With the monument facing stripped-down protections and sky rocketing visitation, a local nonprofit built its own guerrilla visitor center to educate the masses.
National Park Service
Posted inMay 13, 2019: Atomic Tourists
The roar of military jets triggers a crusade for quiet
As ‘Growlers’ shatter the calm of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, a push for quiet grows.
Posted inMay 13, 2019: Atomic Tourists
How recreation boosts the economy
From travelers to new residents, outdoor enthusiasts make an impact on the West’s bottom lines.
Posted inArticles
Study finds 96% of national parks have hazardous air quality
Popular parks such as Yosemite and Joshua Tree have pollution levels that threaten visitors and wildlife.
Posted inArticles
5 reasons to keep geotagging
Public lands face far greater threats than recreational overuse.
Posted inArticles
The Blackfeet Nation is opening its own national park
Members of the Blackfeet Nation want tourists to understand how the story of Glacier National Park is really the story of their nation.
Posted inArticles
Growing urban coyote populations are feasting on pets
A study of coyote scat found the animals are attracted to fruit in gardens, where they are also finding cats and dogs.
Posted inApril 15, 2019: Scene of the Crime
How a tiny endangered species put a man in prison
The Devils Hole pupfish is nothing to mess with.
Posted inArticles
David Bernhardt confirmed as Secretary of the Interior
The former oil lobbyist has connections with industries that could profit from his decisions managing the nation’s natural and cultural resources.
Posted inApril 15, 2019: Scene of the Crime
Cliven Bundy case appealed by feds
Prosecutor says missteps were inadvertent.
Posted inArticles
Five lessons from the government shutdown about national parks
Our national parks still matter, even if they got trashed.
Posted inArticles
The Grand Canyon turns 100
A reflection on the peculiar history that lead to the iconic national park designation.
Posted inFebruary 18, 2019: Barriers to Entry
Update: Western states move to limit trapping
Caught dogs and imperiled martens spur reforms for fur-bearer trapping.
Posted inFebruary 4, 2019: Nizhoni Girls
Seattle’s highway hell; crazy river questions; a sweet spill
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inArticles
States and advocates help tackle ‘crisis’ at national parks
Amid the government shutdown, the Park Service faces trash mounds and lost revenue.
Posted inArticles
It’s a mistake to keep parks open during the shutdown
Former National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis says the Trump administration is violating the park’s stewardship mandate.
Posted inArticles
The stories that defined the West in 2018
The year in essays, analysis and investigations from across the Western U.S.
Posted inDecember 10, 2018: Critical Mass
Latest: Top National Park Service climate official resigns
Marcy Rockman cites pressure from agency.
Posted inArticles
What does wilderness sound like?
A photographer and audio researchers document the soundscapes of remote national parks in Alaska.
Posted inArticles
In Yosemite, two deaths raise concerns about social media
A recent study documented 259 fatalities worldwide caused by people taking selfies.