National Park News

An iconic scene featuring a bison and Old Faithful will grace a new quarter to be issued by the U.S. Mint later this year.

Come to the Rainy Lake Visitor Center for a Family Movie Day on Sunday, March 28, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Voyageurs National Park has 17 campsites on the interior of the Kabetogama peninsula. The park is considering a reservation system and fee for these campsites. A public comment period is open through May 1.

2010 Lyceum Series
“Wilderness: Of What Avail Are Forty Freedoms Without A Blank Spot On The Map?”

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Monday, March 22, 2010, the Yosemite Emergency Dispatch Center received a call regarding a collapsed hiker on the Upper Yosemite Fall Trail. The hiker, a 17-year old student from Upland, California, was on a hiking trip with the Yosemite Institute. He was with a group of approximately eight students, with several adult chaperones and instructors. This hike is a regular part of the curriculum experienced by the students of the Yosemite Institute, a week-long residential environmental education program.

The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to rehabilitate 14.5 miles of Newfound Gap Road on the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. 441) and to reconstruct many of its stone masonry guardwalls. The work area runs from Park’s Gatlinburg, Tenn. Entrance and the North Carolina state line at Newfound Gap. Work is scheduled to begin in November 2010 and be completed in phases over about six years. The NPS is soliciting public comments in response to an Environmental Assessment (EA) which evaluates the potential resource and other impacts of that proposed action.

Glacier National Park road crews are beginning spring snow plowing and caution that although winter snow pack, to-date, is relatively low, spring weather in the park is always unpredictable.

Yellowstone National Park will soon be accepting the names of individuals interested in receiving firewood collection permits during 2010.

The National Park Service is currently accepting applications for the 2010 Community Artist in the Parks program.

Local artist Chad Niehaus will be displaying some of the work he created during his tenure as 2009 Community Artist in the Parks at Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

The National Park Service Southeast Utah Group is currently accepting applications for the 2010 Community Artist in the Parks program.

Local artist Chad Niehaus will be displaying some of the work he created during his tenure as 2009 Community Artist in the Parks at Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Fall 2010 work at Many Glacier Hotel to focus on interior rehabilitation of northern half of historic hotel.

Glacier National Park announces 2010 workshop “Reconnecting Children with Nature.” This free one-day workshop will be held, Saturday, April 10.

Starting Saturday morning, March 20, hardy bicyclists will be allowed to ride between West Yellowstone, Madison, Norris, and Mammoth Hot Springs. 

Starting Saturday morning, March 20, hardy bicyclists will be allowed to ride between West Yellowstone, Madison, Norris, and Mammoth Hot Springs. 

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Voyageurs’ authorization as the nation’s 36th national park. Activities and special events will be occuring all year to celebrate the anniversary.

Yosemite National Park announces the opening of the public scoping period for the park’s Invasive Plant Management Plan Update. The scoping period will run from April 15, 2010 to April 30, 2010. The public is invited to submit written ideas regarding this planning effort. 

Join park naturalist Matt Holly at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center for an interpretive program on the weasel family.  Meet in the visitor center at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 21.

Special programs offered in March will showcase Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. These programs are part of an action packed schedule of activities offered in 2010.

Special programs offered in March will showcase Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.  These programs are part of an action packed schedule of activities offered in 2010.

The fatal accident that killed 9 year old Tommy Botell and seriously injured his 13 year old sister, Katrina (1.7 miles up) on the Lassen Peak Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park was unforeseen as the park completed assessments of the trail earlier in the season. 

Grand Canyon Announces Public Meeting Schedule for Mule Operations and Stock Use Environmental Assessment

The annual winter aerial survey of the Northern Yellowstone elk herd indicates the population has remained fairly stable since 2006.

Yellowstone National Park recently completed a late winter bison population abundance estimate. The population is estimated at 3,000 bison.

Seven landscape paintings by famous artist Jim Jones will be on display.

Seven landscape paintings by famous artist Jim Jones will be on display.

Various types of photography are highlighted as part of this lunchtime seminar about climate change research at Glacier National Park.

Officials at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced that the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division has awarded a contract to Bell & Associates Highway Construction of Brentwood, TN to design and construct the next section of the uncompleted Foothills Parkway.

The Parks As Classrooms (PAC) program operates March 22 through May 21 and provides classroom students in grades K-12 the opportunity to participate in free, hands-on, outdoor education programs.