Parkography

This week: National parks reopen after the government shutdown — but not before one of them gets hit with a rash of graffiti. Winter closures are rolling in across the park system, including some big changes at Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. The Park Service is trying to hire 500 new law enforcement rangers with an eye-popping $70,000 bonus… while a new academic study shows national parks are still some of the safest places you can visit. We’ll also look at the Justice Department’s renewed crackdown on marijuana use on federal land, the controversy surrounding the nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Plus — a presidential pardon for a record-setting trail runner, and the unbelievable moment a man walked straight toward a pack of wolves in Yellowstone. The full video of the man approaching wolves on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPfVXr4Ap4S/ The National Parks Traveler Article: https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/11/national-parks-are-overwhelmingly-safe-spaces-says-study Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 National Parks Reopen After Shutdown 02:36 Winter Closures and Changes in Major Parks 04:53 Recruitment Drive for Law Enforcement Rangers 07:09 Safety in National Parks: New Study Insights 08:22 Federal Cannabis Law Enforcement in Parks 09:12 Controversial Nominee for Bureau of Land Management 10:30 Call for Restoration of National Park Funding 11:36 Presidential Pardon for Trail Runner 12:16 Man's Close Encounter with Wolves in Yellowstone 13:14 Conclusion and Thanksgiving Wishes

In this episode, I'll break down the various types of passes available for national parks and other federal recreation areas. I'll explain the America the Beautiful Pass, the Senior Pass, the Access Pass, and the Military Pass, detailing their benefits and eligibility criteria. Learn which pass is right for you, how to obtain it, and how to maximize your visits to federal lands.  Order your passes online here: https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes Get the Every Kid Outdoors 4th & 5th Grade Pass here: https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction to National Park Passes 01:29 Annual Pass: The Basics 04:03 Special Passes for Kids and Volunteers 05:07 Sponsored Message: Slinky Stove 05:46 Senior Pass: Benefits and Discounts 08:14 Access Pass for Disabled Individuals 09:39 Military Pass: Recent Changes 10:38 How to Obtain Your Pass 12:39 Frequently Asked Questions 15:33 Conclusion

Highlights include the National Park Service prosecuting BASE jumping cases in Yosemite, the Trump administration reopening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas leasing, and closures in the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Mobile District campgrounds. We'll also cover the reopening of the Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground in the Grand Canyon, a new federal coal leasing plan, the loss of the National Park Service's only petroleum engineer, and a controversial owl culling plan.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction 00:21 Yosemite Base Jumping Incidents 03:10 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Oil and Gas Leasing 03:57 Sponsored Message: Slinky Stove 04:34 US Army Corps of Engineers Campground Closures 05:29 Grand Canyon Reopenings and Waterline Project 06:34 Coal Leasing Near National Parks 07:13 National Park Service Loses Petroleum Engineer 07:58 Controversial Barred Owl Culling Plan 08:51 Utah State University's Beaver Relocation Program 09:42 Managing Feral Hogs in National Parks 10:25 Wyoming Corner Crossing Legislation 11:17 Conclusion  

“There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth; remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them…”  In this episode of Parkography, we explore Everglades National Park and the incredible life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

This week’s national park news roundup covers a wave of potential job cuts across the Department of the Interior — including hundreds from the National Park Service — plus new legislation in Congress aimed at tackling wildfires and forest management. We’ll also look at wildlife making surprising moves in Yellowstone and Michigan, new state parks opening in Tennessee, major campground expansion plans in Michigan, and California’s push to bring art and culture into its parks. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

On the northern shores of Minnesota lies a remote waterscape steeped in history, nature, and tradition. Named for the wild men who paddled its waterways in the Canadian fur trade, Voyageurs National Park is home to nesting bald eagles, moose, grey wolves, black bears, loons, owls, otters, beavers, and a vast array of other wildlife. Most of its hidden waterways remain untouched, and pristine boreal forests cover the landscape, where on a cloudless pre-dawn morning under the northern lights, you can almost hear the echo of the songs sung by fur traders traveling in their massive canoes.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

One week in, we have a clear as mud idea about which National Parks and areas of parks are open and which aren't. In this episode, I'll show you where to find the most up to date info, and former National Park Superintendents share with us some more details about how a shutdown works and the concerns over protecting parks during one. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

This week’s National Parks & Public Lands News Roundup covers the impending federal government shutdown and its affect on National Parks, an expansion of coal mining on federal lands, the re-opening of the north rim of the Grand Canyon, vandalism at Gettysburg, and more. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction 01:48 Impact of Government Shutdown on National Parks 02:37 State Responses and Historical Context 03:30 Concerns and Appeals from Park Officials 05:44 Sponsor Message: Slinky Stove 06:22 Grand Canyon North Rim Reopening 08:18 Vandalism at Gettysburg National Military Park 09:01 White Nose Syndrome Detected in Bats 10:02 Federal Land Coal Leasing Announcement 10:26 National Park Service Concessionaire Opportunities 11:41 Conclusion

This week’s National Parks & Public Lands News Roundup covers some big and controversial stories: Reports that slavery- and racism-related exhibits are being removed from multiple National Park Service sites following a new Interior Department directive. A proposal to create “Florida Springs National Park” is facing growing opposition. The Interior Department’s plan to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule. The launch of a brand-new U.S. Wildland Fire Service to modernize wildfire response. A major water system failure at Mount Rainier’s Paradise Inn. A tragic fatality at Grand Canyon National Park. Zion National Park reopening its Weeping Rock Trail. And finally… why Yellowstone’s geysers have coughed up more than 300 hats (plus some bizarre bonus items). Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:46 Controversial Removal of Slavery Exhibits 03:37 Debate Over Florida Springs National Park 06:36 Changes at the Bureau of Land Management 08:17 New US Wildland Fire Service 09:16 Mount Rainier Water System Failure 10:11 Grand Canyon Incident 10:58 Zion National Park Reopens Weeping Rock Trail 11:44 Yellowstone's Lost and Found 12:59 Conclusion and Farewell

At the edge of Utah and Colorado, where canyons plunge and rivers carve through stone, lies Dinosaur National Monument — a place known today for Jurassic fossils and wild rivers. But hidden within its history is the story of a woman who lived on the frontier with grit, resilience, and ties to some of the West’s most notorious outlaws. This episode of Parkography explores the life of Josie Bassett Morris — rancher, homesteader, friend (and sometimes lover) of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch — who carved out a life of independence in one of the harshest landscapes of the American West. From her outlaw entanglements in Brown’s Park to her rugged cabin at Cub Creek, Josie’s story is one of resilience, hardship, and defiance. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the Parkography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​

Law enforcement rangers cleared an illegal cannabis grow in Sequoia National Park, where they found thousands of plants, toxic chemicals, and major environmental damage. A new national park could be coming to Florida—legislation has been introduced to study the creation of “Florida Springs National Park.” Workers at Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon have voted overwhelmingly to unionize, joining a growing movement across the Park Service. Plus: new hunting and fishing opportunities at wildlife refuges, the Maurice Bathhouse restoration at Hot Springs, a fruitless year at Capitol Reef’s orchards, and more. The NPS report, via National Parks Traveler: https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/sites/default/files/attachments/nps_staffing_impact_data_july_2025_-_copy.xlsx Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

Everyone knows about America’s 13 original colonies… but did you know there was almost a 14th? In 1775, a private land deal known as The Transylvania Purchase sought to create a brand-new colony in the rugged mountains where Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee meet. Frontiersman Daniel Boone carved the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap, opening America’s first true gateway to the West. But the plan was tangled in conflict with Indigenous nations, colonial governments, and the Revolution itself. In this episode of Parkography, Jason explores the rise and fall of the Colony of Transylvania, the battles that defined it, and how the Cumberland Gap went from a dangerous frontier to a National Historical Park that tells the story of America’s earliest westward expansion. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the Parkography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​

A ranger stabbed in a Colorado state park, hundreds exposed to rabies at Grand Teton, Isle Royale wolf put down, plus updates on hurricane closures, statue restoration, peak renaming, and more national park news. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction 00:07 Colorado Park Ranger Stabbing Incident 00:59 Rabies Exposure at Jackson Lake Lodge 02:24 Rabid Raccoon at Delaware Water Gap 03:01 Wolf Issues at Isle Royal National Park 04:38 Sponsored by Slinky Stove 05:15 Restoration of Albert Pike Statue 06:12 Mount Woodring Name Change 08:01 Hurricane Erin Impact on East Coast Parks 09:20 Reopening of Black Canyon of the Gunnison 10:30 Grand Canyon Fire Update 10:50 Yosemite Ranger Fired Over Trans Pride Flag 12:27 Conclusion

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir embarked on a legendary three-day camping trip through Yosemite. Away from politics and public life, they huddled under the stars, explored the towering sequoias, and shared a vision that would change the future of America’s wild places. This unforgettable meeting is often credited with sparking the modern conservation movement—leading to the expansion of national parks and permanent protection for some of our most treasured landscapes. Join us as we retrace their journey, uncover the stories behind their conversations, and explore how a few nights in the wilderness helped shape the course of American environmental history. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the Parkography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

At Petrified Forest National Park, a strange phenomenon has persisted for decades: people from all over the world mailing back pieces of petrified wood they stole—along with heartfelt apology notes. These “conscience letters” speak of bad luck, misfortune, and regret. But is the so-called curse real, or just a product of guilt? In this episode of Parkography, we explore the fascinating history behind the curse of the Petrified Forest and the power of a national park to stir the conscience. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

In this episode, we cover the Trump administration's reorganization of the Department of Agriculture and its impact on the US Forest Service, as well as ongoing wildfires, including the Dragon Bravo fire at the Grand Canyon, and debunk myths about animals fleeing Yellowstone. We'll also discuss significant land acquisitions in Texas that will lead to the establishment of new state parks, a tragic incident at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas, a Netflix series set in Yosemite, and much more. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography 00:00 Introduction 00:08 US Forest Service Reorganization 01:49 Interior Department Job Cuts 02:57 Sponsor Message: Slinky Stove 03:36 Muir Woods Exhibit Removal 04:17 Bear Incidents and Safety 05:13 Yellowstone Animal Rumors 07:15 Lake Powell Water Levels 07:40 New Shark Species Discovery 08:02 Wildfire Updates 11:05 Texas State Parks Expansion 11:56 Arkansas Hiking Tragedy 12:35 Netflix Show Set in Yosemite 13:33 Conclusion and Farewell  

In Michigan, the country’s second National Park would be established in 1875, only to be redesignated just twenty years later as the state’s first State Park. Likewise, a cave named for its position overlooking the trail of Lewis and Clark would begin its protected life as an early National Monument before later joining a growing number of State Parks in the United States. And in Oklahoma, a former National Park remains preserved under the jurisdiction of the Park Service, providing key insight into the conversation of how and why we protect the places that we do for generations to come.  Join us as we explore three parks you won’t find in your National Park Service  Passport: Mackinac National Park, Lewis and Clark Cavern National Monument, and Platt National Park.  Written by Lizzie Tesch Hosted by Jason Epperson Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​

Deep within Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park, one can find so much more than rock formations. The shale-capped mass of 400 known miles of caverns holds the history of America, told by the Black enslaved cave guides that made it one of the country's top tourist attractions, then and now.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography  

In this week's episode, a controversial provision to sell off over a million acres of public land has been blocked, but significant cuts to National Park funding are still proceeding. We cover the construction of a massive migrant detention center inside a national preserve, sparking legal actions and protests. Yellowstone's iconic hot spring tragically claims the life of a bison, and new signs asking visitors to report negative information about Americans are causing quite a stir. We also bring you critical safety updates from Rocky Mountain National Park, the transition to cashless payment systems at two parks, and more. Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Controversial Public Land Sales Blocked 02:27 Rescinding the Roadless Rule 03:28 New National Park Signage Sparks Protests 04:45 Migrant Detention Center in National Preserve 06:15 National Parks Move to Cashless Payments 07:36 Tragic Bison Incident at Yellowstone 09:41 Safety Updates from Rocky Mountain National Park 10:28 White Nose Syndrome in Bats 11:28 Ken Burns' American Revolution Series 12:59 Conclusion

Just steps from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall lies the barely visible foundation of a house that once held the weight of a revolution, a presidency—and a deep contradiction. This week on Parkography, we uncover the story of the President’s House in Philadelphia, a mansion that passed through the hands of a British general, a colonial governor, a wealthy financier, a traitorous American officer, and two U.S. presidents. But beneath its grand halls and bowed windows lived another story—one of enslaved people fighting silently for their own freedom in the shadow of a nation proclaiming liberty for all. Join Jason Epperson as he walks through the rubble and history of the forgotten home at Sixth and Market, where the founding of the United States unfolded brick by brick—and where the legacy of freedom remains unfinished. Written by Lizzie Tesch Hosted by Jason Epperson Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:   @RVMiles    @RVMilesPodcast ​