Search

• Park Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Rich in history, the 34 beautiful islands and peninsulas of this national recreation area feature lighthouses, military sites, hiking trails and numerous other outdoor adventures. Walk in the steps of the Union soldiers who guarded Boston from their station at Fort Warren during the Civil War. Search the horizon for ships from Boston Light on Little Brewster Island, the second-oldest working lighthouse in the nation. Observe sea creatures in sun-warmed tidal pools and cast your line for striped bass and winter flounder. All of these adventures and more are an easy ferry ride from the city.
• Park Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area This underappreciated jewel offers a variety of outdoor attractions, from hiking to whitewater rafting to bird-watching to stargazing. One of the park’s most popular activities is horseback riding, and visitors can enjoy more than 180 miles of riding trails and stay in special campsites that will accommodate horses. The East Rim Overlook in the southeastern area of the park offers a spectacular view of where the river cuts a deep gorge into the Cumberland Plateau. Some of the most interesting natural features include the natural sandstone arches that formed along the edges of the gorge — hikers can see more than a dozen of these beautiful structures on the western side of the park.
• Report Legal Analysis of the Antiquities Act and Marine Monuments The Antiquities Act of 1906 may be used to protect marine areas.
• Park Pinnacles National Park The jagged rocks at this park formed from the remains of an ancient volcano. This volcano used to be located about 200 miles south of its current location, but tectonic forces along the San Andreas Fault moved these rocks at a pace of a little more than half an inch per year over a period of 23 million years to what is now the national park. Today, these towering spires attract hikers and climbers, as well as falcons, golden eagles and California condors. The park also features grasslands, chaparral, forests and rare talus caves.
• Park Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument This section of the Sonoran Desert near the border between Arizona and Mexico features massive cacti, colorful birds and rock arches. An International Biosphere Reserve and a federally designated wilderness area, this park preserves the only large concentration of organ pipe cacti in the country, as well as hundreds of other native plant species, such as saguaro, cholla, mesquite and palo verde trees, and ocotillo. Hike on the park's nine scenic trails or take a drive on the 21-mile Ajo Mountain Drive to experience the vibrant desert landscape.
• Park Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park Harriet Tubman escaped from brutal slave owners in 1849 and risked her life to help bring many more enslaved Americans to freedom via the Underground Railroad; this park a testament to her remarkable legacy of fighting for the equal rights of all people. Its 25,000 acres also encompass beautiful natural areas for wildlife-watching, hiking, biking, and paddling. The park includes large portions of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County, Maryland, where Tubman spent much of her early life, as well as the home site of Jacob Jackson, a free black man who helped Tubman in her efforts to free others.
• Resource Glossary of Unbearable Terms Maps and illustrations showing Alaska's War on Wolves and Bears.
• Blog Post Yosemite Valley to Herself, After a Wait Apr 2021 | By Kati Schmidt Parks including Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Yosemite are using reservation and timed-entry systems to help manage heavy crowds — a problem that long preceded the pandemic. While these changes come with growing pains, one happy hiker makes the most of the new policy.
• Magazine Article Death Valley Angst Summer 2018 | By Michael P. Branch, Hannah V. Branch On a desert hike, a father and his teenage daughter contemplate canyons, cliffs and the heartache that comes with growing up.
• Blog Post Victory: An End to UnBearable Hunting Practices in National Preserves in Alaska Nov 2015 | By Theresa Pierno After more than a decade of fighting to protect bears, wolves, and coyotes in Alaska, NPCA is proud to announce that new rules go into effect today banning objectionable hunting practices in the state's national preserves.
• Press Release Parks Group Urges for Stronger National Park Closures Amid Coronavirus Pandemic Mar 2020 Amid California’s shelter-in-place directive, NPCA urges national parks in the state to follow Yosemite's lead and consider stronger closures.
• Policy Update Testimony: Border Wall Issues Forum Jan 2019 Written testimony of Christina Hazard, NPCA Associate Director for Government Affairs, before the House Committee on Natural Resources at the Border Wall Issues Forum on January 15, 2019.
• Magazine Article The Last Wild One Fall 2019 | By Nicolas Brulliard After the chance discovery of a Franciscan manzanita, the rare plant was carefully relocated to a secret location in San Francisco’s Presidio. Can it survive in the wild?
• Blog Post 5 Ways the New Congress Can Support National Parks Dec 2014 | By Emily Douce If you’re looking forward to the New Year and getting ready to turn over a new leaf, you aren’t alone. In our nation’s capital, the 114th Congress begins on January 6 with a renewed sense of purpose. Lawmakers will reappoint their leaders, select their committee assignments, and put forward a new slate of bills.
• Magazine Article A Mission to Grow Spring 2017 | By Sarah C.P. Williams Reviving ancient farming practices — and feeding the hungry — at San Antonio Missions.
• Magazine Article Getting the Lead Out Spring 2013 | By Kelly Bastone Lead bullets still threaten the California condor, an icon at Pinnacles and Grand Canyon.
• Blog Post Saturday on the Green Dec 2013 | By Katherine DeGroff Looking for a new adventure in the New Year? A first-time visitor to First State National Monument shares stories and tips for Delaware’s new—and only—national park site.
• Magazine Article Prairie Solitaire Summer 2012 | By Morgan Heim In the middle of America, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve offers an intimate, grounding experience.
• Magazine Article Picture This Winter 2013 | By Scott Kirkwood Design students reimagine the park experience for the 21st century.
• Blog Post Trivia Challenge: The Snowiest Place on Earth Nov 2014 | By Jennifer Errick Q: One U.S. national park boasts that it contains “the snowiest place on Earth where snow is regularly recorded.” This picturesque spot even saw a whopping 93.5 feet of the white stuff one record-setting winter. Can you name this winter wonderland of a national park?
• Press Release Interior Ignores Joshua Tree National Park, Wildlife with Eagle Crest Project Approval Apr 2017 In a move that threatens Joshua Tree National Park, wildlife and precious water resources, the Bureau of Land Management took the next step towards approving the contentious Eagle Crest pumped storage facility.
• Policy Update Testimony: Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Modernization Act Oct 2015 Written testimony by John Garder regarding the discussion draft of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Modernization Act for House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands hearing on October 28, 2015.
• Policy Update NPCA position on H.R. 2773, H.R. 2872, and H.R. 3396 Jul 2021 NPCA shared the following position ahead of a legislative hearing held by the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife scheduled for July 29 th, 2021. 
• Magazine Article A Bird’s Eye View Summer 2013 | By Melanie D.G. Kaplan There’s no place like Big Bend National Park to slow down, grab a pair of binoculars, and reconnect with your inner birder.
• Blog Post The First National Park Site to Require Reservations Year-Round Dec 2017 | By Jennifer Errick We may not have reservations about visiting national parks, but sometimes we need them to visit. Starting next month, one national park site will require everyone arriving in cars to book parking and shuttle spots in advance to be able to enter. Do you know which one?
• Policy Update Position on S. 400, S. 1160, S. 1335, S. 1446, S. 1472, S. 1602, S. 1645, S. 1646, S. 1956, S. 2102 & S. 2225 Feb 2018 NPCA submitted the following positions to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources National Parks Subcommittee ahead of a hearing scheduled for February 14, 2018.
• Policy Update Position on S. 2839, S. 1662, S. 1696, S. 2412, S. 2548, S. 2627, S. 2805, S. 2807, S. 2954, S. 3020, S. 3027, S. 3028, S. 211, S. 1623, S. 1690 and S. 1824 Jun 2016 NPCA submitted the following positions on bills being considered by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee National Parks subcommittee during a hearing on June 15, 2016.
• Policy Update Position on HR 5780, Utah Public Lands Initiative Sep 2016 NPCA submitted the following position to members of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Federal Lands, ahead of a hearing on September 14, 2016.
• Policy Update Testimony: H.R. 3668 California Minerals, Off-Road Recreation, and Conservation Act Dec 2015 Statement of David Lamfrom submitted for the record for the House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Federal Lands hearing on December 9, 2015.
• Policy Update Position on S. 55, S. 99, S. 213, S. 287, S. 363, S. 392, S. 502, S. 617, S. 644, S. 729, H.R. 88, H.R. 267, H.R. 494, H.R. 538, H.R. 558, S. 401, S. 627, S. 713, S. 731 Mar 2017 NPCA submitted the following positions on legislation being considered by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee during a business meeting on March 30, 2017.
• Policy Update Position on H.R. 1289, S. 718, S. 1622, S. 1696, S. 1930, S. 1943, S. 1993, S. 2177, S. 2309, S. 2412, S. 2548, S. 2805, S. 2839, S. 2954, S. 3020,S. 3027, S. 3028, H.R. 2880, S. 1923, S. 1690 Jul 2016 NPCA submitted the following positions on legislation being considered by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee during a markup on July 12, 2016.
• Policy Update NPCA Position on H.R. 803, Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act Feb 2021 NPCA shared the following letter with members of the House of Representives ahead of an anticipated floor vote scheduled for February 26th. 
• Policy Update Position on S. 1160, S. 1335, S. 1446 & S. 1602 Mar 2018 NPCA submitted the following positions to the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources ahead of a markup scheduled for March 8, 2018.
• Policy Update NPCA position on S. 511, S. 1284/H.R. 2497, S. 1643, S. 1942, and S. 2490 Oct 2021 NPCA shared the following positions ahead of a legislative hearing held by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks scheduled for October 6th, 2021.
• Spotlight An Insider's Guide to Badlands & Beyond Jan 2021 Badlands National Park is a vast wilderness of jagged buttes, spires and pinnacles, mixed-grass prairies, and the world’s richest trove of fossils from the Oligocene epoch, estimated at 23 to 35 million years old.
• Blog Post A New Model for Parks Could Help Revitalize Texas’ Gulf Coast Jan 2012 | By Jennifer Errick A new national park could provide more than recreation and conservation opportunities. It could actually help lessen the devastation from natural disasters.
• Policy Update Position on H.R. 1791 & H.R. 2991 Apr 2018 NPCA submitted the following positions to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands ahead of a hearing scheduled for April 11, 2018.
• Resource Our National Parks and a Changing Climate | By Karen Hevel-Mingo How NPCA and its supporters are working to address climate change.
• Fact Sheet What Is a National Monument? A brief explanation of what these important public lands are and how they differ from national parks and other sites managed by the federal government.
• Report Investing in Park Futures Executive Summary of The National Parks System Plan: A Blueprint for Tomorrow

Pagination