If you subscribe to the notion that national parks are America鈥檚 best idea, you need to visit ground zero. Not only is Yellowstone the country鈥檚 oldest national park, it鈥檚 also still as wild as they come.

In this 2.2 million-acre park鈥攍arger than some states鈥攖he very ground bubbles and steams, fueling the highest concentration of geysers in the world. Wildlife like grizzly bears, moose, bison, and wolverines endure here, thanks to the park鈥檚 vast protected habitat. Mountains overlook enormous waterfalls, trout-filled rivers, quiet lakes, and the most remote landscapes in the lower 48. You could spend a lifetime exploring Yellowstone National Park and still discover something new every time you visit.

No wonder is among Yellowstone鈥檚 biggest fans. A respect for wild places has been part of the brewery鈥檚 DNA since founder Ken Grossman named it after one of the country鈥檚 most iconic mountain ranges. That legacy continues this spring as the brewery features a of its flagship Pale Ale dedicated to four national parks, Yellowstone included. (The other three are Big Bend, Great Smoky Mountains, and Yosemite.)

The beer hasn鈥檛 changed, but the artful limited-edition packaging shines a spotlight on these iconic parks. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is backing that up with a donation to the to support wildlife and habitat conservation. 鈥淥ur national parks are a jewel that we need to preserve,鈥� Grossman says. 鈥淐onnection to nature is really critical. I think it鈥檚 our legacy to preserve those places forever.鈥�

Amie Engerbretson, professional skier and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. ambassador, agrees. 鈥淭he national parks are where you see the very best that Mother Nature has to offer,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd they鈥檙e so accessible, it makes it possible for all people to see some of the coolest places in the world.鈥�

With so much to see and more than 1,100 miles of trail, it can be hard to decide exactly where to spend your time in the park. Here鈥檚 our guide to Yellowstone鈥檚 can鈥檛-miss spots to hike, camp, explore, and 鈥渃heers!鈥� a day well spent.

Best Day Hike

Lone Star Geyser

It鈥檚 not just the 鈥攁 45-footer erupting from a 12-foot-high mineral cone every three hours or so鈥攖hat makes this five-mile round trip such a pleasant way to spend a few hours. It鈥檚 the flat, shady trail that traces the Firehole River through a conifer forest. The trail is partially paved (you can even bike most of the way to the geyser) and a welcome break from the crowds just down the road in Upper Geyser Basin. But yeah, catching a water show in relative solitude is a nice perk.

Pale Ale moment: From the trailhead, walk next door to the Kepler Cascades overlook and tip one back while listening to the triple-tiered waterfall.

Best Backpacking Trip

Heart Lake

Kick back on the pebbly beach surrounding this out-there lake for a day or two, scoping for trumpeter swans, elk, grizzlies, and wolves in the daytime hours and getting dazzled by the stargazing at night. The out-and-back from the is a shade over 17 miles total, but you鈥檒l want to tack on the seven-mile round-trip side hike to the summit of 10,308-foot Mount Sheridan. From the top, you鈥檒l spy Heart Lake, as well as Yellowstone, Lewis, and Shoshone lakes, with the Absaroka Range rising regally on the skyline. Tip: For the best shot at your preferred itinerary, sign up for the.

Pale Ale moment: Evening in camp, fire crackling in the foreground, Heart Lake just beyond.

Best Peak Hike

Avalanche Peak

Short, sweet, and steep is what you get on this 4.2-mile round-trip hike on the park鈥檚 east side. huffs up 1,000 feet per mile, traversing talus slopes and narrow ridgelines en route to a dizzying view of Yellowstone Lake. Target July or August for this strenuous trip. Before then, the trail will probably be snow-covered; after that, grizzly bears start to show up looking for whitebark pine nuts (always be bear alert and carry bear spray in Yellowstone National Park).

Pale Ale moment: Post-hike, from the trailhead, cross the road and grab a picnic table next to pretty little Eleanor Lake.

Best Campground

Slough Creek Campground

The Lamar Valley in the park鈥檚 northeastern corner is wildlife central, with excellent chances of spotting resident wolf packs, bison, elk, and bears. Animals are early risers, and you should be, too鈥攁n easy task when you鈥檙e sleeping right in the thick of the Lamar. This quiet 16-site creekside also offers trout fishing and easy access to the Slough Creek Trail.

Pale Ale moment: Pop up your camp chair on the rocky beach and enjoy a creekside happy hour.

Best Ski

Riverside Ski Trail

Tour through quiet conifer forests, along the wide Madison River, and across meadows with views of the Madison and Gallatin ranges on this 7.7-mile out of the gateway town of West Yellowstone. From the park boundary, glide through the woods for one mile, then turn right to ski the shorter Upriver Loop. When you return to the junction, continue north to explore the Downriver Loop鈥檚 waterfront views.

Pale Ale moment: Hang out under the evergreens east of the trailhead鈥攋ust make sure not to step in the ski track.

Best Old Faithful View

Observation Point

From this overlook above Upper Geyser Basin, just a short distance from the boardwalk, you can watch Old Faithful erupt, far removed from the geyser鈥檚 famous crowd scene. Walk the first part of the boardwalk, then peel off on the to the switchback a half-mile up the hill. Return the way you came for a 1.6-mile round trip.

Pale Ale Moment: Yellowstone offers overnight options for every budget and preference. Relocate to a lodge, cabin, or campground (make reservations early), and 鈥渃heers鈥� America鈥檚 first national park.

Note: It鈥檚 always smart to check the before your trip for conditions and safety information, as well as where alcohol consumption is permitted.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., founded by Ken Grossman in 1980, is a pioneer in craft brewing. With breweries in California and North Carolina, it鈥檚 known for quality ingredients, innovation, and sustainability. Popular beers include Pale Ale, Hazy Little Thing, and Torpedo. Learn more at .

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Madison Junction is a special spot for anglers visiting Yellowstone National Park. It鈥檚 where the Gibbon and Firehole rivers meet, marking the beginning of the renowned Madison River. For Joe Moore, founder of Big Sky Anglers, and Austin Campbell, a Colorado-based fly-fishing guide, it鈥檚 also the perfect wild habitat to seek out Yellowstone cutthroat trout and bask in the beauty of the park over a glass of bourbon.

Established in 1872,听听was crafted to honor the sprawling wonder of America鈥檚 first national park. It鈥檚 what first inspired us to create approachably smooth whiskey for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, and why we still do it today.

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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

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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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The recent National Park System budget cuts and layoffs have sparked a wide range of responses, from a national day of protests to a series of opinionated erected across the country. And now, there鈥檚 another, albeit slightly unorthodox approach: a making thirst traps of Yellowstone National Park.

For those unfamiliar with the lingo, a thirst trap is a social media post meant to attract attention because it鈥檚, well, sexy.

No, you don鈥檛 need to schedule an optometrist appointment鈥搚ou read that correctly. A TikTok creator has begun impersonating Yellowstone National Park with the handle @visit.yellowstone, but with a raunchy twist. The account鈥檚 videos splice together footage of male entertainers with shots of the park鈥檚 natural landscapes, typically set to provocative music. And it could be working: The account has racked up 1 million followers and 7 million likes in a matter of months.

Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs on a hill of travertine in Yellowstone National Park adjacent to Fort Yellowstone @Johnathon Caine

国产吃瓜黑料 reached out to the creator of the fake Yellowstone account, and the person agreed to answer our questions, so long as we would not share their identity. They said the page is meant to encourage people to visit the park.

鈥淭he original account was created as a joke by several friends, and we were the original creators involved,鈥� they said in a direct message. The @visitmtrainier account was the first account to officially launch, and @mt.hood.adventure followed shortly after.听The fake Yellowstone account was ultimately created to support the Mt. Hood account in a friendly comment war. The three parody accounts continued to engage in a lighthearted鈥攂ut yes, sexy鈥攕ocial media fight.

Then @visit.yellowstone unexpectedly went viral. Thanks to its success, others creators have launched similar accounts in its wake, including @visit.yosemite, the @smoky.mountain.alliance, and more.

鈥淥nce it started to gain traction and grow, we tried to shift the focus toward raising social awareness, particularly about the defunding and conservation issues related to logging,” the creator said.

Replying to @Atrox have a happy Friday!

The account鈥檚 creator explained that they took this approach because they 鈥渇elt that content related to the mountain community was becoming stale.鈥� They added that they 鈥渨anted to differentiate [themselves] to see if it would yield any positive results. Obviously, it did, and it seems to be working.鈥�

Yellowstone National Park’s public information office is aware of the @visit.yellowstone TikTok account and stressed that the park is not in any way involved with the creation of the videos. 鈥淵ellowstone National Park does not have a TikTok account, and we are not affiliated with any TikTok accounts that you see online,鈥� a park representative told 国产吃瓜黑料. That said, other parks haven鈥檛 shied from riffing on the theme. Recently, Death Valley National Park shared an听 on its verified account calling Death Valley the original 鈥渢hirst trap.鈥�

 

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As for the adult entertainers featured in the posts? They also appear to be unaffiliated with @visit.yellowstone鈥檚 thirst trap campaign. One of them, Jonathon Walton, a full-time social media creator whose footage has been featured in a number of viral videos, released a saying he was surprised to find his image used to promote national parks. He also told 国产吃瓜黑料 that he鈥檚 not upset about the development. 鈥淚鈥檓 just very thankful my videos have helped to bring attention to the parks,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what鈥檚 important here. Directing attention to the parks so we can continue to preserve them amidst the funding cuts.鈥�

Within Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres, visitors have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, and explore geothermal areas @Johnathon Caine

Walton added that he was fly fishing in North Carolina鈥檚 Blue Ridge Mountains when he found out that his photo was being used. He told 国产吃瓜黑料 that he is a fan of the national parks. 鈥淏eing outdoors keeps me grounded so I can continue to do what I do online daily,鈥� he said. 鈥淗elping to maintain the health and balance of ecosystems is very sexy. In a time where most of what we consume as humans is manmade, being out in nature helps us reconnect with ourselves, and that鈥檚 not only important but also very attractive.鈥�

Walton said the viral page has resulted in an immediate influx of followers across his social accounts and numerous DM鈥檚 calling him 鈥渢he national park zaddy.鈥�

The @visit.yellowstone TikTok creator has no plans to stop the campaign anytime soon. 鈥淲e genuinely believe we can help bring attention to these issues, and we鈥檙e gaining support within our park鈥檚 community,鈥� they told 国产吃瓜黑料. 鈥淭hat said, we are firmly against any part of the parks being sold off or privatized. We also strongly support the restoration of jobs and raises for park rangers and firefighters. This not only applies to the parks but also to the public lands and forests.鈥�

The post This Yellowstone National Park Thirst Trap Account Just Went Viral on TikTok appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The National Park Service will lose almost 40 percent of its annual funding and surrender an undetermined amount of federally-run parks to state control鈥攊f the White House鈥檚 plans for 2026 come to fruition.

On Friday, President Donald Trump released his t for 2026, a 44-page document submitted to U.S. Congress that outlines how the government will allocate federal dollars next year.

Included in the document are dramatic upheavals to the Park Service. Currently the NPS operates 63 National Parks and 433 NPS sites, which include national historic sites, national monuments, battlefields, memorials, parkways, rivers, and reserves. In total, the NPS oversees 85 million acres of federal land.

“The National Park Service responsibilities include a large number of sites that are not 鈥楴ational Parks,鈥� in the traditionally understood sense, many of which receive small numbers of mostly local visitors and are better categorized and managed as State-level parks,” the document states. “The Budget would continue supporting many national treasures, but there is an urgent need to streamline staffing and transfer certain properties to State-level management to ensure the long-term health and sustainment of the National Park System.”

The document did not specify which sites would be transferred to state control.

The NPS cuts in the president’s budget total $1.2 billion, and include $900 million removed from the NPS operating budget, $77 million in National Recreation and Preservation grants, $73 million in construction costs. Also set to be cut is $158 million from the NPS Historic Preservation Fund.

“Many historic preservation projects have matching funds from State, local, and private sources, rendering the Historic Preservation Fund highly duplicative,” the document states.

For 2025, the NPS is receiving $3.1 billion in federal funding, a 6 percent decrease from 2024. Trimming $1.2 billion represents a 38 percent cut of the NPS budget and approximately five hundredths of a percent of the annual federal budget.

国产吃瓜黑料 reached out to the Interior Department for comment. 鈥淲e do not comment on personnel matters but please know the Department of the Interior is doing the work necessary to ensure that every visitor has the chance to explore and connect with the incredible, iconic spaces of our national parks,” a department spokesperson said. “We hope that people plan their trips ahead and we look forward to a successful summer filled with memorable and meaningful experiences for all.鈥�

The news prompted spirited replies from nonprofit groups and foundations that work alongside the National Park Service.

鈥淭his is the most extreme, unrealistic and destructive National Park Service budget a President has ever proposed in the agency鈥檚 109-year history,鈥� said Theresa Pierno, the National Park Conservation Association鈥檚 president and CEO, said in a release. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nothing less than an all-out assault on America鈥檚 national parks.鈥�

Emily Thompson, executive director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, called the plan “disastrous.”

“Many states don鈥檛 have the resources to maintain these parks and the federal government walking away from their responsibility would result in closed parks, safety risks, trails that are not maintained, and far fewer park rangers,” . “This will be disastrous for not just visitors and resources, but local economies who depend on park tourism as economic drivers. Congress should reject this proposal outright.鈥�

The budget request comes after the White House has already made major cuts to the NPS workforce. In February, the federal government terminated 1,000 full-time NPS employees, and in the weeks afterward offered buyouts to 750 others.

The post National Parks Face 鈥淓xtreme鈥� Cuts Under the Proposed 2026 Federal Budget appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Yellowstone National Park鈥檚 paint palette is a vibrant collection of hues: deep purple and fiery red wildflowers, warm gold grasses, cool green sagebrush, and polychromatic geysers. It has inspired artists like Tahoe City鈥揵ased painter Bryn Merrell and many others throughout history, including Yellowstone Bourbon, to pay homage to the park鈥檚 natural wonders.

Established in 1872,听听was crafted to honor the sprawling wonder of America鈥檚 first national park. It鈥檚 what first inspired us to create approachably smooth whiskey for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, and why we still do it today.

The post Painting Living Colors with Bryn Merrell appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

For Bryn Merrell, art began as a necessity. When she first started painting, she was working as a guide for a bike touring company. 鈥淎s guides, we didn鈥檛 have much time to ourselves because we were always making breakfast, fixing flat tires, figuring out logistics, and answering questions,鈥� she says. It was rare that she got a moment to breathe, let alone soak in the beauty of the vast western landscapes she was lucky enough to call her office. 鈥淚 started painting on those trips because it forced me to slow down and soak it all up a little bit while I could,鈥� Merrell says. 鈥淚t would help calm this feeling of burnout.鈥�

Painting also gave her a new perspective on outdoor recreation. This was a way of getting to know the natural world on a more intimate level鈥攊ts textures, colors, and intricacies鈥攁nd to enjoy it without having to worry about achieving or conquering. Art has since become a for Merrell, but it still feels meditative, even after all these years. And it鈥檚 still a way for her to reconnect with herself and what matters. Painting Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone, she said, left her with a feeling of overwhelming gratitude. 鈥淲e鈥檙e so lucky that we protected these places,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to bring my daughter back to enjoy them some day.鈥�

The Prismatic Spring Color Wheel

Every concentric ring of Yellowstone National Park鈥檚 Grand Prismatic geothermal pool correlates to a different temperature, and therefore a different pigment. Here鈥檚 where the colors come from.

Blue: Clean water at the spring鈥檚 heated center is too hot to host bacteria.
‍ Green: Chlorophyll forms in a blue-green algae (Synechococcus) that loves warm water.
Yellow: Carotenoids (the same things that make carrots orange) are found in a bacteria that likes lukewarm temperatures.
Orange: Green, yellow, and red colors blend in a bacteria (Chloroflexi) that has both carotenoids and chlorophyll.
‍ Red: A mix of different bacteria that thrive in cooler temperatures makes this striking color.

Raise a Toast: Prismatic Cooler

Celebrate a great day in the national park with this custom recipe and听, which was founded in 1872 to honor America鈥檚 first national park, and which continues to听听the national park system today.

Glassware: Collins

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Yellowstone Bourbon Rum Cask
• 4 oz lemonade
• 3/4 oz butterfly pea simple syrup
• 1鈥�2 oz seltzer water
• Mint or lemon for garnish

Directions

• Fill Collins glass with ice.
• Combine all ingredients into the glass and top with seltzer water.
• Gently stir.

Established in 1872, was crafted to honor the sprawling wonder of America鈥檚 first national park. It鈥檚 what first inspired us to create approachably smooth whiskey for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, and why we still do it today.

The post How Yellowstone Inspires Art appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Growing up in the Tom Miner Basin near Yellowstone National Park, Malou Anderson-Ramirez had few encounters with grizzly bears. However, as conservation efforts led to a growing bear population, her family鈥檚 ranch began facing livestock losses. In response, they adjusted their operation and land ethics to continue raising cattle in harmony with the native predators, inspiring their community to do the same. Despite the challenges, there’s a deep sense of gratitude for life in such a beautiful place鈥攑erfect for raising a glass of bourbon on the rocks and savoring the moment.

Established in 1872,听听was crafted to honor the sprawling wonder of America鈥檚 first national park. It鈥檚 what first inspired us to create approachably smooth whiskey for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, and why we still do it today.

The post What Life Is Like in Yellowstone appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

When Malou Anderson-Ramirez left her family ranch in Wyoming for an East Coast boarding school at age 15, she felt like she鈥檇 landed on another planet. Suddenly, she was surrounded by kids who spent their nights and weekends practicing piano or playing team sports. Meanwhile, she was used to spending her spare time feeding animals or birthing lambs.

鈥淢y parents taught us that you can鈥檛 sit down to dinner or breakfast if there are hungry animals outside,鈥� Anderson-Ramirez says. 鈥淲e were raised with the notion that they鈥檙e kin, and kin take care of each other.鈥� That sense of connection drove her to pursue a career in animal-assisted therapy, then, eventually, back to her family鈥檚 ranch on the border of Yellowstone National Park.

In 2009, Anderson-Ramirez and her husband dedicated themselves to transforming the ranch into a center for education and regenerative agriculture. Her 鈥攁nd the animals that call it home鈥攈as never been stronger. 鈥淚 try to be a voice for the wildlife who need someone to speak for them,鈥� she says.

Boots on the Ground

Get to know the park inside and out on these top five hikes.听

Trout Lake Loop (1.2 miles)

For a short-but-sweet loop hike just off the main road, target Trout Lake, an alpine tarn north of Soda Butte Canyon. Go early in the morning, when the water鈥檚 glassy surface reflects the peaks of the Absaroka Range.

Avalanche Peak (4.6 miles)
This 10,568-foot summit offers sweeping vistas of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, including a bird鈥檚-eye view of Yellowstone Lake. Start at the peak鈥檚 eponymous trailhead and switchback straight up to the iconic summit.

Fairy Falls (5.6 miles)
Experience all the park鈥檚 greatest hits in a single afternoon on this half-day romp. A gently rolling trail will carry you past the neon marvel of Grand Prismatic Spring, 200-foot Fairy Falls, and two geysers, Spray and Imperial.

Mount Washburn (6.4 miles)
Tackle the climb to Mount Washburn鈥檚 10,243-foot summit, and you鈥檒l be rewarded with panoramic views of the craggy Washburn and Absaroka Ranges. Pro tip: Aim to summit at sunrise, and climb the historic fire lookout tower for an even better vantage point.

Continental Divide Trail to Shoshone Geyser Basin (20 miles)
This one鈥檚 an all-day affair, but it鈥檚 well worth the sunrise starting gun. Head out from the Lone Star Trailhead and trace the Firehole River for 20 miles, winding past spouting geysers, boiling springs, and other thermal features.

Raise a Toast: Horsefeather

Celebrate a great day in the national park with this custom recipe and , which was founded in 1872 to honor America鈥檚 first national park, and which continues to the national park system today.

Glassware: Collins

Ingredients

• 2 oz Yellowstone Select Bourbon
• 4 oz ginger beer
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Lime wheel or wedge for garnish

Instructions

• Fill Collins glass with ice.
• Combine all ingredients into the glass and top with ginger beer.
• Add two dashes of Angostura bitters and gently stir.

Established in 1872, was crafted to honor the sprawling wonder of America鈥檚 first national park. It鈥檚 what first inspired us to create approachably smooth whiskey for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, and why we still do it today.

The post A Real Yellowstone Rancher Shares Her Story appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.