National Park News

Roads to most of the park’s popular tourist destinations close for the season at 8:00 a.m. Monday, November 7.

The National Park Service (NPS) is currently accepting comments on an Environmental Assessment analyzing various proposals to rehabilitate 4.8 miles of the Emigrant Canyon Road, commonly referred to as Lower Wildrose Road, from milepost 20 to milepost 24.8 in Death Valley National Park (Park). This section of Lower Wildrose Road has deteriorated over the years due to flash flooding and presents a hazard to vehicular travel in the Park.

Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga has announced the availability of a new business opportunity in the park to provide bicycle rentals, guided bike tours, and “grab and go” food service at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center plaza on the South Rim.

Davison Road, off U.S. 101 in Orick, Calif., will be closed to the public beginning Monday, October 31 for seasonal grading and road surface repairs. Road crews will work Monday – Thursday, and anticipate the project to take at least two weeks.

Radovan

BrooksCamp: Katmai posted news release + frequently asked questions on environmental assessment for sport hunting guide services. go.nps.gov/33krdb

On Wednesday, October 26, Grand Canyon National Park Supervisory Park Ranger Lisa Hendy was awarded the National Park Service’s 2011 Harry Yount National Park Ranger Award for excellence in the field of rangering.

The Rim Drives and North Entrance Road at Crater Lake National Park will close for the season on Tuesday, November 1, 2011.

A new plan to reconstruct a portion of the northern section of Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Loop Road has been approved.

The Alpine Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC), based in Rocky Mountain National
Park, is celebrating its 30-year anniversary.

Families and individuals of all ages are invited to the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park for a special “star viewing party” at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28, 2011.

On Thursday, October 27, 2011, Trail Ridge Road officially closed for the season to through travel.

On November 11-13, Mammoth Cave National Park will recognize Veterans Day with free cave tours and a special program, Roots in the Cave – Pioneers of Discovery. Cave explorer and World War II soldier Warner P. “Pete” Hanson is the focus of this year’s Roots in the Cave, sponsored by the Mammoth Cave Hotel and Mammoth Cave National Park.

Superintendent Dale Ditmanson announced the approval of a Finding of No Significant Impact of the Environmental Assessment on a proposed plan for managing a permanent herd of elk in the Park.

Fire managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park plan to conduct a series of prescribed burns of fields in Cades Cove on Tuesday through Friday, November 7-10 if weather conditions permit.

The National Park Service will begin work on an environmental assessment (EA) next month to consider the reissuance of concession contract (s) and proposed changes for sport hunting guide services within Katmai National Preserve. Because sport hunting is a Congressionally authorized use of the preserve, all options in the EA will propose that guided sport hunting continue in a way that does not result in significant environmental impacts to park resources and values, including the brown bear population, other users, wilderness character, or subsistence uses.

The National Park Service (NPS) intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment regarding the replacement of the utility infrastructure at the Park Headquarters in Denali National Park and Preserve.

The park is exploring possible adjustments to the permitting procedures to improve visitor services and experiences.

November programs at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park will focus on area’s rich history and patriotism

The park’s concession contract is up for bid through January 4, 2012.

Denali National Park and Preserve intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment regarding the replacement of Rock Creek Bridge (MP 3.3) on the Denali Park Road. The bridge, which was constructed in the 1950s, is an essential link on the only road into Denali National Park.

I-Ting Chiang of Fremont, CA was announced as the winner of the 2012 Lassen Annual Pass photo contest for his photograph entitled “Painted Dunes from atop Cinder Cone.”

Four trees fell across Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway in Prairie Creek
Redwoods State Park Wednesday morning, October 19th, closing
approximately eight miles of the parkway to through traffic from just
north of the Prairie Creek Visitor Center to the northern junction with
Coastal Drive and the northern interchange of US 101. Redwood
National and State Park maintenance crews estimate this section of the
parkway will remain closed at least through the end of October as they
work to safely remove the trees and assess possible road damage. The
actual fall occurred at mile marker 132.2, about two miles south of the
north closure gate and six miles north of the south closure gate.

Emergency closure is designed to protect members of the public from hazardous conditions caused by the draining of Lake Aldwell.

Lassen is preparing to implement two prescribed burn projects within the park.

JoshuaTreeNP: Climbers Coffee will be at JT Lake for Climbsmart on 10/22 & at Indian Cove on 10/23. Back to Hidden Valley next weekend. -br…

Mesa Verde National Park is planning to implement two prescribed fires during the week of October 24, as weather allows.

Mammoth Cave National Park will sponsor a genealogy day and a cemetery workshop again this fall on October 22 & 29. Please note the venues are outside the park; these events are open to the public and free of charge. Free Discovery/Mammoth Passage cave tours will also be offered October 22 & 29 to residents of Edmonson, Hart, Barren and Warren counties.