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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 258 | National Park Reservation Systems

By Jess Repanshek - January 21st, 2024
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A line of cars waiting to enter Mount Rainier, photo by Rebecca Latson

Mount Rainier National Park is the most recent unit of the National Park System to announce that you’ll need a reservation to enter the most popular areas of the park during the busy summer months. At the same time, Shenandoah National Park has announced that a pilot program it’s been running for two years for access to Old Rag will be permanent going forward.

Reservation systems to get into national parks are controversial. Many folks argue they hinder spontaneity in travel, others like the assurance of knowing they can get into a national park such as Arches, or Rocky Mountain, or Glacier, at a specific time on a specific day.

To explore the issue of reservations systems in the parks, we’re joined today by Cassidy Jones, the senior visitation manager for the National Parks Conservation Association who keeps an eye on these programs, how they’re operating, and whether they make a difference.

0:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
0:12 Episode Intro with Kurt Repanshek
0:51 Blue Mist - Randy Petersen - The Sounds of Shenandoah
1:13 Interior Federal Credit Union
1:41 Great Smoky Mountains Association
2:07 Episode 258 - National Park Reservation Systems
24:43 Vista Verde - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of Peaks, Plateaus and Canyons
25:02 NPT Promo
25:43 Episode 258 - National Park Reservation Systems Continues
42:41 No’Easter - Nature’s Symphony - The Sounds of Acadia
43:17 Episode Closing
43:40 Orange Tree Productions
44:13 Splitbeard Productions
44:24 National Parks Traveler footer

Comments

Submitted by Jim Medlock on January 24, 2024 - 7:38pm.

Unfortunately it sounded like Ms. Jones had never had the privilege of attempting to enter a National Park using a permit issued by recreation.gov. Ms. Jones sounded like a promoter of daily permits and not representing an organization that works to make National Parks better.

 

I with Kurt had asked her if she had ever tried to purchase or use a daily entry permit. I suspect her comments would have been significantly different. 


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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 271 | Wolverine Recovery in Colorado

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.
Will the discussion include destinations that portray aspects of the country’s history, or cultural melting pot? 

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Composite image of a total solar eclipse from Grand Teton National Park, from NPS Archives

Tens of millions of people in the United States will be able to witness a Total Solar Eclipse on Monday as the rare astronomical event cuts a path from Texas to Maine, up to 122 miles wide in some spots. This is a great opportunity to see the exact moment when the moon fully blocks the sun, creating a blazing corona visible to those observing from the center line of totality.

April 7th, 2024 - Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 268 | Music Inspired By The Parks

Bison at Grand Teton National Park, photo by Rebecca Latson

With March madness down to the Sweet 16, and Opening Day of Major League Baseball having arrived, we’re going to take a break this week and dive into our podcast archives for this week’s show.
 
This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at the National Parks Traveler. My NCAA bracket was busted the very first day, and while the Yankees won their opening day game against the Houston Astros, I don’t think they’ll go undefeated this year.
 

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National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 267 | Padre Island's Sea Turtles

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.