THIS WEEK’S STORIES:
• Pride flag removed at Stonewall National Monument following new federal guidance
• New Interior Department communication rules reshape how parks share information
• A possible new national park along the Los Angeles coast enters public comment
• Special resource study launched on historic lynching sites in the Memphis area
• Historic restoration underway at Grand Canyon’s Lookout Studio
• Olympic marmot may be headed toward Endangered Species Act protection
• Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall “Firefall” returns for 2026
• Oregon State Parks visitation dips after years of record crowds

If you care about national parks, public lands, and the stories shaping how we experience these places — subscribe for weekly coverage and deeper context behind the headlines.

Comment on the LA Coastline National Park Study: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsOpenForReview.cfm?projectID=133718&parkID=415

Comment on the Memphis Lynching Site Study: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsOpenForReview.cfm?projectID=124261&parkID=415

Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

At the turn of the 20th century, the American Chestnut tree was the most important plant in the eastern United States, accounting for over 25% of the forest canopy. But in a period of just 50 years, a mysterious blight, an imported fungus, swept the country and killed over four billion trees.

Join Jason Epperson for Parkography as we explore the rise and fall of the majestic American Chestnut and the incredible, ongoing effort to bring the species back. A major part of this mission is taking place on one of our nation’s most hallowed grounds: the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Learn about the tree's vital role in the American landscape and economy, the devastating chestnut blight, and the pioneering "backcross" technique scientists and volunteers are using to plant blight-resistant seedlings in the memory of American heroes.

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 on Parkography, we look at the Trump administration’s directive that’s leading to the removal of exhibits and signs about slavery, Native American displacement, labor history, and climate change at national parks across the country. We also examine new polling showing strong bipartisan opposition in Western states to the nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, and a lawsuit challenging new federal rules that limit public input on logging, drilling, and wildlife management projects in national forests.

We’ll also cover new policies making it easier to lease public lands for oil and gas development — even as recent federal lease sales in Colorado draw zero bids — and a major reorganization of federal wildfire programs with the launch of a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service.

On the ground, we’re tracking a record year for search and rescue at Yosemite, recent vandalism near Bridalveil Fall, illegal off-road driving that damaged rare desert plants at Death Valley’s Eureka Dunes, and adaptive reopening plans for the Grand Canyon’s North Rim after last year’s wildfire.

And we’ll end with some good news: a surprise dinosaur fossil discovery at Dinosaur National Monument and major restoration projects underway at memorials and fountains across Washington, D.C. ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.

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

The video on explaining passes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBfqPOoEu4w&t=357s

Check out our other channels focused on RV travel: 
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00:00 Intro
01:10 Exhibits Removed From National Parks
06:31 Controversial Nominee for Bureau of Land Management
08:43 Lawsuit Against New Federal Rules on Public Lands
10:24 Expanding Oil and Gas Development in National Forests
12:20 Unified US Wildland Fire Service
13:26 Updates on National Park Service Sites
16:55 Dinosaur Fossils and Restoration Projects
18:09 Conclusion and Farewell

When Toni Henthorn fell to her death during an anniversary hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, it was first reported as a tragic accident in rugged terrain. But almost immediately, park rangers noticed that the scene didn’t match the story. The location was far from the trail, the drop was steeper than described, and photographs taken just minutes before the fall raised troubling questions.

As investigators began to dig deeper, they uncovered another death years earlier — one that had also been ruled an accident, and that now looked disturbingly similar. What followed was a long and complex investigation that would ultimately lead to a murder conviction and expose how a carefully planned crime unfolded in one of America’s most visited national parks.

In this episode of Parkography, we examine the evidence, the investigation, and the critical role that park rangers and forensic analysis played in uncovering the truth behind a case that shocked both the National Park Service and the public.

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, I'm again breaking down the various types of passes available for national parks and other federal recreation areas, now updated with the new non-resident pass and non-resident fees. We have all of the details about how that will work for residents and non-residents alike.  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
00:26 Major Changes to Passes in 2026
01:00 Understanding Interagency Passes
02:08 Annual Pass Details
05:49 Non-Resident Fees and Passes
09:25 Digital vs. Physical Passes
13:10 Special Passes: Senior, Access, and Military
19:20 Purchasing and Using Passes
21:59 Common Questions and Tips
24:37 Conclusion

The Grand Canyon's South Rim has closed lodging due to significant waterline breaks, while Theodore Roosevelt National Park completed a $51 million road rehabilitation project. The Interior Department is reviewing park merchandise to remove DEI themes, and the 'American Products in Parks Act' was introduced to mandate that all products sold in National Park Service gift shops be American-made. Additionally, Arkansas is creating a new state park at Blanchard Springs, and Florida State Parks need $760 million in repairs. New Jersey is rebranding its state parks in preparation for the USA's 250th birthday. Finally, there are concerns about reduced wildfire mitigation efforts on US Forest Service land.

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

The video on explaining passes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBfqPOoEu4w&t=357s

Check out our other channels focused on RV travel: 
 @RVMiles  
 @RVMilesPodcast ​

00:00 Introduction
00:07 Grand Canyon Waterline Issues
02:05 Theodore Roosevelt National Park Road Rehabilitation
02:59 National Park Service Merchandise Review
04:29 American Products in Parks Act
05:55 Sponsored Segment: Slinky Stove
06:33 Arkansas's Newest State Park: Blanchard Springs
07:22 Florida State Parks Infrastructure Needs
08:07 New Jersey State Parks Rebranding
09:15 Wildfire Mitigation and Forest Service Staffing
10:59 National Helicopter Repel Program Achievements
14:11 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode, how three young boys petitioned the Department of the Interior to open the gates to Yellowstone National Park each Christmas Eve, in anticipation of Santa's annual visit. 

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: National park entrance is about to get much more expensive for foreign visitors, plus digital passes are here, 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

The video on explaining passes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBfqPOoEu4w&t=357s

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