National Park After Dark
Audioboom Studios
Hosted by two friends who share a passion for the wilderness and a fascination with what can go wrong there, each week hosts Danielle and Cassie explore the darker side of our National Parks and explore these treasured places in a whole new way - because behind the iconic arches and towering trees lie layered histories, grisly encounters, extraordinary stories of survival, tragic ends and so much more. But it isn’t always chills and thrills. By sharing inspiring tales and their desire for protecting our planet’s wild places, they hope the show will inspire listeners to lace up their own hiking boots and take a walk into the wild to create meaningful adventures of their own.
- 1 hour 29 minutesKilled for a Kiss: Appalachian Trail
In May of 1988 a young couple set out for a weekend of alone time in the woods, but only one would make it out alive. After being viciously gunned down at their campsite off the Appalachian Trail in a heinous act of violence fueled by hate, Claudia Brenner struggled to survive, but ultimately went on to share their story, and went on to become a fierce advocate for LBGTQ safety and justice.
Documentary: In the Hollow
Books: Eight Bullets: One Woman's Story of Surviving Anti-Gay Violence
For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSupport the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!
Thank you to this week’s partners!
3DayBlinds: For their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal, head to http://3DayBlinds.com/NPAD
Coyuchi: Get 15% off your first order when you visit http://Coyuchi.com/NPAD
IQ Bar: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.
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9 March 2026, 4:00 am - 1 minute 25 secondsNational Park After Dark TrailerWelcome to National Park After Dark. Join us every week as we explore the dark side of our beloved National Parks.
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3 March 2026, 4:15 pm - 1 hour 9 minutesAbandoned in the Arctic: Northeast Greenland National Park
In the early 1900s, explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen and a young mechanic named Iver Iversen traveled to northeast Greenland. Their mission? To recover the lost records of a doomed expedition that proved Greenland was a single landmass under Danish control. When their ship was crushed by ice and their crew departed, the mission turned into years of starvation and isolation in what has since become the world’s largest national park.
For a complete list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel opportunities, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSupport the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!
Thank you to this week’s partners!
3DayBlinds: For their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal, head to 3DayBlinds.com/NPAD
Coyuchi: Get 15% off your first order when you visit Coyuchi.com/ NPAD
IQ Bar: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2 March 2026, 5:01 am - 1 hour 31 minutes357: Trail Tales 88 ft. Creeps and Crimes
Today’s stories include haunted cabins, fake moose, symbolic dragonflies, probable alien abductions and a whole lot of yapping. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSupport the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!
Thank you to the week’s partners!
Hollow Socks: For a limited time Hollow Socks is having a Buy 2, Get 2 Free Sale. Head to Hollowsocks.com today to check it out. #HollowSockspodLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26 February 2026, 5:00 am - 1 hour 10 minutes356: Haunted Highway: Route 66
Established in 1926 as one of America’s OG highways, Route 66 linked over 2,000 miles of the country from Illinois to California. Although long since decommissioned, in today’s episode, we make eight stops along the iconic route from mansions to battlefields to visit old haunts of the past.
Sources:
Urge Congress to Support National Historic Trail Designation for Route 66
NPS Preservation ProgramNPS Route 66 - Corridor Preservation Program
For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!Thank you to the week’s partners!
Ka'Chava: Go to https://kachava.com and use code NPAD for 15% off your first order.
Smalls: Smalls New Year’s Special - get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to Smalls.com/NPAD.
Cash App: Download Cash App Today: [https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/ejy661fu] #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Cash App Green, overdraft coverage, borrow, cash back offers and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.
MILL: Try Mill risk-free for 90 days and get $75 off at mill.com/NPAD and use code NPAD at checkout.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
23 February 2026, 5:00 am - 1 hour 1 minute355: What Happened to Sophia Koetsier? Murchison Falls National Park
In October of 2015, 21 year old Dutch medical student Sophia Koetsier vanished inside Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, a place with strong river currents and dangerous wildlife. When Sophia’s belongings were found along the Nile River, investigators were quick to jump to an explanation, but many argue that the scene left more questions than answers.
If you have any information regard Sophia’s disappearance please email [email protected] and visit https://www.findsophia.org
For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!Thank you to the week’s partners!
IM8: Follow our link and use code NPAD for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus 10% off your order.
Naked Wines: To get 6 bottles of wine for $39.99, head to NakedWines.com/NPAD and use code NPAD for both the code AND PASSWORD.
Blueland: Use our link to get 15% off your first order.
IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products and free shipping.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
16 February 2026, 5:00 am - 55 minutes354: Trail Tales 87
Today’s stories include drug smuggling, lightning trauma, beaver attacks, childhood confessions and dirtbag dads. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!Thank you to the week’s partners!
Hello Fresh: Use our link to get get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a
$144.99 value) on your third box.
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Avocado Green Mattress: Get 15% off mattresses at AvocadoGreenMattress.com/NPAD
Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at foratravel.com/NPADLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12 February 2026, 5:00 am - 1 hour 12 minutes353: Access to Adventure: Accessibility in National Parks
We hear “the outdoors are for everyone” a lot, and while that is true, accessibility to the outdoors is not always created equal. Today’s episode is dedicated to two remarkable stories of people with disabilities reaching for history in National Parks. A group of paraplegic hikers who set out to climb Guadalupe Peak in wheelchairs and two kayakers who paddled through the Grand Canyon—facing some of the hardest whitewater in the world—completely blind.
Documentaries: Assault on the Mountain, The Weight of Water, Blink, Wampler’s Ascent
Books: No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon by Buddy Levy and Erik Weihenmayer
Touch the Top of the World by Erik Weihenmayer
Podcasts: No Barriers
For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!Thank you to the week’s partners!
BetterHelp: National Park After Dark is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off.
Butcher Box: Head to ButcherBox.com/NPAD to sign up. New listeners get their choice between filet mignon, ny strip, or chicken breast in every box for a year, free shipping, PLUS $20 off your first box.
Liquid IV: Use our code NPAD at checkout to get 20% off your first order.
3 Day Blinds: For their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal, head to 3DayBlinds.com/NPAD.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9 February 2026, 5:00 am - 1 hour 29 minutes352: The National Forest Serial KillerIn the mid-2000s, hikers began disappearing from national forests across the southeastern United States, with their bodies later found in remote areas of the parks. When investigators compared timelines and locations, a pattern emerged. The disappearances were connected by a man who moved easily through public land, blending into trail culture and exploiting the trust shared between strangers in the outdoors. When a woman vanishes, investigators race against time to find her and the identity of the perpetrator to stop further killings.
Sources:- Wild Crime: Blood Mountain
- https://www.detpress.com/abcnews/shows/wild-crime/episodes
- People.com | Celebrity News, Exclusives, Photos and Videos
- National Forest Serial Killer Confesses to 2007 Dismemberment and Murder of Nurse in Florida: 'It's Time'
- https://www.ajc.com/news/local/crime-scene-photos-request-sparks-privacy-debate/JR2QrnIXxk5ht6UDxX3DAO/
- https://www.rcfp.org/georgia-rushes-pass-crime-photo-exemption-records-law/
- https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/gary-michael-hilton-sentenced-four-life-sentences
For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSupport the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!
Thank you to the week’s partners!
Smalls: Smalls New Year’s Special - get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to Smalls.com/NPAD.
Quince: Use our link to get free shipping and 365-day returns.
IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products and free shipping.
Soul: For 30% off your order, head to GetSoul.com and use code NPAD.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2 February 2026, 5:00 am - 1 hour 11 minutes351: Trail Tales 86
Today’s stories include almost abductions, cemetery shenanigans, shared trauma and men saving (and ruining) the day. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!Thank you to the week’s partners!
Cash App: Download Cash App Today: [https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/ejy661fu] #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Direct Deposit, Overdraft Coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.
Bellesa: EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE WhisperVibe™ OR a FREE Rose toy with any Whisper™ order! https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/nationalparkafterdark-podcast
Ollie: Cozy up with your pup this season! Go to ollie.com/npad and use code npad to get 60% off your first box!
IM8: Follow our link and use code NPAD for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets plus 10% off your order.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29 January 2026, 5:00 am - 1 hour 50 minutes350: Cheers to Five NPAD Years
Take a stroll down memory lane as we reflect on the last five years of NPAD. Come laugh with us (and at us) while we look back on some of the memorable moments that brought us to where we are today.
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!Thank you to the week’s partners!
Naked Wines: To get 6 bottles of wine for $39.99, head to NakedWines.com/NPAD and use code NPAD for both the code AND PASSWORD.
Coyuchi: Get 15% off your first order when you visit Coyuchi.com/npad.
3 Day Blinds: For their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal, head to 3DayBlinds.com/NPAD.
MILL: Try Mill risk-free for 90 days and get $75 off at mill.com/NPAD and use code NPAD at checkout.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26 January 2026, 5:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App