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National Parks

One of the best ways to experience Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in Alaska is by kayak.

Family Travel

Beautiful Photos from America’s Six Least-Visited National Parks

These parks are less popular, but no less spectacular

The mammoth skull being excavated on Santa Rosa Island

Cool Finds

Scientists Puzzle Over Unusual Mammoth Skull Unearthed in the Channel Islands

The well-preserved fossil doesn’t neatly fit in with other examples of the species

A view of Mount Rushmore under construction, c.1938-1939

The Sordid History of Mount Rushmore

The sculptor behind the American landmark had some unseemly ties to white supremacy groups

A pair of bison hang out in the snow at Yellowstone National Park, one of the United States' best spots to see the huge mammals.

American Safaris: Where to See the Biggest Mammals in the U.S.

Go wild for the United States’ largest mammals and take an American Safari

Kayak may be the best way to explore the climate change memorial of the future.

Anthropocene

What Will the Memorials of the Future Look Like?

From underwater trees to mechanical parrots, the memorials of tomorrow don’t look much like the ones that exist today

The Carnegie Quarry fossil excavation at Utah's Dinosaur National Monument has yielded more than 11 different species, including dinosaurs, such as Allosaurus, Diplodocus and Stegosaurus, as well as turtles, crocodiles and lizards.

You Can Thank Scientists for the National Park System

Early conservation research and scientific expeditions laid the groundwork and helped to convince the public national parks were a good idea

CCC workers plant trees at Mammoth Cave National Park in 1938. It's thought that "Roosevelt's Tree Army" planted 3 billion trees during the group's tenure.

Cool Finds

You Can Thank These Depression-Era Workers for Your National Parks

Daily life in the Civilian Conservation Corps is preserved in a new National Park Service archive

Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941 Photograph by Ansel Adams Vintage gelatin silver print Collection Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona

Cool Finds

New Exhibition Shares Rare Ansel Adams Photos of the American West

See breathtaking early works by the iconic photographer

Papahānaumokuākea may be a mouthful, but now it's the world's largest marine protected area.

Trending Today

President Obama Just Created the World’s Largest Marine Protected Area

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is now twice the size of Texas

In the past few weeks, thousands of fish have gone belly-up.

The Massive Yellowstone Fish Die-Off: A Glimpse Into Our Climate Future?

This unprecedented kill reveals why we need to keep rivers resilient

Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the parks featured in the virtual reality tours.

Virtual Travel

Explore Some of America’s Greatest National Parks in Virtual Reality

The next best thing to celebrating the Centennial in person

Visitors cast shadows on the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, at sunrise.

From Our Photo Contest: Soak Up the Beauty of America’s National Parks

2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Service. Enjoy these standout images submitted by our photo community

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine protects over 87,000 acres of land.

Trending Today

Maine Just Got the Nation’s Newest National Monument

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument could one day become a national park

The newly opened glass bridge in Zhangjiajie Forest Park

Cool Finds

Gulp: The World’s Highest, Longest Glass Bridge Opens in China

The new bridge in Hunan’s Zhangjiajie Forest Park overlooks the mountains that inspired Avatar

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota.

Six National Parks That Are Best Explored by Boat

From wildlife to forgotten forts, the water is the place to be at many of America’s national parks

Temperature-sensitive pikas store grass for winter munching.

Future of Conservation

How Climate Change Will Transform the National Parks’ Iconic Animals and Plants

Dramatic changes may force park managers to choose which species will live, and which will die

These shaggy icons may be long gone by next century due to climate change.

Trending Today

California’s Joshua Trees Are Under Threat

Climate change could decimate the iconic tree for future generations

Five Ways National Parks Are Embracing Technology

Cell phones and other screens don’t have to detract from the park experience

The pony swim in 2008

Trending Today

Watch the Chincoteague Ponies Complete Their 91st Annual Swim

For nine decades, the local fire department has herded the horses from Assateague to Chincoteague Island to auction off the foals

Awaroa Beach

Cool Finds

New Zealanders Just Crowdfunded a New Addition to this National Park

Over 40,000 people donated to buy Awaroa Beach and gift the site to Abel Tasman National Park

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