Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park "Short Haul" Operations

The thrills didn't end for a group of 16 Colorado River rafters when high water stranded them at the bottom of Grand Canyon National Park. As the accompanying picture shows, their rescue was just as, if not more, thrilling as bucking the river's rapids.

Grand Canyon National Park Rangers Working to Rescue Stranded Colorado River Rafters

Efforts were under way Sunday evening to rescue 16 Colorado River rafters who apparently were stranded by high water flows in Grand Canyon National Park. Rangers planned to use a helicopter to "short haul" the 16 one-by-one to safety.

MSNBC’s Top 10 National Park Lodges List Draws Curmudgeonly, but Gentle Criticism

MSNBC has compiled a Top 10 National Park Lodges list for the purpose of helping us choose where to “sleep in style on a summer escape to our nation's national parks.” They might want to re-state that. Two of the lodges aren’t in the United States and another is said to be in a park that, technically speaking, doesn’t exist yet.

Man Falls 250 Feet To His Death in Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park rangers were working Friday to recover the body of a young man who accidentally fell about 250 feet to his death from Yaki Point.

Battling Invasive Species in Arches National Park

Our national parks are places of incredible beauty and rich history. But they also are under siege. Across the National Park System, the landscape is being invaded by non-native species that are not just out of place, when you consider what should be growing, but in some cases are actually driving out the natives.

NPR on the National Parks

National Public Radio is on the road in the National Park System this week, visiting both iconic and obscure parks. But is there a chink in NPR's coverage?

“10 Best National Parks”? National Geographic, You Have Got to be Kidding!

National Geographic might be considered a gold standard authority on national parks. Why, then, is a hilariously flawed “10 Best National Parks” list included in a recently published National Geographic book? Is NG testing us to see if we’re paying attention?

Prescribed Fire in Grand Canyon National Park Now Out of Control

Best laid plans literally have gone up in flames in Grand Canyon National Park, where a prescribed fire has blown out of control. The Walla Valley Fire on the park's North Rim is burning across 225 acres and is just 15 percent contained. It's located about 9 miles west of the North Rim's developed area.

Congressman Calls for Emergency Declaration to Protect Grand Canyon National Park from Mining

The chairman of the House national parks subcommittee believes sufficient threat exists to Grand Canyon National Park to withdraw more than 1 million acres from the possibility of being mined for uranium.

Couple That Was Lost In Grand Canyon National Park Had Good Survival Plan

A couple that went missing for nearly a week in a rough and remote corner of Grand Canyon National Park survived by keeping their wits about them and waiting to be found after they realized they were lost.

Missing Couple Found in Grand Canyon National Park

A Salt Lake City couple that got turned around in a remote and rugged section of Grand Canyon National Park has been found. Park rangers plan to interview them today to find out exactly what happened.

Search on For Overdue Hikers In Grand Canyon National Park

A search is under way in Grand Canyon National Park for two Salt Lake City residents who are thought to have headed into the western portion of the park for a 45-mile backpacking trek.

Star Party Scheduled for June 21-28 at Grand Canyon National Park

Star gazers will have an opportunity to scan the heavens from Grand Canyon National Park later in June during a week-long star party that will feature activities on both North and South rims.

CCC To Be Remembered at Grand Canyon National Park

It was 75 years ago that the first Civilian Conservation Corps teams arrived at Grand Canyon National Park. To mark that anniversary, the park is holding a symposium recalling the CCC's efforts in the Southwest.

Free Shuttle Buses Will Make It Easier To Visit The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park

Negotiating the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park during the busy summer season can be a nightmare if you're trying to find a parking spot or crossing the road. With hopes of making it a bit easier this year, the National Park Service is implementing a free shuttle service from Tusayan to the South Rim.

Is Your Backcountry Safety Net A Personal Locator Beacon or Cell Phone?

Do you skimp on backcountry preparations, figuring you've got your trusty personal locator beacon or cell phone to summon help at a moment's notice? It's tempting, no? Why prepare yourself equipment-wise and possibly skill-wise when help is just a push button away?

National Park Search and Rescue: Should the Rescued Help Pay the Bills?

A two-week search for a missing hiker in Yosemite National Park. A search for a missing snowshoer on Mount Rainier. Recovery of bodies from climbing accidents in Grand Teton National Park. A week-long, and unsuccessful, search for a missing 8-year-old at Crater Lake National Park. Each year, thousands of search-and-rescue missions cost the National Park Service millions of dollars. And each year the agency eats the costs.

Public Comment: Grand Canyon Overflights Noise Reduction

As was noted the other day, a coalition of conservation groups has asked that the National Park Service extend the public comment period for the proposed revision of the "natural quiet" definition regarding aircraft over Grand Canyon National Park. Read on to find the link where you can post your comments.

Groups Ask for Extension on Comment Period for Grand Canyon "Natural Quiet" Definition

A coalition of groups has asked that the public comment period on how "natural quiet" is defined at Grand Canyon National Park be extended by 30 days beyond the current May 9 deadline.

In the News: Loss of Cougars in Yosemite National Park, "Uranium Rush" at Grand Canyon National Park

Critics of the National Park Service's mandate to conserve natural resources often say the national parks were not intended to be kept inside bell jars. And that's certainly not happening. Proof can be seen in how the loss of cougars is thought to be adversely affecting Yosemite National Park and the recent rush to find uranium near Grand Canyon National Park.

Traveler's Top 10 Picks For Movies Involving National Parks

Dozens of movies have depicted actors and actresses cavorting, romancing, running, hiding, fighting, and yes, even dying in national parks or places destined to become national parks. Here are ten of Traveler's favorite movies with a national park connection of some sort. Note that we don’t restrict the field to films shot on location in parks.

Adios Amigos: Tales of Sustenance and Purification in the American West.

"River time." It's that blissful oasis reached only by pushing off from terra firma, leaping board a raft, kayak, or canoe, and leaving the real world behind. Preferably for more than an afternoon. In the West, this generally is accomplished by heading for the Middle Fork of the Salmon, the Green, the Selway, or the Lochsa rivers. For those truly lucky souls, it means putting in from Lee's Ferry onto the Colorado River for two or more weeks of riverine solitude.

The Monkey Wrench Gang: Coming to a Theater Near You?

Could it actually be true? Are Doc Sarvis, Bonnie Abbzug, George Washington Hayduke III, and Seldom Seen and their monkey-wrenching exploits in the Southwest really coming to the big screen?

Body Found Below South Rim at Grand Canyon National Park

Condors have led Grand Canyon National Park rangers to a body about 300 feet below the South Rim.

Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West

Though most Americans hardly ever glimpse them, wild horses are synonymous with the American West. From John Wayne Westerns to The Electric Horseman, the iconic horse gallops across our memories, wild and free. But how did they arrive in the West? And how have we coexisted with horses?