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WASHINGTON – Visitation at America’s national parks broke all-time records in 2014, as the National Park Service prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2016 with a major push to encourage more visitors to experience their national parks in 2016. In 2014, there were 292.8 million visits to national parks, breaking the previous record set in

Blame the relatively mild winter weather for the early emergence of bears in the Greater Yellowstone area. The first confirmed report of grizzly bear activity in Yellowstone occurred on February 9. A grizzly bear was observed late in the afternoon, scavenging on a bison carcass in the central portion of the park. With bears emerging

All 405 national parks will offer free admission from February 14 through 16. “Our presidents have lived, worked and played in national parks,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “This weekend is the perfect time to visit a national park and share a connection with one of our presidents.” Every president has strong associations with

Grand Canyon, AZ –Grand Canyon National Park will be joining national park units across the country in honor of Presidents Day with fee-free entry into the park on Saturday, February 14, 2015 through Monday, February 16, 2015. Park visitors are reminded that fee-free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not affect fees for

BAKER, NV – On November 6, 2014 Cultural Resource Program Manager, Eva Jensen working with the park archaeology team, noticed an object beneath a Juniper tree. Getting a closer look she discovered that is was a rifle. Numerous questions surround the small piece of American heritage in Great Basin National Park. The 132 year-old rifle,

Due to insufficient snowfall and unseasonably warm temperatures, all activities on January 24, 2015 for the Mesa Verde Winter Festival have been canceled. Winter trails will continue to be groomed and maintained for skiing and snowshoeing throughout the winter as conditions permit. The status of the Full Moon Ski and Snowshoe event (see below), on

America’s Best Idea — the national parks — is even better when it’s free! Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free* dates in 2015: January 19 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day February 14-16 – Presidents Day weekend April 18-19 – opening weekend of National Park Week August 25 – National Park Service Birthday September 26 – National Public Lands Day

Snow at Montezuma Castle is highly unusual! Due to unsafe road conditions, Montezuma Castle National Monument was closed Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Source: NPS