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National Parks

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Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
national parks

Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs

Removing items from national parks is illegal—and at these sites, legend says, it can also come with paranormal consequences.
Ellery Weil May 16, 2025
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
forests

How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.

María José Aguilar-Carrasco helps people with disabilities gain access to nature.
Jonathan Feakins May 15, 2025
Itinerary

The Explorer’s Guide to Joshua Tree National Park

Venture into the realm of desert tortoises, “mentalphysics,” and lonesome Muffler Men.
Gina Rae
Cely's map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree's trees and waterways.
maps

How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park

After 60 years of exploring the gulleys and guts of the South Carolina swamp, John Cely drew the landscape he knew by heart.
Ashley Stimpson May 12, 2025
Though they're protected inside the park, wolves can be killed when they cross its borders.
national parks

Wolves Have a Bad Reputation. One Yellowstone Naturalist Is Trying to Fix It.

Wildlife guide Audra Conklin Taylor shows the beauty, value, and character of the park’s packs.
Lina Zeldovich May 12, 2025
Torrey pine grove on Santa Rosa Island.
List

12 National Park Trees That Are Truly Terrific

Famous, ancient, larger than life.
Roxanne Hoorn May 9, 2025
Entrance to the Mount Carmel Tunnel
List

12 Incredible Caves and Caverns Hidden in National Parks

Underground or inside, each spot on this list is more than meets the eye.
Roxanne Hoorn May 9, 2025
Landscape Arch
List

12 Must-See Rocks You’ll Find in National Parks

Come for the views, stay for the sediment.
Roxanne Hoorn May 9, 2025
Native Americans have a longstanding, rich, and vibrant culture in Wyoming.
nature

Wyoming’s Sacred Landscapes: A Journey Through Native American History

High-spirited powwows, wild horses, ancient carvings, and figures that changed the course of history.
Salima, Malawi

Nankoma Island

The ideal location for an immersive ecological experience.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Greenbrier Area

Waterfalls, rapids, and top-notch swimming spots await in this densely forested corner of the Smokies.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee

LeConte Lodge

Supplies are schlepped up by llamas at this century-old inn accessible only by hiking trails in the Great Smokies.
Hayfield, California

Carey's Castle

Hidden deep in the Joshua Tree Wilderness, this 1940s miner's cabin built into a gap between two mega-sized boulders.
Banff, Alberta

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

Dive into the history and true tall-tales of Banff National Park.
Alberta

Castleguard Cave

Canada’s longest cave system is home to creatures found nowhere else on the planet, as well as rare cave pearls.
Virgin, Utah

Fort Zion

A kitschy stop on the way to Zion National Park.
The first photo of the woolly devil made a stir among botanists when Deb Manley uploaded it to iNaturalist in March 2024.
flora

A Devilish New Species Discovered in Big Bend National Park

This tiny, fuzzy sunflower relative has been hiding in plain sight—it represents the first new genus identified in a U.S. national park in nearly 50 years.
Andrew Coletti March 4, 2025
View westward from the trail, toward the Colorado River.
List

The Mysterious Petroglyphs and Twisted Towers Beyond Utah’s National Parks

The national parks occupy just one corner of a vast and mind-blowing landscape. Here’s how to explore the rest.