Over the last three decades, I鈥檝e driven all across the country, sometimes flying in and renting a car, more often just driving my Roadtrek camper van from my Indiana home. During those road trips, I’ve also visited every national park in the contiguous U.S. Whenever I鈥檓 home too long or the news gets too dire, I start to feel that itch to hit the open road.

Before planning any road trip, I recommend buying a Rand McNally road atlas. It will help you navigate whenyou no longer have cell service. Just like you shouldn鈥檛 leave your route to Google Maps, you shouldn鈥檛 leave your summer road trip playlist to Spotify. I try to at least pick a few songs or artists, or even an audiobook, connected to my destination. Case in point: I can鈥檛 drive through Texas without listening to hometown heroes the Old 97鈥檚 or the Vandoliers. You can practically smell bluebonnets and the dregs of a discarded Lone Star beer bottle with every song.

When compiling this list, I attempted to hit as many geographical regions of the the U.S. as possible, but focused most of the attention on northern or higher elevation areas where the summer heat may not be as brutal.听 I also chose these road trips based on their proximity to adventure. And with a few exceptions, I鈥檝e personally roadtripped through each of these destinations myself.

Remember, when things go wrong on the road, as they inevitably will, just tell yourself that it鈥檚 just going to make for a great story. It always does for me.

Here are my top recommendations for the best summer road trips in the U.S.

Communing With Nature: Redwoods to Crater Lake

Distance: 456 miles
Potential adventures: Hiking, photography, road cycling
Perfect road-trip playlist song:

A couple of years ago, I did a version of this road trip in Winnebago鈥檚 prototype electric RV, and it was incredible. Perhaps my biggest regret was that I spent the entire article talking about the RV and not the scenery I was experiencing.

Start in , where the smell of saltwater, mountain air, and redwood trees will linger in your nose and remain in your memories forever. Similar to hiking its sister park Sequoia, walking through millennia-old redwood groves inspires an almost religious connection to the听natural world. The park offers more than 200 miles of trails for every skill level鈥攆rom experienced hikers gaining 3,000 feet of elevation to those who need accessible, paved or gravel paths.

From there, take CA 299 east to , which still bears scars from the Carr Fire in 2018. When I visited, some life had returned to the hillside, but it remained a sobering reminder . Despite this, there was plenty of outdoor adventure to be had, such as hiking or biking dozens of miles of trails, checking out multiple gorgeous waterfalls, or swimming in the eponymous lake.

Taking CA 44 further east to , you鈥檒l see even more charred trees, reminders of the that damaged nearly 70 percent of the park. Given its elevation (more than 10,000 feet at its highest), Lassen Volcanic finds itself buried underneath snow for most of the year. Late July through September is the perfect time to visit, when most of the trails can be hiked without snowshoes. The half-mile Sulphur Works and 2.7-mile Bumpass Hell trails with their steam vents, bubbling pools, and mud pots echo Yellowstone鈥檚 volcanic features.

Next, head north to , which encompasses Mt. Shasta, California鈥檚 fifth-largest peak. I only spent an afternoon on the trails there, and were I to do it over again, I would have spent multiple days exploring the trails through seemingly endless fir and pine forests. The road between Mt. Shasta鈥攚hich is actually a stratovolcano鈥攁nd Crater Lake is known as the , with other highlights including Burney Mountain and Medicine Lake Volcano. This is yet another gorgeous road, so take your time heading further north to Crater Lake National Park.

Whenever I think of the color blue, I see Crater Lake鈥檚 impossibly perfect waters听in my mind. I hiked up the short, but steep Watchman Peak Trail, to gaze upon the entirety of namesake attraction.

The park itself isn鈥檛 massive, so visitors can knock out the highlights in a day or two. Be sure to drive or, even better, bike the length of the 33-mile Rim Road with its 30 scenic vistas. The road does have some elevation changes, so be ready to climb or bring an e-bike.

If you love fly fishing, continue southwest to Grants Pass, located on the world-famous Rogue River. I鈥檇 recommend visiting in late summer between August and September when the summer steelhead run is in full swing.

(Great) Lake Life: Indiana Dunes to Apostle Islands

Miles: 971
Potential activities: Hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, paddling
Perfect road-trip playlist song:

As a native Midwesterner, I鈥檝e long claimed that Michigan and Wisconsin are the two most-underrated states in the nation for outdoor adventure. Over the years, I鈥檝e traveled extensively within the area, hiking and biking nearly endless rolling hills covered in thick birch, pine, and oak forests. I鈥檝e paddled the Great Lakes and fly-fished some of the world’s most-renowned trout rivers. Visitors can find thousands of miles of gorgeous shoreline, much of which they may have all to themselves.

This road trip starts at Indiana Dunes National Park, which offers more than 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Most visitors prefer to lounge on the beach, but Indiana Dunes also boasts a staggering amount of biodiverse ecosystems in a relatively small, 15,000-acre footprint. More than 1,000 wildly different plant species essentially live side-by-side, including a rare ethereal white plant called the ghost pipe and multiple species of carnivorous plants.

Crossing north into Michigan, fly fishers can stop in either Grand Rapids, to hopefully catch smallies and pike, or head further north to the famous Pere Marquette River to fish for wild brook and rainbow trout. (Visit or for the latest river conditions and news on what鈥檚 currently hatching.) You鈥檒l find plenty of free or low-cost spots to camp along the Pere Marquette in the (I鈥檇 suggest Claybanks Campground if you鈥檙e wading and Sulak Campground if you鈥檙e in a boat), though you may want to spring for a hotel in Grand Rapids to听enjoy the multitude of restaurants and bars after you get off the river.

Driving further north to Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshores, the road hugs Lake Michigan to the west and later, after crossing Mackinac Bridge, Lake Superior to the north. They鈥檙e both stunning bodies of water, but try to keep your eyes on the highway. Driving across Mackinac Bridge on a windy day requires nerves of steel. (I swear the bridge was swinging the last time I crossed it.) Both national lakeshores have some great hiking, but the most incredible scenery is best seen via the water. Bringing or renting a sea kayak for an afternoon is a must.

From Pictured Rocks, head west. The most fun I鈥檝e ever had on a mountain bike was in , thanks to more than 50 miles of fun wooden features and flowy singletrack. Copper Harbor is also the entryway to , although you鈥檒l have to ditch your vehicle for a ferry to get there. I鈥檇 recommend at least overnighting on the island and staying even longer, if you鈥檙e able.

This itinerary ends at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin, another spot where getting on the water is a must. Paddlers can even camp on several of the islands. Mountain bikers should definitely check out the 17 miles of singletrack at . Nearby, Big Top Chautauqua brings in artists like Iron and Wine and Old Crow Medicine Show to perform under a massive circus tent. (Steve Earle rocked out during my most recent visit.)

The Ultimate Outdoor Paradise: Glacier National Park to Stanley, Idaho

Miles: 794
Potential activities: Hiking, mountain biking, paddling, fly fishing
Perfect road-trip playlist song:

You could take the entire summer traversing this route and still barely scratch the surface of what this nearly 800-mile slice of paradise from Glacier National Park to Stanley, Idaho, offers. No matter what outdoor activity you love, you鈥檒l find it here.

Yellowstone or Glacier will get busy during the summer high season, so enter the parks early or later in the day, when the bulk of the crowds have dissipated. Start in Glacier, which, for me at least, may be the most beautiful place in the world. Spend a morning kayaking Lake McDonald; if you鈥檙e lucky, the weather will allow an almost glass-like reflection on the blue water that鈥檚 ideal for frame-worthy photos.

Going to the Sun Road reopens by July each year. Take it to the lesser-traveled east side of the park for some of the best hiking opportunities. Finish your Glacier excursion with a fly fishing trip down the middle fork of the Flathead River, one of the best鈥� and most picturesque鈥攕pots in the country for cutthroats and rainbows.

Heading south, Helena is a nice stopover between Glacier and Yellowstone, offering some pretty good mountain biking in its own right. Helena may have started out as a gold town, but it鈥檚 now a Silver-Level IMBA Ride Center, with more than 75 miles of trails spread around town.

Driving further south, get into Yellowstone early in the morning to see Grand Prismatic Spring boil and Old Faithful erupt, then hit the road again. Your best shot at seeing a grizzly or wolf is heading to Lamar Valley. Plenty of cars will be parked alongside the road with people looking into the hills with spotting scopes. If crowds clog the trails, Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests have lots of great hikes with practically no one else around.

Further south is on one of the most breathtaking roads in America, the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, and Grand Teton may be one of the most photogenic mountains in the world. in has free dispersed campsites overlooking the namesake mountains. It鈥檚 the perfect place to unwind after a day on the trails and enjoy a cocktail or three.

After spending a day or two in and out of the park, head west, crossing into Idaho. If you鈥檙e fascinated by Yellowstone鈥檚 geology, then spend a couple of hours exploring End the road trip in . It鈥檚 a cool, under-the-radar town that puts you in the middle of all the surrounding outdoor action. Plan to spend two or three days there, with at least one earmarked for fly fishing the Salmon River. I recommend hiring a guide with , who helped me hook into tons of rainbow-cutthroat hybrids.

Keep in mind: This is grizzly country, so have bear spray ready and make a lot of noise as you walk.

Seeing Colors: South Dakota鈥檚 Badlands to Black Hills

Miles: 103 miles
Potential activities: Hiking, photography, trail riding
Perfect audiobook:

I didn鈥檛 know what to expect the first time I rolled through South Dakota in 2020, but after spending a couple of weeks exploring it and its sibling state to the north, I drove听away impressed. So much so I鈥檝e been back multiple times in the years since.

Start in Badlands National Park, preferably during sunrise or sunset. Watch how the changing light illuminates and reflects on the various colors of layered sandstone. Driving the loop road through the park takes around two hours with stops at the overlooks, each giving a unique and often expansive view of the rock formations. If you鈥檙e planning to hike, dedicate two days to explore the park. During summer, sunscreen and a shady hat are a must for the Badlands, where you won鈥檛 find too many trees on the trails.

From the Badlands, head west. Unless you鈥檙e an amateur spelunker or otherwise fascinated with caves, dedicate half a day to , springing for one of the cave tours. I recommend the basic 75-minute tour, which covers the natural highlights and boxwork formations inside the cave, as well as the historical significance of the cave to the Lakota people. Be sure to get your tickets as early as possible, as they often sell out during the summer high season.

After the tour, head toward neighboring . This gorgeous, well-maintained park is on par with many national parks, offering lots of great hiking and biking options. Beginning in Deadwood, the 109-mile runs through the heart of Custer State Park, terminating in Edgemont, passing over more than 100 converted railroad trestles and through 4 tunnels. If you didn鈥檛 bring a bike, the park offers several heart-racing hiking trails (both metaphorically and literally). Both Cathedral Spires and Black Elk Peak offer beautiful views and opportunities to hop into the refreshing Sylvan Lake.

Throughout its 1.2 million acres, offers more than 450 miles of hiking trails, a bit of singletrack in Spearfish, and fun times swimming or paddling in the lakes and reservoirs. The scenery surrounding the roads is beautiful, but the tarmac can get a bit twisty; there鈥檚 a reason why thousands of bikers flock to Sturgis each year.

If you decide to visit Mount Rushmore, be sure to earmark time for the as well. The two manmade monoliths are great contrasts to one another, allowing you and your traveling companions to discuss the great and not-so-great aspects of our nation鈥檚 history.

I listened to Dee Brown鈥檚 sobering 鈥淏ury My Heart at Wounded Knee鈥� while driving through the state. Hearing the atrocities that occurred on these grounds gave me a much deeper understanding of both the landscape and the people who lived there years ago.

Fly High: Pisgah National Forest to Hot Springs, North Carolina

Miles: 97 miles
Potential activities: Hiking, fly fishing, gravel, road, and mountain biking
Perfect road-trip playlist song:

This trip traversing North Carolina鈥檚 most scenic national forests and perhaps the best trout water east of the Mississippi is a must for every adventurer with a bike and a fly rod.

Start in , which boasts some of the most challenging and fun singletrack you鈥檒l find east of the Mississippi. Tucked away in the seemingly endless pine forests, trails can be gnarly and pretty technical, but always fun. I have roughly the same number of smiles and scars to remember from years of riding there. Be sure to earmark at least a day for the fast and flowy DuPont State Forest trails nearby.

Head southwest to , which got hit hard by Hurricane Helene last fall, but has made a remarkable comeback in the months since. When I was here in the spring, ongoing highway repairs heading in and out of Haywood slowed traffic to a crawl in places. Try to time your travel to early in the morning or at night in order to avoid the traffic jams.

Maggie Valley and the surrounding towns are filled with mom-and-pop campgrounds and motels that need visitors鈥� cash to pay for all the repairs. What do they offer in return? Trout, and lots of them. (Be sure to , as the Carolina game wardens do not mess around.) The Pigeon River and both Jonathan and Richland Creeks get stocked by the state of North Carolina in the spring, and the trout are still hitting mop flies and woolie buggers in the summer. ( can give you the current intel.)

In nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cataloochee Creek flows through a picturesque valley and is filled with skittish wild brookies. Catching one of these native little fish felt as momentous as catching dozens the day before on the Pigeon.

From there, head north on NC 209 to , another spot recovering from last year鈥檚 hurricane. My cycling team held our training camp in this tiny Tarheel town for more than a decade, so I can assure you both the road and gravel riding here are amazing. The twisty mountain roads surrounding the town will make you earn the super-fun descents. The gravel climb up 4,600-foot Max Patch is challenging, but doable for most riders; beware the backside descent, which can be treacherous in places. Hot Springs is a major Appalachian Trail hub, with lots of other great hiking options nearby. As a bonus, the French Broad River runs through Hot Springs, so after you get back from your epic ride, you can unwind in the cool water while getting your line wet.

I Cannot Tell a Lie; I love Washington State: North Cascades to Olympic

Miles: 342 miles
Potential activities: Hiking, fly fishing, sea kayaking, wildlife viewing, road cycling
Perfect audiobook:

Begin your drive at North Cascades National Park. Due to its northern location, it鈥檚 not as heavily traveled as the two other national parks in the state, and locals rightfully view it and the surrounding national forest as their backyard. Nearly every SUV you see will be loaded with kayaks or mountain bikes on top.

My favorite day-hike in the park, the Cascade Pass Trail, winds upward through fir and cedar forest to views of multiple peaks and glaciers. Neighboring Ross Lake National Recreational Area is a perfect spot for casual paddling and swimming. If you have at least three days for a backcountry adventure, visit Desolation Peak in the northeast corner of the park, where famed beat writer Jack Kerouac served as a fire lookout in 1956.

Leaving North Cascades, keep an eye out for some famous fly-fishing rivers during the remainder of the road trip. You may come across the Yakima River, known for salmon and trout, and the Skagit and Hoh Rivers, that offer great steelhead fishing. The should help you find access points and fly shops along the way.

Nearly all the roads in have opened by early July. Road cyclists flock to the park to challenge themselves on the steep upward roads. Visitors will find tons of incredible hiking options throughout the park, with a wide variety of mileage and difficulty levels. If you have time after leaving the park, detour down to , where one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in U.S. history occurred in 1980.

From Mout Rainier, head northwest. The problem with is there鈥檚 almost too much to do. Spanning nearly a million acres, visitors can be easily听overwhelmed with the number of hiking options. Hurricane Ridge and Hoh Rain Forest are two of the more popular recreation areas, but that often leads to congestion and lack of parking. Queets and Quinault Rain Forests have a similar feel to Hoh, but far fewer visitors. If you鈥檙e looking for a backcountry adventure, Sol Duc Valley and Deer Park are great jumping-off points.

国产吃瓜黑料 Powered by Lobster: White Mountains to Hidden Maine Ponds

Miles: 384 miles
Potential activities: Hiking, fly fishing, kayaking, stargazing, eating lobster
Perfect road-trip playlist song:

Full of beech and maple forests, gorgeous hillsides, and mountain-fed lakes, is a terrific starting point for this New Hampshire to Maine road trip. Two of the shortest trails have some of the best views; a 1.5-mile hike will take you to New Hampshire鈥檚 tallest waterfall, Arethusa Falls, while a somewhat steep 3-mile hike leads you to Lonesome Lake, which lives up to its name.

From there, head northeast to Acadia National Park. Start your day early with a drive up Cadillac Summit Road to catch the sunrise. This has become such a popular activity over the years that a $6 parking pass is required during the high season. You may second-guess yourself when your alarm goes off at 3:30 am, but the view is worth it. If you get there pretty early, be sure to bring a headlamp to keep from tripping over a rock or going over a ledge.

Acadia has 45 miles of gravel carriage roads perfect for cycling and another 158 miles of hiking trails. Several outfitters rent bikes if you don鈥檛 bring your own. For 1.5 hours before and after low tide, you can walk about a mile-long sand bar from Bar Harbor to Bar Island. This is one of the more popular activities in the park, and you鈥檒l likely be surrounded by other walkers. When both the weather and sea are cooperating, kayak around Bar Island and the bits of land just off the coast of Bar Harbor. Be sure to fuel your activities with plenty of fresh blueberries and lobster, which you can find nearly everywhere you go.

If Acadia feels too crowded, try spending a day or two in . The bay-front park has around 20 trails, nearly all of which are shorter thant two miles.

Spicer Pond, about 45 minutes west of Portland, is filled with lots of fun-sized native brookies. When you think of stereotypical Maine wilderness, this relatively tiny body of water is likely what you see in your mind. You鈥檙e almost guaranteed to have the pond, or a neighboring one just like it, to yourself. If you need a guide, Jake Ratcliff with can help you out.

___________________________________________________
Robert Annis, a frequent 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor, spends more time on the road than the average long-haul trucker. When not behind the wheel of his beloved Roadtrek camper van singing along to Son Volt鈥檚 classic Trace album, he can be found either hip-deep in the closest trout stream or your town鈥檚 cheapest dive bar.

The post The Best Road Trips to Take This Summer Across the U.S. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The Department of the Interior has a new plan to help fund the U.S. National Parks: raise the price for foreign visitors.

The department recently outlining its 2026 budget plans, and included in the brief is a plan to levy a surcharge on visitors coming from outside of the United States. According to the document, the fee could generate more than $90 million to help cover the costs of maintaining visitor services at national parks, which are facing a proposed budget cut of $1.2 billion next year.

鈥淚 think we鈥檙e way undercharging, as a nation, for international visitors,鈥� Secretary Doug Burgum said during a House Committee on Natural Resources oversight hearing in early June.

The origins of the plan came from a Bozeman, Montana-based think tank that works on environmental policy called the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC).

In 2023, PERC titled How Overseas Visitors Can Help Steward Our National Parks that suggested a $25 surcharge on foreign visitors could generate $330 million, which would double the revenue the NPS generates in fees.

In March, the 听10 Ideas for the Interior Department that included the proposal.听, Brian Yablonski, the CEO of PERC proposed the idea to Burgum earlier this year.听国产吃瓜黑料 reached out to the National Park Service for comment but did not hear back by the publishing date of this story.

国产吃瓜黑料 reached out to PERC to discuss the plans. A PERC economist named Tate Watkins, who authored the 2023 report, said that raising the price to entry represents the easiest way to generate more revenue for the NPS.

鈥淚f your goal is to make sure national parks have the resources they need to be stewarded properly now and for future generations, the entry fee structure is the lowest hanging fruit,鈥� Watkins told 国产吃瓜黑料.

Currently the NPS operates on a $3.1 billion annual budget, with most of the money coming via federal funding allocated by Congress. But the NPS sites do generate revenue via entry fees. more than 80 percent of the money generated by these fees is invested back into the parks.

Entry fees for NPS sites vary. Yellowstone National Park currently charges $20 per person or $35 for a single car. Great Smoky Mountains National Park requires a $5 daily parking fee.

Watkins pointed out that several other countries charge international visitors extra to visit natural wonders, parklands, and historic sites. At Gal谩pagos National Park in Ecuador, foreign guests pay $100 to enter, compared to $6 for locals. Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya both charge international visitors $70, while residents of either country pay $4 and $7, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., a family from France visiting Zion National Park for three days would pay $35 for a week-long park pass鈥攖he same as an American family.

鈥淭he American family is actually paying more than the international tourists because Americans already contribute a small portion to the National Park Service budget through taxes,鈥� Watkins said.

Critics of the plan have suggested the increase in fees might deter visits from foreign travelers. SFGATE estimates that 14 million people from outside of the United States visited an NPS site in 2024. Watkins says his research suggests the contrary. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a negligible amount,鈥� Watkins said. 鈥淔or people traveling from overseas it鈥檚 a tiny slice of their overall budget.鈥�

A PERC study in 2017 estimated that raising the vehicle entry fee at Yellowstone National Park from $30 to $70 would decrease visitation from foreign visitors by only 0.07 percent.

鈥淚t won鈥檛 deter many at all,鈥� Watkins said. 鈥淥n the flip side, even a modest increase could bring in a ton of revenue.鈥�

In its March report, PERC outlined other strategies for NPS, including a revamped fee structure for U.S. visitors as well. Watkins said the current structure is 鈥淎 relatively blunt system today.”

One of PERC鈥檚 recommendations is to offer weekday discounts for American visitors. The report also recommends increasing the price of the America the Beautiful Parks Pass, which grants a holder entry to 2,000 recreation sites, including all 433 NPS sites. The pass currently costs $80.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 an immense value,鈥� Watkins said. 鈥淓specially when you compare it with the cost of private attractions or even similar passes offered by state parks.鈥�

The Department of the Interior has released few details about its proposed fee on foreign visitors, and has not divulged which parks would see an increase or by how much.

Watkins predicts the fee increase will impact 鈥渂ig name destination parks鈥� such as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite. In 2024 the NPS sites recorded 331.9 million visits, the most in history.

Despite the uptick in visits, the NPS is slated to endure a 40 percent decrease in federal funding in 2026. Major cuts are slated for the NPS’s maintenance division.

According to Watkins, the total NPS maintenance backlog across all sites is approaching $24 billion鈥攎ore than double what it was ten years ago. Additional revenue generated by new fees, he said, could alleviate some of the pressure.

鈥淲ithout some kind of action, our crown jewel parks are on an unsustainable path of deterioration,鈥� Watkins said.

The post The New Plan for National Parks: Increase Prices for International Visitors appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

New messaging posted at U.S. national parks and historic sites is requesting that park visitors report 鈥渁ny signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans.鈥�

The Colorado Sun, signs with the directive were posted on Friday, June 13, at the in eastern Colorado. Amache was one of ten incarceration sites for Japanese Americans during World War II.

An identical sign was posted at the nearby Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Colorado. In 1864, the U.S. Army slaughtered approximately 750 Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho indigenous people on the grounds.

In a , Rachel Pawlitz, a spokesperson for the NPS, said the order “reaffirms the NPS mission by emphasizing the importance of accuracy in how we tell stories of American history.”

But the听request has sparked concern that the federal government is attempting to whitewash its own history.

Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, called the order an attempt to rewrite American history.

“Rangers should be able to talk about the history of Japanese American incarceration at Amache, or the history of slavery at Fort Monroe, without looking over their shoulders in fear,” Pierno . “If our country erases the darker chapters of our history, we will never learn from our mistakes. These signs must come down immediately.鈥�

In addition to reporting any negative depictions of Americans, the signs also request that visitors file a report if they see any information that does not 鈥渆mphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features,鈥� and notify the Park Service of any 鈥渁reas that need repair鈥� or 鈥渟ervices that need improvement.鈥� Each sign includes a URL and scannable QR code, which leads to a webpage.

The signage comes on the heels of an executive order, 鈥淩estoring Truth and Sanity to American History,鈥� issued by President Donald Trump in late March, which was implemented by Doug Burgum, U.S. Secretary of the Interior (DOI) on May 20.

Trump鈥檚 order decried 鈥渁 concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation鈥檚 history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth鈥� and said this effort has seen to it that 鈥渙ur Nation鈥檚 unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed.鈥�

When it was issued on March 27, the 鈥溾�� order made national news because it aggressively targeted the Smithsonian Institution, requiring that the museum 鈥渞emove improper ideology.鈥� of the order鈥檚 implementation in the DOI also requires the posting of the signs seen at Amache and Sand Creek last week.

Burgum ordered the leaders of the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Bureau of Reclamation to post such signage 鈥渢hroughout each property, in as many locations within each property as necessary and appropriate to ensure public awareness.鈥�

The order also requires that within 120 days, every department remove any information that 鈥渋nappropriately disparages Americans past or living.鈥�

The implementation of this order obviously will hinge on each park manager鈥檚 interpretation of the word 鈥渋nappropriately.鈥�

John Hopper, founder of the Amache Preservation Society, runs a museum dedicated to the internment camp in the town of Granada. 鈥淚t鈥檚 simple,鈥� he told the Sun. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 sugarcoat history. You have to learn from it, right?鈥�

The post The Latest National Park Service Order: No 鈥淣egative鈥� Information About American History appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

It’s only been four months since the federal government laid off 5 percent of the workforce in our national parks and offered to buy out nearly a thousand more employee contracts. The layoffs have sparked fears about crowding and reduced services in parks. But they’ve also triggered a tremendous wave of support: In response to the layoffs, nature lovers on both sides of the political spectrum have rallied to step up for wilderness areas.

Some public lands nonprofits, like the National Park Trust, have reported double to triple the amount of inquiries this year from hikers interested in volunteering to maintain the trails they love to frequent. The regular flood of summer tourists isn’t slowing down, either. Places like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite expect to see that surpass 2024’s record stats.

Traveling to a national park during peak season, especially if it’s your first time, can be overwhelming. Amid all the changes this year, it’s extra important to have your strategies dialed. To better equip you, editors at 国产吃瓜黑料 have rallied to offer their most helpful tips for navigating parks with ease.

Click here to explore the new rules for visiting national parks.

Tips for Navigating Peak Season in National Parks

• Greet everyone you pass on the trail. It might be crowded, and you might get stuck behind a slow party. But a “Hey, howdy. Nice day, ain’t it?” does wonders in reminding folks that we’re all out here for the same reason, and we’re all in it together.
  – Corey Buhay, Interim Managing Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Don鈥檛 be that guy blaring music on the trails鈥攐r in camp. There鈥檚 nothing more annoying than finally lying down in your tent after a long day of hiking and adventuring and hearing everyone else鈥檚 conversations all night. Be respectful of your fellow campers, and their need for shut-eye, and abide by the quiet time rules (usually around 10 pm to 6 am). This goes for turning off music and keeping lights to a minimum.
  – Kathleen Rellihan, Travel and Culture Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Always cut your tent capacity in half for longer stays. For example, if a tent fits six, plan on piling three people in comfortably.
  – Emilee Coblentz, Packages Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Learn to love dawn patrol. Waking up early isn’t easy, but if you can be on-trail before sunrise you’ll beat the crowds, beat the heat, and get the sun’s first rays all to yourself. There’s really no better way to experience a national park鈥攅specially during summertime.
  – Corey Buhay, Interim Managing Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Connect with friends and family before you depart for inspiration. The national parks have been backdrops for stunning photos for years. Check in with friends and family before you head out to see if any of your loved ones have any well loved photos from their time in the parks. You can try to recreate them, or send a postcard back. National Parks are a special place for so many, so let the people in your life know you鈥檙e thinking of them when you visit.
  – Jamie Aranoff, Digital Editor, SKI
• Get on your bike. As national parks get more crowded, a bike is your ticket to escaping the woes of long lines at park entrances, scenic drive traffic, and full trailhead parking lots. This is especially true at Zion, where riding a bike lets you escape the mandatory shuttle ride during peak season. Check ahead to see if the park you鈥檙e visiting has bike lanes, bike lock stations, paved paths, or similar cycling-friendly amenities. Be sure to bring plenty of water, reflective clothing, and a bike lock so you can park your bike if you want to hike or check out an overlook. – Maya Silver, Editor-in-Chief, Climbing
• Plan on purchasing trekking poles for children under 10 no matter the difficulty level of the trails you plan to hike. This added support for kids helps on busy trail days.
  – Emilee Coblentz, Packages Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Go beyond the ‘Gram. You might show up to a national park with a tick list of marquee views, but if it’s a busy day, you might have a way more fun鈥攁nd adventurous鈥攅xperience if you leave the bucket-list spots to the crowds. Pop into a visitor center and ask a ranger for their favorite off-the-beaten-path trail. You’ll probably find a view that rivals anything you’ve seen on the internet鈥攁nd you’ll have it all to yourself.
  – Corey Buhay, Interim Managing Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料
• Keep wet wipes in your pack if exploring with kids. Bathrooms will have lines and sometimes there just isn’t enough time. Plan for pee. Lots of it.
  – Emilee Coblentz, Packages Editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

The post 国产吃瓜黑料 Editors Share Tips for Navigating Peak Season in National Parks appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

There鈥檚 a new plan in Washington D.C. to auction off public lands, and this one involves millions of acres spread across nearly a dozen Western states.

The latest stipulation would require the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell off roughly 3 million acres by 2030.

On Tuesday, June 10, this plan was added to the draft legislation of President Donald Trump鈥檚 tax and spending megabill by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the U.S. Senate.

This sprawling piece of legislation, called 鈥淥ne Big, Beautiful Bill Act,鈥� passed the House of Representatives in early June, and is currently under debate in the Senate.

Sources told听The New York Times that two Republican lawmakers鈥擬ike Lee of Utah and Steve Daines of Montana鈥攚orked closely to decide on the plan.

Previous plans to sell off public lands have been met with public outcry. An earlier version of the Big, Beautiful Bill Act included a smaller selloff proposal, suggesting the liquidation of nearly 500,000 acres of public land in Nevada and Utah.

This provision was axed before the bill passed the House of Representatives, after backlash from the House鈥檚 Public Lands Caucus, a bipartisan group led by New Mexico Democrat Gabe Vasquez and Montana Republican and former interior secretary Ryan Zinke. Zinke called the measure his 鈥淪an Juan Hill.鈥� He has previously told 国产吃瓜黑料:听鈥淭he idea that you鈥檙e going to sell public land to get out of debt is folly.鈥�

This latest鈥攁nd substantially larger鈥攍and sale proposal was announced by Lee, who is the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Specifically, the reconciliation bill鈥檚 language dictates that 鈥渘ot less than 0.50 percent and not more than 0.75 percent鈥� of all BLM land be sold to the private sector, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior. Identical language and percentages dictate the sale of National Forest land as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.

The BLM manages 245 million total acres, and the the Forest Service manages 193 million acres. Under the plan’s rules, up to 3.29 million acres of public lands would be placed on the auctioning block.

Lawmakers have said the sale of public lands would raise funds for the federal government and clear land for housing development. The plan would put public lands in 11 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Zinke鈥檚 state, Montana, is the only Western state excluded from this updated proposal.

The that national parks, national monuments, and designated wilderness areas would be exempt from auction, and land near existing population centers would be prioritized. The bill also mandates that any public land sales must occur solely for 鈥渇or the development of housing or to address associated community needs,鈥� but it leaves the definition of these 鈥渁ssociated community needs鈥� up to the Secretaries concerned.

鈥淪enate Republicans have finally said the quiet part out loud,鈥� said , the ranking Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. 鈥淭hey want to put millions of acres of our public lands up in a fire sale, destroy the investments that have created thousands of manufacturing and clean energy jobs 鈥� including in their home states, and obliterate programs that lower energy costs for everyday Americans.鈥�

The plan received immediate criticism from nonprofit groups and organizations that work in conservation and outdoor recreation.

鈥淲hat some may see as a barren lot on a map on a Senator鈥檚 desk may actually be where a community hikes after work, rides their ATV, or teaches their kids how to hunt turkey or ride a bike,” reads a statement from Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, a lobbying group for the outdoor recreation industry. “And once these treasured places are sold to private industry, they are gone forever, and in the case of this proposal, can be used for any purpose after ten years.”

David Willms, associate vice president for public lands at the National Wildlife Federation, called the plan “orders of magnitude worse than what the House proposed last month.”

鈥淢andating the fire sale of up to two-and-a-half million acres of public land violates more than a century of land stewardship, threatens wildlife and clean water, runs directly against widespread public opinion, and will not begin to solve either the budget crisis or the affordable housing crisis,” he said.

The post There鈥檚 a New Plan to Sell Off Public Lands. It Would Impact Millions of Acres in Western States. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

鈥淕reetings from Death Valley National Park,鈥� the billboard reads. 鈥淗eat deaths rise, safety staff cut. Made possible by DOGE.鈥�

This Las Vegas billboard, unveiled in May, is one of 300 similar signs put up across the United States by , a nonprofit media outlet that aims to “build power for the working class.” According to the group, the billboards are a response to the severe budget cuts and layoffs leveled on the National Park Service by the Trump Administration.

The 300 billboards each have quippy slogans to describe the impact of the cuts. “More trash and dirty restrooms,” reads one for Shenandoah National Park. “Reduced staff, increased danger,” reads the one for Voyageurs National Park. “Six campgrounds shut down,” reads one for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Why is a labor advocacy group erecting billboards about the defense of public lands?

鈥淲orking class people need national parks,鈥� More Perfect Union鈥檚 founder, Faiz Shakir, told 国产吃瓜黑料. In Shakir’s opinion, all Americans, regardless of economic class, deserve access to parklands.

鈥淕oing to national parks is not like going to Disney World,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭hey aren鈥檛 profiting off of your attendance. They preserve and maintain beautiful spaces for all of us. Whether you made $10,000 last year or $10 million last year, you get the same level of enjoyment visiting a national park. That’s what it means when something is a public good.鈥�

Approximately 5,000 workers employed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Forest Service have been . Other employees have taken buyouts, early retirements, or deferred resignations, further increasing the staffing shortages. Their ranks include NPS rangers and other staffers, as well as wildland firefighters and janitors to cooks and locksmiths and trail crews.

鈥淏y attacking park rangers, you鈥檙e attacking the best of America,鈥� Shakir said. 鈥淭hese are not people out to make money. These are people who care deeply about the public experience, and about maintaining these places for future generations.鈥�

More Perfect Union鈥檚 billboards aren’t just targeting well-known parks, like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, but also lesser-known ones, like Biscayne National Park in Florida, Saguaro National Park in Arizona, Valley Forge National Historical Park in Pennsylvania, Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio.

鈥淲e’re looking for well-trafficked parks combined with well-trafficked roads and communities,鈥� Shakir explained. 鈥淔or example, in Yosemite, the cost of putting a billboard up is higher, because it鈥檚 more remote, and also the only people driving up there are probably visiting the park.鈥� The Death Valley billboards, for example, aren鈥檛 placed at the entrance to Death Valley, but in the metropolitan hubs of Las Vegas and Reno, a few hours away. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not just trying to get people who are already visiting a national park, but also everyday commuters.鈥�

Some of the billboards highlight blunt, unquestionable facts, such as 鈥淩educed Visiting Hours鈥� or 鈥淧ark Rangers Fired.鈥� Others make minor assumptions: 鈥淢ore Trash and Dirty Restrooms鈥� or 鈥淩educed Staff, Increased Danger.鈥�

The billboards are slated for a one month run, until the end of June, but Shakir is hoping to get funding for continued messaging. 鈥淥ne of the things we are assuming here is that the impact of the reduced staff is only going to get worse through this summer,鈥� Shakir explained. 鈥淭he worst of this has yet to come. It鈥檚 going to grow through June, July, and August. So, I鈥檓 hoping we can get to a 鈥楶hase Two鈥� of this billboards project where we can be more specific about the harms that were experienced. Right now, a lot of the effects are anticipatory.鈥�

The project, Shakir said, was funded by the same set of donors who have funded More Perfect Union from the beginning (the organization was founded in early 2021). 鈥淭his is our highest profile advocacy venture,鈥� he said, 鈥渂oth in the sense that it’s the most public thing and the biggest expenditure of dollars. We spent a couple million dollars to do this.鈥�

He said that although the billboards have only been up for a couple of days, they鈥檝e already received 鈥渨ild amounts鈥� of positive feedback and support. 鈥淚 did not anticipate this level of interest,鈥� Shakir said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always a small percentage of people who respond negatively, but it鈥檚 been overwhelmingly positive. The support hasn鈥檛 just come from the left side of the aisle, either.

鈥淭he prevailing sentiment, from both sides, has been that these cuts and layoffs are wrong, and we need to come together to protect our public lands,鈥� Shakir said.

The post Why Is a Labor Advocacy Group Erecting Billboards to Slam the National Parks Cuts? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

It鈥檚 going to be harder than ever to pitch your tent inside a national park this summer. Scoring a campsite at our popular parks is difficult during any stretch of warmer months, when parks see a surge in visitation. And the Trump-mandated National Park Service layoffs are adding an extra wrinkle to many summer travel plans. Some park units have had to delay the release of their campground reservations, while others are choosing to keep certain campgrounds closed for the summer due to staffing issues. In other words, if you don鈥檛 already have a reservation for a campsite in a national park,听you probably aren鈥檛 going to get one.

Have no fear. I鈥檝e been in your shoes multiple times, rolling into national parks in search of a legal spot to pitch my tent, only to be turned away because every campground was fully booked. What I鈥檝e learned over the years is that the campgrounds inside national parks aren鈥檛 the only camping options available. Many of our park units are surrounded by national forest and BLM land, which often offer less crowded campgrounds, many of which are first come/first serve.

The rise of platforms like Hipcamp has resulted in many private landowners welcoming campers to their farms and ranches near parks. So if you鈥檙e hoping to explore some of our popular national parks this summer, you have more camping options than you may听realize.

I鈥檝e consulted with the folks at Hipcamp, begged for secrets from other adventurers, and compiled some of my own favorite campsites to create this list of the best campgrounds near the most popular national parks in the country.

Yosemite National Park, California

Summer in Yosemite National Park is amazing. The waterfalls, the perfect weather, the picture-perfect granite domes.It’s so incredible that听it can feel as if听 all of America has descended on the valley to witness the beauty. All of Yosemite鈥檚 require a reservation during the summer, and those spots are snagged fast. Reservations are being released late this year because of the staffing issues, so there鈥檚 still a chance you could snag a campsite for fall (reservations for September 15 to October 14 are being released on June 15), but if you want to hit Yosemite during the summer, you鈥檒l need to camp elsewhere.

Evergreen Lodge: Groveland, California听

is a full-on outdoor resort with historic cabins, a general store, onsite adventure guides and a campus full of lawn games like bocce and ping pong. It also has a campground full of brand new for 2025 glamping tents (from $210 a night), each of which comes with full access to the resort amenities, from the salt water swimming pool to the nightly s鈥檓ores around the campfire.听The best part? It鈥檚 located just one mile from Yosemite鈥檚 less-crowded Hetch Hetchy entrance in the northwest corner of the park. From there, it鈥檚 a little over an hour to Yosemite Valley, but you don鈥檛 have to venture that far to experience the park. Hetch Hetchy is loaded with hikes, lakes, and waterfalls. If you鈥檙e up for an adventure, hike the 13-mile out and back to , which wraps around the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, in the shadow of Hetch Hetchy Dome, before ending at a long series of cascades through a narrow gorge just upstream of the eastern edge of the manmade lake.

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McCabe Flat Campground, BLM Land听

The BLM operates three established campgrounds on the Merced River off of Highway 140 near the western edge of Yosemite, all of which are first come first serve. is the best, with just 11 sites and access to a sandy beach and deep swimming hole on the river. Obviously, bring your swimmies and sunscreen.

Yellowstone National Park, Montana

Ah, Yellowstone鈥eysers, wildlife, and some of the most popular (read: hard to book) campgrounds in the entire national park system. Fortunately, Yellowstone is flanked by Custer Gallatin National Forest, which operates 14 campgrounds within 35 miles of the park. Add to that the bevy of privately owned campgrounds in the direct vicinity of Yellowstone, and you have plenty of options for bedding down this summer.

Canyon Campground, Custer Gallatin National Forest听

Most of the forest service campgrounds near Yellowstone require reservations, which are released six months in advance, so you might have a hard time scoring one of those sites at this point. But has 17 sites (just $10 a night) are first come/first serve, and they sit near the Yellowstone River just 16 miles from the north entrance to the park. It鈥檚 not fancy (there are no showers, no hookups, but many of the sites are surrounded by large boulders, and you can鈥檛 beat the convenience or price. Get there midweek if you want to score a spot.

Camp Steelhead: West Yellowstone, Idaho听

The privately-owned sits on two acres with three sites tucked into the pines, all of which are RV and van-life friendly. There鈥檚 plenty of space to spread out if you鈥檙e with a group (each site sleeps up to 12), and a trail on an old railroad grade begins on the property that delivers a view of the Buffalo River. The small campground has a porta-potty, water and electrical hookups, and it鈥檚 just 30 minutes to the West Yellowstone Entrance (from $85 a night).

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming听

Jackson and Grand Teton National Park can feel like a zoo during the summer, particularly if you鈥檙e looking to pitch a tent in the. Reservations fill fast because of the scenery (the campground has loops on the picture-perfect Jenny Lake with the Tetons looming large in the background) as well as the fact that it鈥檚 the only campground in the park that doesn鈥檛 allow RVs and generators, so it鈥檚 a bit quieter. I just checked the availability for Jenny Lake and there鈥檚 exactly one site available on a random Tuesday night in July, so check out these options instead.

Mike Harris Campground, Targhee National Forest听

Caribou-Targhee National Forest has four campgrounds in the Teton Basin Ranger District, just west of Grand Teton National Park, not to mention miles of dirt roads with established (and free) dispersed campsites to choose from. The wins based on its location: it鈥檚 situated on the Teton Pass, a few miles from Victor, Idaho, and just 22 miles from the Granite Canyon Entrance to the park, near Teton Village, and 20 miles from downtown Jackson. It鈥檚 a small campground, just 12 sites, half of which you can reserve six months in advance, the other half are first come/first serve. I like having some first come/first serve options, especially if you can get there mid-week, but get this; the last time I checked, there are still plenty of reservable sites available throughout the summer. The sites are tucked into a forest of lodgepole pines and Douglas firs with plenty of privacy, and you鈥檒l have access to Trail Creek, which has healthy populations of cutthroat and brook trout. Spots are just $17 a night.

Ranchita Corazon of the Tetons: Teton, Idaho听

How about boondocking on a two-acre horse farm with an unobstructed view of the Tetons? That鈥檚 what you get when you book with , which has a single spot for RVs and van lifers complete with water and electricity. There鈥檚 even a sauna on the property. The farm sits near the Idaho/Wyoming border, under an hour from the Jenny Lake Visitor Center. Spots start at $70 a night.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park had more than 4 million visitors last year, making it the fifth most visited park in the country. That鈥檚 nothing new, as it has been a perennial favorite for more than a decade. I tried grabbing a campsite at the last minute several years ago, and ended up pitching a tent in a Yogi Bear鈥檚 Jellystone Campground well outside of the park. My kids enjoyed the campground鈥檚 putt putt course, but it wasn鈥檛 the serene campsite I envisioned.

Olive Ridge Campground, Roosevelt National Forest听

There are plenty of developed RV-friendy campgrounds on the Estes Park side of the park (see my Jellystone story above), but if you鈥檙e looking for a more primitive and serene experience (read: no putt putt courses), head to inside Roosevelt National Forest, near the southeastern corner of the park. The 56 sites (from $29 a night) are surrounded by aspens and ponderosa pines, and half of them are first come/first serve. You鈥檙e close to the Wild Basin area of the park, with fast access to the , an 8.7-mile out and back to a backcountry lake sitting at 10,000 feet at the base of 13,916-foot Mount Meeker. And it鈥檚 just 14 miles south of the main entrance to the park in Estes Park. Take note if you鈥檙e going later in the summer, Olive Ridge is going to close for renovations on August 17 .

Arapaho Valley Ranch: Granby, Colorado听

Most visitors hit Rocky Mountain from the Estes Park side, but , which has cabins, RV hookups, and tent sites, sits on the quieter western side of the park in Granby, within an hour鈥檚 drive of the Rocky Mountain鈥檚 Kawuneeche Visitor Center. The 100-acre ranch has a small lake for paddling and fishing as well as a slice of the South Fork Colorado River. There鈥檚 a hiking trail onsite that leads to an overlook of the Colorado River headwaters. Tent sites start at $85 a night.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Camping inside of Acadia is more limited than most national parks, as there are only a couple of established campgrounds on Mount Desert Island, the main region of the park that attracts most visitors, and there are no backcountry options for the adventurous. To be honest, there aren鈥檛 a lot of tent camping options outside of the park either, as Acadia is flanked by the Atlantic on one side and mostly privately owned land on the other. Like so many national parks, most of the private campgrounds near Acadia cater mostly to RVs, but we did find this one gem that should be on your radar if you have plans to hit Acadia this summer.

HTR Acadia听

may as well be inside Acadia National Park, as its 10-acre campus is located on the Somes Sound, which splits Mount Desert Island in half. From HTR, it鈥檚 a 15 minute drive to downtown Bar Harbor, giving you fast access to Acadia highlights like Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, and the . Choose from 25 tent and RV sites starting at $69 a night, some of which are actually on Somes Sound. Cool fact: Somes Sound is the only fjord on the East Coast听of the U.S. The water reaches depths of 175 feet and the mountains on either side rise 850 feet directly from the water. Bring a kayak or paddle board; private boat docks on the campground allow you to launch into the sound and explore.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: North Carolina and Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited park in the country, attracting more than 14 million people in 2024. Booking a site inside the park can feel like winning the lottery, and the odds of winning decreased significantly this summer as the park is not opening several of their campgrounds due to a lack of staffing. The good news? The camping options just beyond the park鈥檚 borders might be even better than what you find inside the park.

Tsali Recreation Area, Nantahala National Forest听

The 42-site campground at isn鈥檛 fancy (no glamping tents here), but you can鈥檛 beat the location. It sits on the shores of Lake Fontana, which forms the southwestern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From Tsali, you鈥檙e a 15 minute drive from Bryson City, one of the park鈥檚 more laid-back gateway towns, where you can hit the trails of the area of the park, which is known for its waterfalls. This is one of my go-to campgrounds because it鈥檚 just over an hour from my home and has direct access to 30 miles of mountain bike trails in Nantahala National Forest, as well as Lake Fontana, which is one of my favorite places to paddle in search of rope swings. So bring your kayak or SUP and mountain bike. Spots are $20 a night.

Smoky Mountains Mangalitsa River Ranch: Waynesville, North Carolina听

Choose your level of comfort at , a 95-acre farm (complete with horses and pigs!) near Waynesville, NC, on the eastern edge of Great Smoky Mountains. The ranch has cabins, glamping tents on platforms overlooking the river, and 10 primitive tent sites that either offer mountain views or river access. Bring your fly rod, becausePigeon River runs through the property. There鈥檚 even a fresh spring providing drinking water. Mangalitsa River Ranch is an hour from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, where you can see elk gather in the meadows most evenings. You鈥檙e听even closer to the Big Creek Area of the park (about 30 minutes) where you can hike Mount Sterling Trail, a 5.3-mile out and back that ends at a historic fire lookout above 5,000 feet in elevation.

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He鈥檚 found himself inside a national park without a campsite on too many occasions, some times with small children and a disappointed wife in tow. He recently wrote about his love for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the perfect sleeping platform that allows you to camp in the back of your car.听听

The post The Best Alternatives to Crowded National Park Campgrounds appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Chattanooga is not like other cities. While some towns can boast about being close to the outdoors, adventure is seamlessly woven through the fabric of this city, from the Tennessee River that wraps around downtown to the towering cliffs and lush mountains that rise from the edge of its neighborhoods.

鈥淎 lot of cities are gateways to the outdoors, but with Chattanooga, it鈥檚 all right here within the city limits,鈥� says Brian Smith, communications director for Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors. 鈥淵ou can be mountain biking and hiking or kayaking or climbing within the city limits, and then go directly to a restaurant downtown. It鈥檚 amazing.鈥� That means a long weekend in Chattanooga can feel like a week of fun and adventure鈥攜ou can simply do more when you鈥檙e not spending hours driving between activities, amenities, and lodging.

Thanks to its unparalleled access to nature and the outdoor culture that pervades the city, Chattanooga recently earned the distinction of being North America鈥檚 first , a new designation that celebrates communities that protect their natural resources for generations to come. It鈥檚 a global movement celebrating a community-driven approach to conservation and the values, places, and culture that can make urban centers uniquely livable.

Ready to discover Chattanooga for yourself? Use this guide to plan the perfect three-day weekend in one of America鈥檚 most adventurous cities.

Day 1

Biking/Walking/Running

You could spend all weekend exploring the 16-plus-mile , a paved pedestrian and bike path that runs along the southern banks of the Tennessee River from Chickamauga Lake through downtown to the Incline Railway. If you want to explore the entire path, check out a bike from one of 鈥檚 public bike stations, which are scattered along the path. (Running is also a great way to see a big chunk of the route.) The Riverwalk is mostly flat, with gorgeous views of the Tennessee River and plenty of opportunities for refueling at a variety of restaurants. ( has great lattes!) If you want to walk a shorter section, the two-mile stretch from Battery Place to Ross鈥檚 Landing cruises through downtown. You鈥檒l pass by the Bluff View Arts District, which has sculpture gardens and unique architecture; the Hunter Museum (check out the view from the backside of the museum overlooking the river); and the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge.

Climbing

Stop for lunch at the 鈥攖he oysters are a staple, but you also can鈥檛 go wrong with the roasted chicken sandwich. Next, head to the northern edge of Lookout Mountain, where , a 100-foot-tall sandstone cliff within Point Park鈥攑art of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park鈥攈as been attracting rock climbers for decades. You鈥檒l find a mix of traditional and top-rope routes, all of which offer stunning views of the Tennessee River Valley below. Even if you鈥檙e not a climber, the mile-long access trail is a beautiful hike.

Eating

For dinner, head to Chattanooga鈥檚 Southside neighborhood, which has one of the most vibrant food scenes in the South. has wood-fired pizzas and sandwiches. Check out the 2 AM Burger, which has eggs and hash browns smashed into the situation. If you鈥檙e looking for something more refined, offers hand-crafted Italian dishes like gnocchi with local chicken and mushrooms.

Listening

Stay in the neighborhood and wander over to , where local bands occasionally play on the stage and you can always find an incredible selection of vinyl.

Day 2

Mountain Biking

Fat tire fans have plenty of trails to choose from. The trail system is world class, with 30 miles of fast, flowy singletrack just 15 minutes from downtown. Most of the trails are for intermediate or advanced riders, with plenty of rocks and root gardens and some steep climbs. Want something even closer? Ride , a seven-mile system of singletrack on the edge of downtown that鈥檚 loaded with easier trails.

Caving

If you鈥檙e not interested in pedaling, go subterranean with a tour of , where miles of caves wind beneath the surface. You can take it easy with a guided stroll through the Crystal Palace, where the rooms are larger but still packed with stalagmites and stalactites, or get dirty on a Wild Cave Tour that will have you squeezing through tight channels and sliding down muddy chutes.

Paddling

Grab lunch at , in the eclectic North Shore Neighborhood, then rest your legs and kayak the downtown stretch of the Tennessee River.

You can rent kayaks or standup paddleboards at , near Coolidge Park, and paddle the broad Tennessee beneath downtown Chattanooga鈥檚 four bridges. The river is slow enough to travel in both directions, so you can choose your mileage and create an out-and-back through town, ogling the tall, gray cliffs that rise from the water beneath the Hunter Art Museum. Look for great blue herons and other waterfowl as you paddle a circle around McClellan Island, a sanctuary managed by the Audubon Society.

Eating

For dinner, head back into downtown, which has undergone a foodie revival in recent years. offers classic cocktails and thoughtful takes on comfort food like chicken schnitzel and beet ravioli. , at the base of the Walnut Street Bridge, takes Appalachian cuisine upscale with standout dishes like their chicken pot pie and bone-in pork chop.

Spectating

If you hit the schedule right, catch a baseball game at AT&T Field, home to the , a AA affiliate team for the Cincinnati Reds.

Day 3

Bouldering

Ready to squeeze in one more quick adventure before heading out of town? Check out , a bouldering area next to Chattanooga鈥檚 St. Elmo neighborhood that offers the closest climbing to downtown. You鈥檒l find roughly 30 boulders scattered throughout the area, with something for beginners and hard chargers alike.

Splurging

Spent from bouldering or not, make sure you grab a scoop (or two) of handcrafted ice cream from . They have all the traditional flavors, plus rotating options like Blueberry Lookout Lavender.

Hiking

Get one last look of the Tennessee River Valley from the top of , which played a pivotal role in the Civil War. Today, it鈥檚 the jumping-off point for the Cumberland Trail and other hiking trails within the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Hike a 2.9-mile section of the beginning at Signal Point, passing waterfalls and unique rock formations along the way before hitting Edwards Point, which offers a long-range view of the Tennessee River Gorge below.

Chattanooga Tourism Co. is the official destination marketing organization for Chattanooga, Tennessee. Dedicated to promoting visitation and showcasing the city’s unique attractions, vibrant culture, and outdoor adventures, Chattanooga Tourism Co. works to inspire travel and enhance the visitor experience. For more information and to plan your Chattanooga getaway, please visit .

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I was flummoxed, frustrated, and frantic.

It was the spring of 2024, and like millions of Americans, I was searching for a campsite 听ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. I opened several dozen web browser windows on my laptop and pinged between websites like Recreation.gov, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a regional RV resort finder, and yes, even Google Maps. If only there was an easier way to do this,听I thought.

Memories of my campground folly came to mind during a recent call with 听the founder and CEO of Hipcamp, an online campground reservation website. This Tuesday, May 20, Hipcamp launched the solution I so desperately needed: the company’s new smartphone app, which tracks more than half a million campsites

“I think we’ve built the best tool for finding and booking campsites that has ever existed,” Ravasio told 国产吃瓜黑料“Before this, there wasn’t one platform that had them all.”

The Big News

For 2025 has expanded its reach to 565,000 total campsites on its mobile app and website. This represents a two-fold expansion for sites available on Hipcamp.com, and five-fold growth for campsite inventory on the Hipcamp mobile application.

Yep鈥攏o more scrolling between browser windows. It’s all in one place now.

Hipcamp accomplished this massive expansion by adding thousands of RV parks, camping resorts, and off-the-beaten-path private campgrounds to its existing inventory of public and private campgrounds. According to data provided by the company, Hipcamp added 250,000 private campsites and 50,000 public ones in its latest expansion.

It’s as if you combined Airbnb, VRBO, and Hotels.com into one website and smartphone app.

“From National Parks to land trusts to blueberry farms,” Ravasio said.

You can’t book all of these campgrounds directly through the app鈥攆or some, clicking on the campground icon will take you to a booking website (such as Recreation.gov campsites).

But crucial information like real-time date availability, location, and even campground infrastructure is displayed.

“Camping has been a fragmented industry and it has made campsite research extremely hard,” Ravasio shared.听 “We set out to become the one-stop destination for finding campsites, and it took longer than I anticipated.”

How the App Works

I recently watched Travis Green, the company’s head of product, demo the new app, and it’s very similar to the old model. You plug in your region, dates, and type of campsite (tent, RV, glamping) and then add any amenities (pet-friendly, shower, hot tub, etc) and the Hipcamp app pulls up a scrollable map with various campsites and prices on it.

As I watched the demo, I marveled at the dozens of campground pins that popped up in just one section of California near Yosemite National Park.

“Previously you’d see a lot fewer pins on the map,” Green said. “Now we show you everything.”

Another new amenity: Hipcamp shows campsite availability data on public campgrounds from Recreation.gov and from state agencies that manage campgrounds. Previously these campgrounds would appear on the app, but you had to click through to the other websites to see whether or not they were booked.

You still have to click through to Recreation.gov or to state agencies to book some public campgrounds.

A Goal to Make Camping Easier

The release marks a major milestone in the company’s history. Ravasio founded Hipcamp in 2013 after seeing the need for a platform that aggregates campground availability. By the end of Hipcamp’s first calendar year, it had 2,000 campsites under its umbrella.

“I was like, ‘wait, why is it so much easier to find a hotel room than a campsite?'” Ravasio said. “The outdoors deserves modern high-quality tools that improve the user experience.”

In 2019, the company scored a major victory when the federal government, through its contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, agreed to share data with 100,000 campsites from Recreation.gov, the national booking website.

Ravasio believes the recent expansion comes at a critical time for American campers. Budget cuts to the National Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management has left millions wondering if campsites will receive the regular service and maintenance they typically get during the busy spring and summer months.

Public campgrounds often fill up well in advance of busy holiday weekends. The new app听may help campers locate private campgrounds that sometimes fall through the cracks.

“We’re hoping that by unifying all of the campsites, this tool gives campers the ability to spread out and find places they didn’t know about before,” Ravasio said. “Public land is the backbone of outdoor recreation. But these mom and pop campsites鈥攚e’re so excited to give them a chance to connect with campers.”

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On May 7, Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican congressman from Montana, and Rep. Gabe Vasquez, a Democrat from New Mexico, stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building to announce a new voting bloc within the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at protecting public lands.

Called the , the group includes 14 congressmen and women鈥攕even Democrats and seven Republicans鈥攁nd, according to the announcement, aims to “conserve natural resources while supporting recreation, local economies, and public access.”

The future health of America’s public lands is something that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle should care about, Zinke stated.

“This is not a Republican or Democrat or a red or a blue issue,” He told 国产吃瓜黑料.“This is a red, white, and blue issue.鈥�

The new caucus represents a bold step for Zinke, 63, as it may put him at odds with the policy push of his former boss, President Donald Trump. Zinke, a former Navy SEAL, oversaw the Department of the Interior for two years during Trump’s first administration. The department oversees the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management, among other agencies.

During his stint, Zinke was often criticized by environmental groups for to Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument.听国产吃瓜黑料 profiled Zinke in 2017.

But Zinke said he disagrees with some of the Trump Administration’s latest policies on public lands. Since the start of 2025, the Trump Administration has made dramatic staff and budget cuts to these agencies, and rolled back environmental protections to public land. The administration’s proposed 2026 budget calls for the transfer of some National Park sites from federal to state management. And the administration has also floated around Western cities or National Parks to help pay for the president’s domestic agenda.

鈥淭he idea that you’re going to sell public land to get out of debt is folly,” Zinke told 国产吃瓜黑料. “But I’m always open to looking at ways to better manage them.鈥�

Zinke added, “I’m not in favor of selling or transferring public land.”

Instead, Zinke told 国产吃瓜黑料 that his vision for public land management comes from the forefathers of the U.S. National Parks.

鈥淎bout 120 years ago, the great ones鈥擱oosevelt, Muir, Gifford Pinchot鈥攖hey had a vision for the West, to preserve and protect, that gave us so much of the outdoor experiences that we now enjoy,鈥� Zinke said. 鈥淭he challenge today is how do we manage the next 100 years, given the new challenges we face?鈥�

A Multi-Use Model

Zinke said he believes in a “multi-use model” for public land that balances conservation, recreation, and yes, even resource extraction and development.

For example, Zinke, while he was Secretary of the Department of the Interior, oversaw an expansion and upgrade to staff housing inside Yellowstone National Park. Zinke told 国产吃瓜黑料 that the development was the 鈥渉ighest and best use鈥� for the public land on which it was built.

鈥淚t relieves a lot of the pressure on local communities when park employees, particularly seasonal, can live on campus,鈥� he said.

But Zinke added that the plan succeeded because it followed a well-defined political process that included a public comment period, sign-off by state and local officials, and even congressional notification.

“There’s a process because public lands belong to the American public,” he said.

Protection of public lands has become a hot-button topic in American politics, and over the years some communities and states have pushed back on U.S. Presidents for setting aside swaths of land as national monuments or wildlife refuges.

Zinke believes this frustration stems from leaders taking a hard line on environmental protection. Plans that forbid resource extraction or timber harvesting often leave the financial health of adjacent communities out of the decision.

“There’s a lot of anger out there of looking at our natural resources and mostly being blocked from a multiple-use model,” he said.

Zinke also believes public anger toward public land policies can be traced to the overlapping jurisdictional patchwork, which is something he wants the Public Land Caucus to streamline.

He asked听国产吃瓜黑料 to envision a river surrounded by U.S. National Forest that flows into a dam.

“The trout are managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Fish and Wildlife; the salmon are managed by the Department of Commerce through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association; the forest is managed by the Department of Agriculture through the U.S. Forest Service,” he said. “The dam, which controls the flow of water, the temperature, and the riparian banks, is either managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.”

Should the local population want to repair a dam across the river, they would need to go through four separate governmental departments.

“The result is nothing gets done and we drown in bureaucracy,” he said.

But the most pressing issue for U.S. public lands is still the policy changes being driven by the Trump Administration. Zinke said the National Parks face a brain drain after losing several thousand employees this year due to layoffs and buyouts.

The National Parks Conservation Association estimates that 2,400 to 2,500 NPS staff have accepted voluntary buyouts or early retirements since January.听鈥淭he people that are retiring are your senior leaders that have a lot of experience,鈥� said Zinke.

But Zinke also said he believes some of the largest U.S. National Parks are adequately staffed for 2025. 鈥淎t Yellowstone, the numbers of seasonal and permanent [employees] are the highest ever,鈥� Zinke said.

Zinke also called the proposed 2026 plan for the NPS鈥攖o trim $1.2 billion from its $4.8 billion annual spend鈥攁 “skinny budget.”

“My concern as a former Navy SEAL and Secretary of the Interior is to make sure the front line is healthy,” he said. “That’s our National Parks and forests.”

What he鈥檚 not satisfied with is the idea of selling or transferring federal public lands, both of which have recently been proposed by the Trump Administration. Zinke points to Little Bighorn Battlefield, a National Monument.

鈥淚t just so happens to be in Montana,鈥� Zinke said, 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 a national treasure.鈥�

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