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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 228 | Summer Wildfire Outlook In The National Park System

By Jess Repanshek - June 25th, 2023
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An image of a plume of smoke from a forest fire

A winter heavy in snowfall has slowed the start to the wildfire season across parts of the West, although the return of the El Niño weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean could reverse that start and contribute to another smoky summer in the National Park System west of the Continental Divide.

Climate change, coupled with the departure of the La Niña weather pattern over the Pacific Ocean and the arrival of the El Niño pattern, are making it more challenging to predict fire seasons and fire behavior from year to year.  

Last year when we talked with James Wallman, a meteorologist in the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, he said fire managers don’t know what the “new normal” in wildfire seasons and behavior is because “everything is still changing."

With a somewhat slow start to the 2023 fire season in the Southwest, and drier weather patterns over the Northwest, what can we expect from this year's fire season across the National Park System? We’ll be back in a minute with Mr. Wallman to see.

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode Intro with Kurt Repanshek
:57 Vista Verde - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of Peaks, Plateaus and Canyons
1:36 Washington’s National Park Fund
2:09 Yosemite Conservancy
2:32 Great Smoky Mountains Association
2:52 The Everglades Foundation
3:06 Summer Wildfire Outlook in the Park System
14:33 Sieur de Monts - Nature’s Symphony - The Sounds of Acadia
14:47 Traveler Promo
14:59 Potrero Group
15:25 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
15:47 Interior Federal Credit Union
16:07 Friends of Acadia
16:33 Grand Teton National Park Foundation
17:09 Summer Wildfire Outlook in the Park System Continues
34:50 Almost Home - Randy Petersen - The Sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains
35:09 Episode Closing
35:32 Orange Tree Productions
36:05 Splitbeard Productions
36:14 National Parks Traveler footer

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A wolverine climbing on rocks, photo courtesy of NPS

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Catherineberg plantation ruins, Virgin Islands National Park, photo by Kurt Repanshek

Spur a discussion about traveling to a national park for a vacation and odds are that it will revolve around getting out into nature, looking for wildlife, perhaps honing your photography skills, or marveling at incredible vistas.
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An image of a baby sea turtle at Padre Island National Seashore, by Rebecca Latson

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The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.