Everything you need to know about one of nature's great art shows.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most popular national parks in America. Situated between North Carolina and Tennessee, the Smokies are renowned for wildflowers, diverse animal and plant life, and striking mountainscapes. Originally the land of the Cherokee people, the park features numerous trails to explore, ranging from easy hikes to more challenging treks to popular waterfalls. For those who want a truly unique experience, guided horseback rides are also available. In addition to its natural beauty, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also home to a great collection of historic log buildings. These structures provide a fascinating glimpse into the past, and help to bring the park's rich history to

Great Smoky Mountains

Why Leaves Change Colors in the Fall

We partnered with James, @TheEthnicExplorer, to tell you about our Access to the Outdoors Fund! 
Learn more and help us make an impact on our website.

Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over 200,000 acres of protected lands that are haven to deer, songbirds, and black bear, there's so much to explore. Take a hike on one of the many trails through the park, relax in a quiet meadow, or have a picnic lunch with a view. You can also drive the scenic Skyline Drive for stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley. No matter how you choose to spend your time in Shenandoah National Park, you're sure to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Shenandoah

Shenandoah is for EVERYONE - Let's make sure everyone has access to it.

Matthews Hill Loop is a flat and easy family friendly hike on groomed trails through Manassas Battlefield and is #4 on the MNB5 Hiking Challenge.

Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia, preserves the site of two major American Civil War battles: the First Battle of Bull Run, also called the First Battle of Manassas, and the Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Battle of Manassas. It was also where Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson earned his nickname, "Stonewall." The battlefield park is located just south of the city of Manassas and about 30 miles from Washington, D.C. The first battle took place on July 21, 1861, and the second battle was fought on August 28-30, 1862. These were the first major battles of the war and resulted in a Confederate victory in both cases. Today, visitors to the park can see the restored battlefields, museums, and interpretive exhibits that tell the story of these important events in American history.

Manassas 

Manassas Hike #4: Matthews Hill Loop

The Hazel Mountain Loop is challenging with beautiful mountain terrain, ending along the Hazel River.

Hazel Mountain Trail Loop 

Bill Henry shares a little bit about the Blue Ridge Heritage Project which was founded to memorialize displaced families of the park.

Blue Ridge Heritage Project

The greatest philanthropist you never heard of, he helped create over 5,000 schools in the Jim Crow South for Black youth. He deserves a park!

This is not yet a national historical park, but it should be! A campaign is underway to recognize Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools as a National Historical Park. The son of German-Jewish immigrants, Julius Rosenwald was the business genius behind Sears, Roebuck & Co., the Amazon of its day in the early 20th century. When he became rich beyond his dreams, Rosenwald teamed up first with Tuskegee Institute founder Booker T. Washington and then with local African American communities to build schools for their kids throughout the Jim Crow South. Over three decades, nearly 5,000 schools were built across 15 states, educating a third of Black children in the South - giving a head start to luminaries like Congressman John Lewis, writer Maya Angelou and Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson. Rosenwald also founded a fellowship program that awarded grants to a who's-who of Black achievers from Nobel Prize winner Ralph Bunche to singer Marian Anderson. For more information about the campaign, visit rosenwaldpark.org

Julius Rosenwald Schools NHP

Campaign: Let's Honor Julius Rosenwald

Lisa Cooper is an Airbnb host in the area surrounding Cuyahoga National Park. Here she details her experience hosting America's travelers.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a natural treasure spanning 33,000 acres of woodlands, waterfalls, rolling hills and open farmland. It is the ancestral home of the Erie, Wyandot and Seneca tribes. The winding Cuyahoga River, notorious for catching fire 13 times in the 20th century due to severe pollution, has since been substantially restored, thanks to the relentless efforts of environmental activists. The Canal Exploration Center is a great place to learn about the history of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Visitors can also take a scenic train ride through the park and see Bridal Veil Falls and Brandywine Falls.

Cuyahoga Valley

The Healing Power of Cuyahoga

National Park Economic Output: $50 billion.
National Park Budget: $3 billion. 
Something doesn't add up...

The Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior building in Washington, DC, is the home office of the National Park Service.

National Park Service HQ

National Parks are Good for the Economy. So Why Don't We Fund Them?

A brief overview of how Government Shutdowns affect National Parks.

What Happens When National Parks Shut Down?

You should spend days at Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park, but don't skip either one even if you only have a few hours! 

Canyonlands National Park is a breathtaking desert landscape carved by the Colorado River. With towering rock pinnacles, remote canyons and stunning Native American rock art, Canyonlands is a must-see for any traveler. The Island in the Sky mesa offers panoramic views of the park, while the Needles provide a dramatic contrast to the flat landscapes. For those looking for a more adventurous experience, the Maze provides a remote and challenging experience. And no visit to Canyonlands would be complete without seeing the Mesa Arch, one of the most popular features of the park.

Canyonlands

Consider Day Trips to Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park

We found a super-cheap campground just outside of Taos, New Mexico. It makes a great basecamp for a weekend of exploring this storied destination!

Carson National Forest, located in northern New Mexico, is a pristine natural haven of 1.5 million acres of rugged mountains, lush forests, and alpine meadows. This area is the ancestral homeland of several Indigenous peoples including the Taos Pueblo, Picuris Pueblo, Jicarilla Apache, and others. Today it offers a wealth of recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. The forest is home to iconic peaks like Wheeler Peak, New Mexico's highest point. With its rich biodiversity, scenic beauty, and a variety of ecosystems, Carson National Forest stands as a cherished destination for those seeking solace and adventure in the heart of the Southwest.

Carson National Forest

Cheap Camping near Taos, New Mexico

Come spend the night with us in the badlands of New Mexico at Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. Watch to the end for some dramatic hoodoos & formations!

Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, nestled in the high desert of New Mexico, is a surreal landscape that spans 45,000 acres. The remote and rugged landscape is known for its otherworldly rock formations, towering hoodoos, and colorful badlands. Translated from the Navajo language, Bisti (Bis-tie) means "a large area of shale hills." De-Na-Zin (Deh-nah-zin) takes its name from the Navajo words for "cranes." The wilderness preserves a rich geological history, with fossils of ancient creatures embedded in rock formations made of interbedded sandstone, shale, mudstone, coal, and silt. It's a photographer's paradise, especially during sunrise and sunset, when the desert's hues transform into a breathtaking palette of reds, oranges, and purples.

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