National Park News

On Tuesday, November 3, millions of students from all over the country will visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park on an Electronic Field Trip, during which they will explore one of the richest ecosystems on earth.

On Saturday, October 17, an ultralight plane carrying two people crashed in Zion National Park. 

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) personnel arrived in Denali National Park mid-day today, and have concluded their on-scene investigation of the crash site above the East Fork of the Toklat River in Denali National Park and Preserve.

Dan McGregor, 35, of Denali Park, the pilot of the missing Cessna 185 that was discovered crashed and burned on Thursday afternoon in Denali National Park, is alive.

Aerial searchers located what appears to be the missing Cessna 185 at approximately 3:00 p.m. today on a steep slope west of the East Fork of the Toklat River, approximately seven miles north of the Denali Park Road.

A new special exhibit featuring the work of Denali’s Artists-in-Residence program is now on display at the University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks.

Yosemite National Park announces the end of the fire season, tomorrow, October 16th, 2009. 

A new plan to provide for limited, regulated snowmobile and snowcoach access in Yellowstone National Park for the next two winters has been approved.

Superintendent Commends SFWMD Announcement on C-111 Project

Mesa Verde National Park plans to ignite several small prescribed fires within the park this fall.

Yosemite National Park Acting Superintendent Dave Uberuaga announces a series of public scoping meetings for the new Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan.

Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis toured Yosemite National Park this weekend.  This was Salazar’s first official visit to Yosemite National Park and Jarvis’ first visit as the Director of the National Park Service.

Beginning October 23, 2009, repairs to the fuel dock float and pilings, wave barrier, and the public dock float and pilings will occur. Access to the boat ramp, the dock vehicle ramp, and both dock floats may be blocked temporarily on short notice.

On Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a cornucopia of quilts will be displayed at the Mountain Farm Museum in Great Smoky Mountains National Park as quilting guilds from the region come together and offer the public a feast for their eyes.

The NPS will be considering various options to address changes in shoulder season vessel use in Glacier Bay.

Superintendent Dale Ditmanson has announced the release of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fire Management Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Fire Management Plan. The EA addresses the proposal by the National Park Service (NPS) to update, develop and implement a Fire Management Plan (FMP) for Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Park or GRSM).

Great Smoky Mountains National Park managers have announced plans to rehabilitate the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road in the spring of 2010. Due to the limitations on work processes posed by the narrow, single lane historic road the Park plans to close the road to all use from March 1 through May 21, 2010. The work is weather sensitive so the actual closing period could be influenced by the amount of rainfall.

Effective Tuesday, October 13 through October 24. 

Lassen Volcanic National Park plans to burn the Crescent Prescribed Fire Project as early as Sunday, October 11, 2009.  Ignition operations should require two days. The entire project consists of three units totaling 1,847 acres.

Yellowstone National Park is soliciting comments for a proposed project to do routine trail work on part of the Heart Lake Trail.  The project will focus on the portion of the trail near its junction with the South Boundary Trail.  This is also the vicinity of the confluence of Red Creek and the Snake River.   

The beauty of winter has descended on Yellowstone in the form of early season snowstorms that have passed through the area.  For the next few days, park visitors should be prepared for winter weather and driving conditions, including temporary road closures and delays.

Mammoth Cave National Park Superintendent Patrick Reed announced the beginning of a 30-day comment period on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the rehabilitation of cave tour trails within Mammoth Cave.  The EA is posted online at www.parkplanning.nps.gov/maca; comments may be entered online on that website.

With the opening of various hunting seasons, Glacier National Park officials remind hunters that NO hunting of any kind is permitted within the park. 

Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Steve Martin today announced the availability of a prospectus for guided trail rides using mules at the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. 

Weather permitting, the Beech Mountain fire tower will be open on Saturday, October 17, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

As Biscayne National Park staff prepare for the large crowds expected to utilize the park during Columbus Day weekend, concerns arise over protecting life, property and the natural resources of the park. 

“BIRDS OF THE EVERGLADES”
Michael Stern – Nature Photographer

The National Park Service is making plans to burn piles of woody debris on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park over the course of the next 30 days.

National Park Service approves temporary mule ride on South Rim of Grand Canyon

In late September, Shenandoah National Park officials awarded the first contract to improve park facilities using part of the $30 million that Shenandoah is receiving under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).