National Parks

11 Stories

Government

Unkept trails, cancelled programs. Washington state feels the impact of federal forest cuts

Dozens of people across Washington state who worked at national parks and forests have lost their jobs in recent weeks, as part of sweeping overhaul of the federal workforce by President Donald Trump. Those firings could cause ripple effects across state programs that benefit hikers, backpackers, and mountain bikers.
Casey Martin
Government

Wildfire experts in Washington state warn of fallout from Trump’s Forest Service cuts

President Donald Trump has fired more than 3,400 employees at the U.S. Forest Service, raising questions about the capacity of the federal agency to coordinate firefighting efforts this summer.
Andy Hurst

Patricia Murphy
Environment

Mount Rainier's chubby snowbird is now a threatened species

A chubby bird that lives year-round in some of the Pacific Northwest’s most pristine habitats has been added to the nation’s roster of threatened species.
John Ryan
Government

Mount Rainier visitors react to new timed entrance reservation policy

If you want to visit Mount Rainier this summer, the time to plan your trip is now. That’s because for the first time, the park’s most popular entrances will require timed reservations. KUOW spoke to park visitors to hear what they think about the new rule.
Joshua McNichols
Listen 5 mins
Environment

Still a chance to restore grizzly bears in Washington state

The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced the reopening considerations for how to help grizzly bears in the region.
Courtney Flatt
Environment

Hudson Canyon, a giant underwater chasm, could be the newest national marine sanctuary

The site — comparable in size to the Grand Canyon — is about a hundred miles off the coast of New York City. It's home to a number of sensitive species including sperm whales and sea turtles.
Eric McDaniel
Health

A new program in Canada gives doctors the option of prescribing national park visits

And the best part? The annual passes are free.
Sharon Pruitt-Young
National

An Explosion In Visitors Is Threatening The Very Things National Parks Try To Protect

Ever-growing crowds at America's National Parks have prompted some to allow entry by reserved tickets only. Arches National Park in Utah may be next, and there's renewed controversy over that.
Kirk Siegler
Politics

Unexpected Ways The Government Shutdown Might Affect You

In the second week of the federal shutdown, consumers might notice fallout in unexpected places, from poop in national parks to closed museums.
Cat Schuknecht
Politics

National Parks? Many Are Open During The Shutdown. Their Bathrooms? Not So Much

Some state governments and tourism boards have been using their own funds to keep the parks open. Elsewhere, open but unstaffed parks have become something of a free-for-all.
Laurel Wamsley

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