Utah’s Mighty 5: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands & Capitol Reef
Utah may boast the American West’s most diverse topography, ranging from snowy peaks and alpine forests to magnificent canyons, high desert scenery, slickrock mesas and a wealth of outdoor opportunities awaiting intrepid adventurers.
Your Guide to National Park Camping in Alaska
Having the chance to walk on glaciers is just one of the many reasons to camp out in Alaska’s national parks. Pull up a tent and stay awhile to enjoy the state’s rugged, desperately beautiful wilderness; they’ll even leave the summer sunlight on for you.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, Recently Impacted by the Dixie Fire, Has Always Been Molded by Heat
On a clear July afternoon, the repaving of the road through Lassen Volcanic National Park is halfway finished. The work – and the new road – stops near one of the trail entrances for the highest peak in the park, the eponymous Lassen Peak.
Where in the West Should I Go? • 52 Places to Visit in 2022
From cities and towns to national parks and lesser-known landscapes, this inaugural special section has your 2022 travel through the West covered! We’ve curated a list of 52 places to visit this year – four in each of the 13 states we cover. If you travel at a breakneck pace, that’s one a week. Let this guide serve as inspiration and enjoy the West!
Big Landscapes at Big Bend
There’s no swinging by Big Bend National Park. The nearest “big city” is Fort Stockton, Texas, population 8,378, more than 100 miles north. No, anyone who ends up at Big Bend is going to Big Bend.
New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands
A trip to New Mexico should certainly include stops at Carlsbad Caverns, which will take you underground into a world of wonder, and White Sands, one of our newest national parks and a marvel in its own right.
Gem of Nevada Lies Along America’s Starriest Highway
In the middle of the high desert of the Great Basin lies one of America’s hidden gems, which is home to Nevada’s second tallest mountain, ancient trees and some of the darkest night skies in the country.
Biologists to Capture Grizzly Bears for Research in Yellowstone
Grizzly bear capture operations have been underway in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem since Aug. 9 and will continue through Oct. 28.
Pecos National Historical Park Offers Fall Fishing Permits
Pecos National Historic Park in New Mexico will offer fall fishing permits for the Pecos River within park boundaries. The season runs from Sept. 8 to Nov. 14.
Rewilding the American West Report Suggests Wolf Restoration
A first-of-its-kind analysis by 20 leading scientists has identified a network of 11 federally owned reserves where wolves and beavers could be restored across the American West.
Death Valley Experiences 1,000-Year Rain Event, Closes Due to Flooding
A historic rain drenched Death Valley National Park in early August with a year’s worth of rain falling in just three hours, causing widespread flood damage and a closure of all park roads.
Artists of Yosemite National Park Leave Lasting Legacy
Many 19th century artists who documented the natural beauty of Yosemite National Park using paint brushes and cameras left a legacy still treasured today. Their work even fueled the expansion of the West.
Peering Into Yosemite, A “Repository of Sanity”
No one is more associated with Yosemite than John Muir – not even, alas, the Ahwahneechee people, who still live in the area. Yet there is no record of Muir’s reaction to seeing the valley for the first time, in the spring of 1868. Perhaps our great national wilderness prophet was struck speechless at the sight.
Michael Rosato – Muralist for the National Parks
Few places celebrate Mother Nature as uniquely as Bryce Canyon National Park. The spires and hoodoos, the pinks and crimsons, the Grand Staircase.
Black Canyon, Mesa Verde and Monument Valley
Fine art prints of Western landscapes by Lu Anne Tyrrell.
Can You Hear Me Now
A photograph taken by Randall Ball in California’s Adobe Valley on June 2.
The Silence is Deafening
A painting of Yellowstone National Park by Joel Patience.