person fee. "For some people, they just want to come here to see the beautiful view over here. So, it's going to be really hard for them to come here from now," tourist Get said. Get, originally from Thailand, was taking in the iconic views of the Yosemite Valley on Wednesday.

When I first visited Brazil in 2020, my destination choice was largely driven by tropical weather and affordable hotels. Since becoming a full-time resident, those parts of Brazilian life are undoubtedly still seductive, but I've also fallen deeper for the Brazil that stretches beyond Copacabana and the sounds of bossa nova. This is the country Brazilians affectionately call Brasil com S, a place with more than 70 national parks, more than 4,600 miles of coastline, and more local fruit stands than fast food chains.