National Park Service employees' New Year's resolutions

A new year is a fresh start. It is a chance to try a little harder and be a little better. And the holiday season wouldn't be complete without sharing these intentions. As the calendar turns to 2014, National Park Service employees take a minute to reflect on the past and make plans for next year. Check out their resolutions -- some serious, some silly.

“We send our best wishes to all national park fans across the country,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “We hope your resolutions for the new year include a visit to one of America’s 401 national parks!”

What's your resolution for 2014? Happy New Year!

Experience America's Best Idea: National Park Getaways this week features Lava Beds National Monument

Every week the National Park Service features one of the properties under their jurisdiction, and this week's park, Lava Beds National Monument is "Tucked in the shadow of the Cascade volcanic range . . . is a land of tranquility and solitude built on a history of turmoil and destruction." writes Patrick Taylor, lead interpreter for the park.

The largest volcano in the Cascade range, Medicine Lake, erupted hundreds of times over thousands of years pouring lava from more than 200 vents and flowing through hundreds of lava tubes, the cataclysmic events forming the volcanic playground that makes up the park today.

Today you can explore these now cooled lava tubes, caves, and the now frozen-in-time red-hot lava eruptions that spread out across the park. At Captain Jack's stronghold you can visit where the Modoc Chief - though outnumbered by 10 to 1 - held off the US Army in the middle of winter for five months during the Indian Wars of 1872-1873.

"Despite the apparent isolation of Lava Beds National Monument, people have dwelt here for millennia." Taylor continues. "For more than 10,000 years, humans have lived in the area, from ancient peoples, to the Modoc, to settlers and homesteaders. Evidence of these peoples can be found throughout the monument, such as ancient carvings at Petroglyph Point, paintings at Symbol Bridge, and the writings and litter of early explorers like J.D. Howard."

World famous birding hotspot, Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge is also nearby, and an easy day trip from the park's campground, where you can see thousands of migrating ducks, geese, and other birds.

To learn more visit the Lava Beds website.

National Parks to offer free admission on nine days in 2014

WASHINGTON – Circle the dates on the calendar and plan your trip – America’s 401 national parks will offer free admission on nine days in 2014, including several holidays!

The 2014 entrance fee-free days are:

·        January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

·        February 15-17: Presidents Day weekend

·        April 19-20: National Park Week’s opening weekend

·        August 25: National Park Service’s 98^th birthday

·        September 27: National Public Lands Day

·        November 11: Veterans Day

“America’s national parks welcome more than 280 million visitors a year. To say thanks for that support and invite every American to visit these treasures that they own, we are declaring nine days of free admission next year,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Whether it’s that once-in-a-lifetime family trip to Yellowstone or taking a daily walk along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., or the moment at Central High School that your child suddenly understands what civil rights are all about, national parks offer places for unforgettable experiences.

“National parks not only protect and preserve the places we most value; they also add enormous economic value to nearby communities and the entire nation.  Visitor spending represents a $30 billion annual benefit to the national economy and supports more than 250,000 jobs,” said Jarvis. “Fee-free days are a great way to both thank those visitors and introduce parks to first-timers who can find a new place to call an old favorite.”

With more than 84 million acres of spectacular scenery, 17,000 miles of trails, 5,000 miles of shoreline, 27,000 historic and prehistoric structures, and 100 million museum items and an infinite number of authentic American stories to tell, national parks offer something for every taste.

Those in search of superlatives will find them in national parks including the country’s highest point (in Denali National Park) and lowest point (in Death Valley National Park), deepest lake (Crater Lake National Park), longest cave (Mammoth Cave National Park), tallest trees (Redwood National Park), and highest waterfall (Yosemite National Park).

Normally, 133 national parks charge an entrance fee that ranges from $3 to $25. The entrance fee waiver does not cover amenity or user fees for things like camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.

Other Federal land management agencies that will offer fee-free days in 2014 are:  U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Forest Service and the Army Corps of Engineers.  Please contact each for details.

The National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service also participate in the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass and Federal Recreational Lands Pass programs. These passes provide access to more than 2,000 national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, grasslands, and other federal lands. Four passes are available:

·        free annual pass to current military members and their dependents

·        free lifetime pass for people with permanent disabilities

·        $10 lifetime senior pass for those aged 62 and over

·        $80 annual pass for the general public.

 Click here for more information.

Explore the ruins of this 18th century settlement at Fort Frederica National Monument

By Denise Spear, cultural resource specialist, Fort Frederica National Monument

On the serene, isolated west shore of Georgia’s St. Simons Island, the ruins of an 18th century settlement stand as quiet testimony to a once-flourishing community. A powder magazine overlooks Frederica River, a remnant of British occupation in the New World.

Fort Frederica was established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new Georgia colony from the Spanish in Florida. The excavated foundations of structures remind visitors that the planned community of Frederica served the military garrison quartered there and housed a population of 1,000 from 1736 to 1758.

Oglethorpe's vision in establishing Frederica was rewarded in 1742 during the War of Jenkins' Ear, when Spanish forces from Florida and Cuba landed on St. Simons Island. Oglethorpe's attack on a Spanish reconnaissance party at Gully Hole Creek led to the battle at Bloody Marsh. Despite the name, casualties were light, and the Spanish continued their campaign on St. Simons. Clever deception on Oglethorpe's part convinced the Spanish to retreat from Georgia seven days later.

After the war, the British regiment disbanded, leading to the eventual decline of the civilian population and the town itself. Two centuries of fire, neglect, and the reuse of building materials left the fort and town of Frederica nearly barren. Few structures remained to tell the story.

Archeological investigations, begun in 1947, have uncovered the broad outlines of Frederica and many small treasures left behind by residents of this short-lived community. Using 18th century maps and journals as a guide, archeologists have unearthed many sections of the fort and town site. The resulting excavations provide great insights into Frederica's past.

Today you can stroll through the ruins of the former town site, marvel at the huge trees covered in Spanish moss, and wander the grounds for a glimpse into Frederica's past and colonial history.

Stop by the visitor center, open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, to pick up the park brochure and explore museum exhibits and artifacts. The 23-minute film, “History Uncovered,” shares a good overview of the park. Be sure to ask about the free audio tour before you set out on any self-guided exploration.

The Bloody Marsh Unit of the park commemorates the site where the 42nd Regiment of Foot and Highlanders from Darien defeated a regiment of Havana Grenadiers. This battle was deemed essential in ending the Spanish claim to Georgia. This area, on St. Simon's Island along Demere Road, is open from 8:30 am to 4 pm.

Centrally located on St. Simons Island, Fort Frederica is about an hour and a half drive from either Savannah, Georgia, or Jacksonville, Florida. The archeological remnants of Frederica are protected by the National Park Service. The park is open year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Fort Frederica offers tours, programs, and events throughout the year. Click here for more details on the park and its activities. 

All photos courtesy NPS.

Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, California

By Elizabeth Tucker, lead park ranger, Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Celebrate the “can do” spirit of the American home front at Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park. The park includes many significant historic sites located throughout the city of Richmond, California, just across the bay from San Francisco.

You'll find several options for exploring the rich history of this area. Take a hike or ride a bike along the San Francisco Bay Trail, join a ranger for an in-depth tour of the park, explore the Richmond shoreline by boat/kayak, or discover the incredible stories of the World War II home front workers through exhibits at the visitor education center.

The best way to start your journey is at the recently opened visitor education center. Two award winning orientation films introduce multiple stories of 1940s America and the massive mobilization effort to support the military during World War II. The park has an on-going museum project to collect and preserve the artifacts and stories of the Rosies, the women who worked in non-traditional jobs to support the military effort, and other civilians who worked or volunteered in America during World War II.

(NPS/Luther Bailey)

Meet several of these inspiring Rosies on almost any Friday at the visitor education center where they share their stories and experiences. Attend an unforgettable program with ranger Betty Soskin who relates her WWII-era experiences as a young African American woman working in a segregated union office during the war. Ranger Soskin's program starts at 2 pm on most Tuesdays and Saturdays. On Thursdays at 2 pm, the park hosts a film about the experiences of Richmond's Japanese American families who were forced into internment camps during the war.

Just a one-mile walk from the visitor education center, or a short drive, is the Rosie the Riveter Memorial. The memorial was created by a group of local people dedicated to preserving the history of the Kaiser Shipyards. Their efforts to create this massive public art project helped lead to the establishment Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, dedicated on October 14, 2000, the same day that the Rosie the Riveter Memorial was finished.

(NPS/Luther Bailey)

Visit historic Shipyard #3, the only remaining shipyard of the four built during the war. This yard, now the working Port of Richmond, is the only place to see Kaiser Shipyard structures from the World War II era. Many people drive to the end of the road to climb aboard the Red Oak Victory Ship, but you'll also find a parking lot at the entrance to the shipyard, and an overlook trail that winds up the hill for spectacular views of the bay.

Volunteer docents at the Red Oak Victory ship will take any adventurous visitors on a tour on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm. Scramble up and down the steep ladders inside the last remaining of the 747 ships built in the Kaiser Richmond Shipyards during the war. On the bridge of the ship, the docent might blow the loud air horn and or show how the merchant marines communicated with the engine room on the brass telegraph.

The Maritime Child Development Center, owned by the park's friends group, the Rosie the Riveter Trust, has been fully restored and is once again a school for neighborhood children. One of the classrooms, made available to the National Park Service, has been filled with the actual furniture used by children in the 1940s and displays exhibits about the important role these child care centers played in supporting working mothers during the war.

Other World War II park sites are still under development, such as the historic Kaiser Hospital, Richmond's Fire Station #6, and the Atchison Village Mutual Homes Corporation. These buildings can be seen from the outside, on a self-guided auto tour or on a monthly ranger-guided bus tour (be sure to reserve a seat ahead of time).

There are so many ways to enjoy and explore this national historical park. Please call (510) 232-5050, ext. 0; seven days a week from 10 am to 5 pm if you have any questions not answered on our website. We look forward to seeing you in the park! Read more here.

Buffalo National River offers options any time of year

By Caven Clark, chief of resources and education, Buffalo National River

With so many options for visiting Buffalo National River in Arkansas, finding a starting point can be tough. In springtime, the blossoming redbuds and dogwoods provide spectacular viewing. In autumn, the reds, bronze, and gold colors blaze throughout the park.

For many, the main attraction is the river itself. Expert river runners might decide to hover around the Hailstone section waiting for that one rainfall event that will turn the river into serious whitewater. The casual enthusiast might just lay back and float the slow waters of midsummer in the middle and lower sections. Beyond the river, more than a hundred miles of maintained trails offer a myriad of options for touring by horse or on foot. 

In the Ozarks of north central Arkansas, Buffalo National River is many things to many people. America's first national river runs 135 river miles, beginning not far from its headwaters in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness of the Ozark National Forest, winding its way through Boxley Valley where visitors gather in large numbers for fall elk and color viewing opportunities.

While the Upper Buffalo District is perhaps the most challenging section for kayakers and canoeists, there are still tricky places downstream that make your visit more than a simple float. Constant vigilance and careful planning are needed to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip for you and your family. And plan carefully if you're interested in a summer trip downstream of Roberson's Hole–the entire river goes underground for about a mile nearly every year!

Campgrounds dot the Buffalo River along its length, some more developed than others, all with unique resources to enjoy. Horseback trails and horse camps are available park-wide. Open hayfields perpetuate the pastoral setting of the landscape while dark forests and tall limestone and sandstone bluffs provide the avenue through which the river flows.

Outdoor recreation is a big lure at the Buffalo River. If fishing is your goal, try out some of the less-traveled sections of the river for small-mouth and Ozark bass. Few visitors fly fish, but give it a try for some fast action. Hunting season gets underway in the fall when most floaters are off the river for the year. White-tail deer and turkey are abundant throughout the area.

If staying in a rustic cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps prior to World War II intrigues you, then head east to Buffalo Point, shut off your cell phone, get a fire started, and read your book on the porch. While you're there, hike to the Indian Rockhouse to see a bluff shelter that visitors have enjoyed for the past 7,000 years.

History buffs can explore at least 40 cemeteries in the park, documenting the passings of generations of farm families who earned their livelihood working the sandy bottoms or hard rock uplands.

You may be someone who wants to work off your visit by assisting in one of the park's river clean-ups or other volunteer projects that are vital to maintaining the beauty and integrity of the river corridor.

Clearly, there are too many options for only one visit, so make that visit count. You may be persuaded like so many to come back again…and again.

National Parks Commemorate Veterans Day with Free Admission and Special Events

WASHINGTON: The National Park Service will honor all military veterans with special events and free entrance to all 401 national parks for everyone during the Veterans Day weekend, November 9 through 11.

“Every national park tells a part of the American story, and many of the parks have a direct connection to those who have served in the military through the years,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “I invite everyone to come to a national park to commemorate Veterans Day, whether it is to learn more about those who have given so much to defend our freedoms or to simply enjoy the beauty and majesty of the land they fought to protect.”  

Hallowed places such as Saratoga, Fort McHenry, Vicksburg and the USS Arizona Memorial are among the 94 National Park Service battlefields, military parks, national cemeteries and military-related historic sites that commemorate the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout our country’s history. Additional national parks preserve American icons like the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore and the Liberty Bell which have inspired generations of troops.

“I have been very proud to serve my country as a Marine and now again for the National Park Service,” said Dan Hottle, a combat veteran who is one of thousands of veterans who work for the National Park Service. “Our parks bring out the very best in people from all walks of life, coming together to preserve our most valuable resources for our future generations.” 

Some of the military-related special events taking place during the Veterans Day weekend are:

• The annual illumination of 6,000 gravesites of Union soldiers in the Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Petersburg National Battlefield (Va.)
• Encampments with living history demonstrations at  Colonial National Historical Park (Va.), Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve (Fla.) and Kings Mountain National Military Park (S.C.)
• An open house with Cold War veterans at Minute Man Missile National Historic Site (S.D.)
• The program "A Soldier's View of Wars and Trains" with re-enactors, veterans and active duty armed forces members at Steamtown National Historic Site (Penn.)
• A living military timeline that includes 70 reenactors and contemporary soldiers at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (N.C.)
• Military commemorations and an enlistment ceremony for 20 recruits at Valley Forge National Historical Park (Penn.)

 Other family-friendly programs taking place include:

• A beach walk at Padre Island National Seashore (Texas)
• A 19^th century magic show featuring “curious and innocent diversions for parlor and refined gatherings” at Hampton National Historic Site (Md.)
• A sunset stroll at White Sands National Monument (N.M.)
• The “Wish Upon a Star” program at the Rock Creek Park (Washington, D.C.) planetarium
• A tour of the Paramount Ranch movie set at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (Calif.)
• The making of sweet sorghum molasses at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tenn.)

A full list of all National Park Service events can be found at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/event-search.htm
 
The National Park Service also provides active duty members of the military and their dependents with an annual national park pass, an $80 value, at no charge. Permanently disabled veterans can receive a free lifetime pass to all parks. The passes provides entrance to all national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and many other Federal lands – more than 2,000 in all. The passes can be acquired at any national park that charges an entrance fee. Information about all national park passes is available at www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm

List of National Parks reopened on temporary basis

 

With Congress deadlocked at the start of a new week, Americans and their visitors are paying the price of the stalemate. RVers and other recreationists have been caught in the cross-fire of warring Congressional factions, as National Parks and other federal lands have been shuttered for the duration of the shutdown.

But other entities are trying to pick up the slack. Many state parks around the country have been doing their best to host campers who've lost reservations. And now others are stepping in to pay the 'financial freight' to reopen, at least on a temporary basis, some of the shuttered federal parks. By way of the courtesy of National Public Radio, here's a list of parks that have been temporarily reopened through the kindness of just plain folks, businesses, and state governments.

• The Statue of Liberty - $369,300 for six days from Oct. 12-17 (New York)
• Mount Rushmore National Memorial - $152,000 for 10 days from Oct. 14-23 (South Dakota)
• Grand Canyon - $651,000 for seven days from Oct. 12-18 (Arizona)
• Rocky Mountain National Park - $362,700 for 10 days from Oct. 11-20 (Colorado)

Several of the nation's "crown jewels" are in Utah. Here's a list of Utah national parks reopened for 10 days from Oct. 11-20, thanks to a donation of $1,665,720.80:

• Arches National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Capitol Reef National Park
• Cedar Breaks National Monument
• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
• Natural Bridges National Monument
• Zion National Park.

Park Service's view of federal shutdown

RVers are among the millions affected by the federal government shutdown. Plenty of opinions are being swapped around campfires and Internet groups. But how does Uncle Sam's 'keepers of the parks' view the matter? A news release from the National Park Service gives a hint of emotion buried in the "facts." Here's the release:


Because of the shutdown of the federal government caused by the lapse in appropriations, the National Park Service has closed all 401 national parks and suspended operation of dozens of community assistance programs.

All park grounds, visitor centers, hotels, campgrounds, and park roads – except for thru ways – are closed. All programs are canceled and permits issued for special events on park grounds nationwide are rescinded.

Park visitors in all overnight campgrounds and lodges have been given until no later than 6:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday, October 3 to make other arrangements and leave the park.
National parks will remain closed until the government reopens.

The National Park System hosts more than 282 million people per year, and more than 715,000 people per day in October. Those visitors spend about $76 million per day in communities near national parks.

Examples of impacts of a shutdown of the National Park Service include:

• 15,000 people a day planning to visit the Statue of Liberty will have their reservations cancelled.
• All mule trips in Grand Canyon National Park, an iconic tradition dating back more than 125 years, will be cancelled.
• More than 7,500 people a day coming to enjoy Old Faithful and the other splendors of Yellowstone National Park will be turned away.
• The cancellation of thousands of interpretive and education programs and special events at parks across the country.
• An October shutdown is costing the National Park Service an estimated $450,000 per day in lost revenue from fees collected at entry stations and fees paid for in-park activities such as cave tours, boat rides and camping.
• The shutdown will affect more than 20,000 National Park Service employees, who are furloughed until an appropriation is passed (3,000 employees continue to work, providing essential services, including security, emergency services and firefighting). Additionally, approximately 25,000 concession employees are employed in national parks during the summer and about half of them are still on the job in early October.

Because it will not be maintained, the National Park Service website will be down for the duration of the shutdown, closing off access to 750,000 web pages about national parks and programs. NPS.gov is used extensively for educational purposes and travel planning by 91 million unique visitors every year.

For updates on the shutdown, please visit www.doi.gov/shutdown.

Arkansas Post National Memorial is a state jewel

By Edward E. Wood, Superintendent,
Arkansas Post National Memorial 

The Rifle Pits Trail wanders through woods to a cannon display near the remnants of a Confederate trench dug to resist the overwhelming 1863 Union assault. (NPS photo)

Hidden among the trees along the Arkansas River and its backwaters, Arkansas Post National Memorial is a jewel.

Travelers from Europe often make special plans to include this rural section of the Arkansas Delta in their sojourns across America, but Americans are, more often than not, surprised when they stumble across this small oasis in the vast expanse of agriculture.

Coming from Little Rock, Arkansas, plan on a two-hour drive between thousand-acre fields that produce almost half of all rice grown in the United States.

This beautiful setting is a natural wonderland of tree-covered walking trails, waterways and shaded shorelines. Recreational activities abound, as do numerous varieties of wildlife. Birds are everywhere and include resident and migratory song birds, raptors, and waterfowl. Waters abound with crappie, bass, catfish, brim, and an elusive population of alligators ranging in size from several feet long to massive males that include some of the largest 'gators in the state.


The visitor center is a good place to start your visit. Watch the free 20-minute film, “Echoes of the Past.” It  tells the post's story through the eyes of a grandpa fishing with his grandson.

After taking time to tour the museum exhibits, you need to get outside and immerse yourself in the park. Hike the trails through hardwood forest and examine the remnants of the historic town site. Or test your angling skills on the banks of the Arkansas River (it is recommended that you stay out of the water though).

If you time your visit well, you can enjoy some of the regularly scheduled interpretive programs, guided walks, and demonstrations.

Special events, planned throughout the year, focus on the park's natural and cultural history. The post hosts a number of Civil War and Colonial encampments. A regional favorite, the Ghosts of the Past program takes place on the third Saturday of October each year. Enjoy an evening tour by candlelight that visits the history of Arkansas Post through vignettes portrayed by costumed volunteers. The scenes change each year but the hour-long walk is a unique experience enjoyed by young and old alike.

Arkansas Post National Memorial was designated by Congress in 1960 to recognize almost four hundred years of Euro-American history. However, the story begins much earlier. Long before Europeans arrived, about 9,000 years ago, several Native American tribes called this area home. This legacy is an important part of the park's story.

The recorded history of the Post began in 1686 when the Frenchman Henri de Tonti built his trading post, the first European settlement in the lower Mississippi River Valley, near the Quapaw Indian village of Osotouy. As the small settlement struggled for survival, the Quapaw adopted and protected its occupants from hostile bands of Chickasaw and Osage Indians.

The post has experienced several notable points along its journey to becoming a national memorial. A Revolutionary War skirmish, Colbert's Raid, took place here in 1783. In 1803, the post was one of the few settlements in the Louisiana Purchase when the United States purchased the property from Napoleon, and in 1819, it became the first capital of the Arkansas Territory. This was the scene of the 1863 Civil War Battle of Arkansas Post, when 30,000 Union troops and nine iron-clad gunboats attacked and captured the Confederate Fort Hindman.

Arkansas Post has a colorful and varied history along with its equally colorful natural setting. It's a great place to learn about American history or enjoy the great outdoors. There are wheelchair accessible, hard-surfaced trails throughout the historic area. If fishing is your thing, bring a pole, and an Arkansas fishing license if you're over 16, and drown your hook in the lotus-filled waters that surround the park on three sides.

Bluestone National Scenic River has a lot to offer

By Robin Snyder,
Chief of Interpretation
Quiet solitude and outdoor adventures — West Virginia's Bluestone National Scenic River offers you plenty of both, along with an opportunity to explore the beautiful scenery of southern West Virginia.

Coursing over the blue limestone from which it gets its name, the Bluestone cuts a 1,000-foot gorge through the Appalachian Mountains. This ancient gorge and river system is preserved as an unspoiled living landscape that serves as home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the southern Appalachians.

The Bluestone National Scenic River extends along a 10.5-mile stretch of the Bluestone River nestled between two West Virginia state parks. Today, visitors looking for adventure can enjoy hiking, biking, hunting, and fishing along this pristine river ecosystem.

Outdoor enthusiasts and casual adventurers alike will find the Bluestone Turnpike Trail a perfect fit for an outdoor day trip. This 9.5-mile trail meanders along the river’s bank, following ancient footpaths used by the Cherokee and Shawnee in the 17th and 18th centuries. Along the way, the trail passes the former town site of Lilly, a once thriving town abandoned during the construction of the Bluestone dam. The turnpike offers visitors peaceful solitude and opportunity to spot wildlife such as black bears and wild turkeys.

From this trail, you can hike or ride a bike to Bluestone State Park. Plan ahead, and join a knowledgeable park ranger on a guided hike to learn about the area's history and diverse environment. Late in the season, visitors can enjoy fall colors and cooler temperatures.

Boaters can paddle the calm waters of the Bluestone River from Pipestem Resort State Park to the spring at Bluestone State Park—a particularly enjoyable float in spring and early summer. You'll find river access points at both Pipestem and Bluestone state parks. At Pipestem, visitors are treated to a panoramic aerial view of the gorge as they descend via cable tram to the valley floor.

For a more challenging trip that includes rapids, experienced rafters can put in above Pipestem Resort State Park. Set up your own shuttle between Pipestem and Bluestone State Parks or contact local companies for shuttle services. Driving directions and resources to help plan your trip are available on our website.

Hunters and anglers should feel at home at Bluestone National Scenic River! The Bluestone is well known for its superb warm water fishing. Anglers with a West Virginia fishing permit can catch bluegill, smallmouth, and rock bass from access points along the Bluestone Turnpike Trail. Hunting, administered by West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, is permitted in most areas of the national scenic river. This pristine habitat supports the highest density of wild turkeys on the east coast as well as other game animals.

Whatever level of adventure you seek; young and old alike can get away and enjoy nature and outstanding scenic views on the Bluestone National Scenic River.

Stunning aerial view of Badlands National Park

Take a few minutes to watch this absolutely stunning aerial video of Badlands National Park taken by David Bott and his small, remote control drone. You have never seen this magnificent park look so beautiful. There's even a scene over the park's campground. Don't miss this!

Gallery: Top ten national parks of 2012

Depending on your druthers, here's a top-ten list you may want to use when setting out your RV travel plans as "must sees," or putting on your list for "must avoids because of too many people." Here are the ten most visited national parks in 2012.

#1  Great Smoky Mountains National Park

#2 Grand Canyon National Park

#3 Yosemite National Park

#4 Yellowstone National Park

#5 Rocky Mountain National Park

#6 Zion National Park

#7 Olympic National Park

#8 Grand Teton National Park

#9 Acadia National Park

#10 Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Our thanks to the National Park Service for all images.

Five new National Monument Monuments beckon

If you're one of the many RVers who carry the "National Park Passport," a little booklet that allows you to 'stamp your passport' whenever you visit another National Park or National Monument, get ready to expand your pages.

Earlier this week, President Obama signed off on five new National Monuments, located across the country, that celebrate both natural resources, people, and significant events in the history of the country. "These sites honor the pioneering heroes, spectacular landscapes and rich history that have shaped our extraordinary country," said President Obama. "By designating these national monuments today, we will ensure they will continue to inspire and be enjoyed by generations of Americans to come."

Are any of these new treasures close to your trail?

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in Ohio. The monument will preserve the home of Col. Charles Young (1864–1922), a distinguished officer in the United States Army who was the third African American to graduate from West Point and the first to achieve the rank of Colonel. Young also served as one of the early Army superintendents of Sequoia and General Grant National Parks, before the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916.  The national headquarters of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, of which Col. Young was a member, made the property available for acquisition by the federal government for the purpose of establishing the national monument commemorating Young’s life and accomplishments. The monument, located in Wilberforce, Ohio, will be managed by the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service.

Courtesy wikipedia.org

First State National Monument in Delaware. The monument will tell the story of the early Dutch, Swedish, Finnish and English settlement of the colony of Delaware, as well as Delaware’s role as the first state to ratify the Constitution.  The park is comprised of three historic areas related to Delaware’s rich history:  the Dover Green, the New Castle Court House complex (including the courthouse, Green and Sheriff’s House), and the Woodlawn property in the Brandywine Valley.  The monument will be managed by the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service.

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument in Maryland. The monument commemorates the life of the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad who was responsible for helping enslaved people escape from bondage to freedom.  The new national park, located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, includes large sections of landscapes that are significant to Tubman’s early life in Dorchester County and evocative of her life as a slave and conductor of the Underground Railroad.  The park includes Stewart’s Canal, dug by hand by free and enslaved people between 1810 and the 1830s and where Tubman learned important outdoor skills when she worked in the nearby timbering operations with her father. Lands that are part of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, although part of the new national monument, will continue to be managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument also includes the home site of Jacob Jackson, a free black man who used coded letters to help Tubman communicate with family and others.  The monument will also partner with the State of Maryland’s Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Visitor Center when it opens in 2015.  The monument will be managed by the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service.

Río Grande del Norte National Monument in New Mexico. Located northwest of Taos, the Río Grande del Norte contains stretches of the Río Grande Gorge and extinct volcanoes that rise from the Taos Plateau. The area is known for its spectacular landscapes and recreational opportunities – like rafting, fishing and hiking – and serves as important habitat for many birds and wildlife. The monument is also home to a dense collection of petroglyphs and extraordinary archaeological and cultural resources dating from the Archaic Period to the more recent passage of Hispanic settlers.  The monument will be managed by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management, which currently manages the more than 240,000 acres of the monument.

San Juan Islands National Monument in Washington. Home to bald eagles, orca whales, harbor seals and other rare species, the San Juan Islands is a chain of 450 islands, rocks and pinnacles.  Located in Washington State’s Puget Sound, the archipelago provides an opportunity for visitors, campers, kayakers and birdwatchers to experience the natural beauty of the undeveloped, rugged landscape. A number of historic lighthouses are located on the islands, as well as cultural resources and fossils dating back 12,000 years. The monument will be managed by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management.

History hound? New National Historic Places make the list.

If you're a history loving RVer, here's thirteen new spots to add to your "must visit" list. The National Park Service has designated a baker's dozen new national historic landmarks including an Alabama bridge that was site of “Bloody Sunday” during the civil rights movement, a 400-year-old historic district showcasing the influence of Spanish culture in Puerto Rico, the home of author and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe, and a historic stadium used by Negro league baseball teams in 20th-century segregated America.

"From the Civil War to civil rights, to the struggles and accomplishments of women, African Americans and Latinos, these sites highlight the mosaic of our nation’s historic past," said National Parks Director Jonathan Jarvis. "We are proud to administer the National Historic Landmarks Program to educate and inspire Americans through their country’s rich and complex history."

National historic landmarks are nationally significant historic places that possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. Currently there are 2,540 designated national historic landmarks. Here's the complete list of the new ones:

Camden Amphitheatre and Public Library, Camden, Maine. One of the few public projects of Fletcher Steele, one of America’s premier practitioners of 20th-century landscape design. It is an outstanding representation of the contributions made by the landscape architecture profession, private benefactors, and national associations to develop public landscapes in the United States that celebrated natural regional beauty, scenic character, and rich cultural history.

Camp Nelson Historic and Archeological District, Jessamine County, Ky. One of the nation's largest recruitment and training centers for African American soldiers during the American Civil War, Camp Nelson is also significant as the site of a large refugee camp for the wives and children of the soldiers who were escaping slavery and seeking freedom.

Casa Dra. Concha Meléndez Ramírez, San Juan, Puerto Rico. This was the residence and workspace of Dra. Concha Meléndez Ramírez, a prolific and prominent literary criticism voice in Generación del Treinta (Generation of 1930), a literary movement that shaped Puerto Rico’s 20th-century national cultural identity.

Library of Congress photo

Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma, Ala. On March 7, 1965, civil rights marchers drawing attention to the need for voting rights legislation were attacked by law enforcement officials as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The attack, which came to be known as "Bloody Sunday," contributed to the introduction and passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, considered to be the single most effective piece of civil rights legislation ever passed by the US Congress.

The Epic of American Civilization Murals, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H. These murals are the most important work in the United States by muralist José Clemente Orozco, one of Mexico’s foremost mural artists of the early 20th century. Orozco conceived the murals as a representation of a North American continent characterized by the duality of indigenous and European historical experiences. Though highly controversial in their day, the murals challenged traditional ways of thinking about the development of Aztec and Anglo-American civilizations in North America.

George T. Stagg Distillery, Franklin County, Ky. With resources dating from approximately 1880 to 1953, the George T. Stagg Distillery is a rare, intact example of an operating distillery before, during and after Prohibition. It provides an unparalleled opportunity to study at one site the evolution of buildings and technology associated with the American whiskey industry.

Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Hartford, Conn. Though best known to modern audiences for her antislavery work, Harriet Beecher Stowe was widely recognized in her lifetime as a highly prolific and nationally significant reformer for a wide variety of causes. Her longtime home in Hartford is associated with Stowe’s later career as a reformer on issues relating to the family and women's roles.

Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson, N.J. Hinchliffe Stadium is an exceptional example of a Negro league baseball stadium in 20th-century segregated America. The stadium served as home field for teams such as the New York Black Yankees and the New York Cubans during a period when the institutionalized practice of "separate but equal" facilities was the accepted norm. Eleven current members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame played at Hinchliffe Stadium.

National Park Service

Honey Springs Battlefield, McIntosh and Muskogee Counties, Okla. By far the largest Civil War engagement of the 1861-1865 period of conflict within Indian Territory, the Battle of Honey Springs was the largest battle in Indian Territory in which Native Americans fought as members of both Union and Confederate armies. It is also significant as the first and largest engagement in which Indian troops of both sides fought in the formalized style of Anglo-American warfare.

Old San Juan Historic District/Distrito Histórico del Viejo San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Old San Juan is the only existing representation of an almost 400-year-old Spanish Colonial city in the United States, and contains the largest collection of buildings representing four centuries of Spanish culture, religion, politics, and architecture. It is the oldest city within the United States and its territories, and the district includes the oldest house, Christian church, executive mansion, convent, and military defenses in the country as well.

Pear Valley, Eastville, Va. Dating to 1740, the wood-frame house known as Pear Valley is an excellent, rare surviving example of the distinctive form of architecture that developed in the Chesapeake Bay region, illustrating how early settlers in the colonies adapted to their new environment.

Second Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Ill. The Second Presbyterian Church represents the visual and philosophical precepts of the turn of the century Arts and Crafts design movement.  Its interior, the masterwork of noted architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, presents some of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts mural painting, sculpture, stained glass and crafting in metals, fabrics, wood and plaster.

Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. One of the country’s oldest artists' retreats, Yaddo has hosted more than 6,000 influential writers, visual artists and composers who shaped and imprinted American culture with a distinct national identity in the 20th century. Among the notable artists who have worked at Yaddo are Aaron Copland, Truman Capote, Leonard Bernstein, Flannery O’Connor, Sylvia Plath and Langston Hughes.

Salazar also announced the acceptance of updated documentation and a boundary revision for the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg, Pa.

Additional information on the designations can be found at www.nps.gov/history/nhl.

From coast to coast, national parks hit by budget bickering

With Congress deadlocked, the financial sequester is now under way. Wondering what effect the Washington-generated chaos will have on your favorite national park? Examiner.com released a story regarding preliminary impacts.

Blue Ridge Parkway will cut 21 seasonal interpretive ranger programs, resulting in the closure of 50 percent of its visitor centers and contact stations. Eliminating seven stations will put 80 miles between open facilities along the parkway, severely reducing the interpretive information available to visitors.

Gettysburg National Military Park will eliminate 20 percent of its Student Education Programs this spring, canceling field trips for 2,400 students.

Glacier National Park will delay the reopening of Going-to-the-Sun Road by two weeks. Previous closures of the road resulted in lost revenue for surrounding communities and concessions of $1 million per day, a potentially devastating blow to businesses that depend on the park for tourism dollars.

Mount Rainier National Park will close its Ohanapecosh Visitor Center permanently, eliminating this resource for 60,000-85,000 visitors annually.

Grand Canyon National Park will delay the seasonal opening of its East and West Rim Drives, and reduce hours of operation at the main visitor center – impacting a quarter of a million visitors.

Lassen Volcanic National Park in California will keep its main road and campgrounds closed for an additional two weeks this spring, and close the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center for two days each week. The Red Bluff Daily News reports that this will affect 1,100 schoolchildren who would normally visit the park during these weeks, and the park will lose about $156,000 in revenue.

Shenandoah National Park has delayed the opening of campgrounds, picnic areas, and visitor centers, as well as the hiring of seasonal employees.

For the entire story, visit examiner.com