America’s National Parks Podcast

Catoctin Mountain Park is one of those National Park Service units that doesn't fit into any category, but its importance in American history could not be any greater. It's home to the famed presidential retreat — Camp David — but lesser known is its place in World War 2 as the secret training camp for the OSS, the predecessor to the CIA.

Hosted by Jason Epperson

Sponsored by L.L.Bean

In this month's national park news round-up, we're covering the new National Monuments, one remembering Emmett Till and the other protecting the area surrounding the Grand Canyon. Plus, two men get lost in Death Valley and hike for miles overnight in the grueling heat, and a plane crash in Denali is presumed to have no survivors.

As the world experiences Christopher Nolan’s new film, Oppenheimer, the world is taking a new look at the development of this great and terrible weapon under the organization of the Manhattan Project.

In this episode, we’re taking a look at the three main sites that would be chosen for the Manhattan Project to develop a bomb that would undoubtedly change the world. America's Secret Cities. 

Visit https://www.nps.gov/mapr/index.htm to learn more about the NPS site covered in this week's episode.

Support this podcast: For only $3 a month, you can support this podcast and our team of writers. https://www.patreon.com/NationalParksPodcast

Set against the backdrop of rolling hills in western Wyoming, Fossil Butte National Monument, like so many other parks, presents a variety of activities. But one exhibit shares the fascinating story of a type of fossil that you probably haven't thought of: Fossilized poop. 

Written by Lauren Eisenberg Davis

Hosted by Jason Epperson

Sponsored by L.L.Bean

At the close of the 2019 visitor season, the JFK National Historic Site closed its doors, the collections were safely secured, and the site prepared for an extensive facelift. The plan involved the installation of an accessible visitor center, along with other much-needed maintenance. Originally set to begin in early 2020, unforeseen hurdles like the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the work to 2022. Now, in 2023, the work is finally reaching completion. Since its opening in 1969, the site has undergone very few major renovations. There was a significant structural project in 1986, involving repair of the basement floors, improving an exterior staircase, and the addition of a small visitor center and retail shop in the basement of JFK's birthplace. However, as years passed, this 1986 visitor center grew outdated and remained inaccessible to many visitors with disabilities. A change was due.

Written By Chris Linn

Hosted By Jason Epperson

Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guide and Campendium www.campendium.com

In this month's national park news round-up, we're covering the difficult situation at Yosemite, where the timed-entry reservation system is gone for the first year since 2019, causing huge traffic problems. Plus hot weather and roaring waters are taking the lives of several visitors to parks, rules on e-bikes, and more. 

Comment on e-bikes here: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=117364

Comment on the Yosemite Traffic Management Plan here:  https://www.nps.gov/yose/getinvolved/visitoraccessmanagement.htm

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Embark on an exploration of the remarkable women who blazed trails within the National Park Service. Join us as we delve into the lives of Betty Reid Soskin, Dr. Beatrice Willard, Florence Bascom, and more. From Betty's groundbreaking role as the oldest park ranger to Dr. Willard's botanical discoveries and Florence's pioneering work in geology, discover the resilience, passion, and enduring contributions of these extraordinary women as they shaped conservation and preserved history, leaving an indelible mark on our national parks. 

Written by Dr. Charlotte Hacker

Hosted by Jason Epperson

Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guide and Campendium www.campendium.com

Arizona conjures up images of desert washes, enormous saguaro cacti with arms stretching to the sky, and endless sunshine regardless of the season. But if you travel north to Flagstaff, the environment changes dramatically. Situated at nearly 7000 feet elevation, Flagstaff is surrounded by Coconino National Forest. The many varieties of evergreen trees in the forest color the area green, even in the winter: spruce, fir, pine, cypress, and juniper – multiple types of each. Snow falls in abundance here, as evidenced by the blizzard of 2023. 

From a national park perspective, this area is dominated by the Grand Canyon in many people’s minds. But a plethora of other National Park Service sites fill this part of the state. 

Nestled on the outskirts of Flagstaff is a pair of national monuments accessed for a single entrance fee. Located seventeen miles apart, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monument preserve two vastly different worlds: cinder fields versus limestone and sandstone pueblos. 

Written by Lauren Eisenberg Davis

Hosted by Jason Epperson

Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guide and Campendium www.campendium.com

In this month's national park news roundup, we're covering all the delayed openings and closures caused by the unprecedented winter snowpack in the West. But it's not all bad news — lakes Mead and Powell are rising, and the Colorado basin states have finally come to an agreement over how to manage their water use. We also share some concerning animal-human interactions in national parks and take a look at an illegal pot farm discovered in Death Valley, an occurrence that happens more often than you might imagine.

Support our sponsors: 

Visit LLBean.com to find your next great piece of outdoor gear. 

Looking for a campground near a National Park? Check out Campendium.com for all the details and reviews to help you find that perfect spot. 

More Ways to Connect:  America's National Parks Facebook Group  America's National Parks on Instagram

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In June 2022, the rivers of Yellowstone's Northern Range unleashed a devastating flood, shattering century-long records and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. This natural disaster not only disrupted park operations but also raised important questions about its cause, the likelihood of future floods, and the need for early detection. In this episode of America's National Parks Podcast, we dive into the aftermath of the flood and explore the efforts to understand, predict, and mitigate such events in Yellowstone National Park.

Written By Chris Linn

Hosted By Jason Epperson

Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guide and Campendium www.campendium.com