I have one day in GSM (coming by from Gatlinburg)

Current itinerary plan is

Early am start and drive from garlinburg to clingmans dome

Hike kuwohi trail then enjoy a packed coffee and morning breakfast

Hike forney ridge trail to Andrew's bald

Kuwohi visitors center for break and bathrooms plus snack

Head to alum cave trailhead and hike to bluffs

Back to gatlinburg

I would like to hike chimney tops as well but that might be pushing it for only one day.

What are your thoughts?

I'm looking to get some hikes in with views and my husband and I are both physically fit where a 2/3/4 hour hike doesn't bother us.

But we will have a 4+ hour drive home the next day so want to be reasonable in number of hikes to do.

Should I switch one trail out for another? Is one overrated and should be skipped?

Greatly appreciate any input!

Many of us have likely felt overwhelmed by the recent executive orders negatively impacting U.S. national parks. At times, it can feel disheartening, especially since much of this is beyond our direct control. While reaching out to your representatives and spreading awareness are crucial actions, I'm offering a more immediate way to make a difference. Below, I've compiled a list of resources and actionable steps to help support our parks during challenging times:

Support NPS Nation/Region-Wide Non-Profit Partners

These Organizations Support Parks Across the National Park System, or broader regions

National Park Foundation - The National Park Foundation (NPF) is the official charity of the National Park Service (NPS) and its national park sites. The NPF was chartered by Congress in 1967 with a charge to "further the conservation of natural, scenic, historic, scientific, educational, inspirational, or recreational resources for future generations of Americans. "The NPF raises private funds for the benefit of, or in connection with, the activities and services of the National Park Service".

National Parks Conservation Association - The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is the only independent, nonpartisan membership organization devoted exclusively to advocacy on behalf of the NPS system. Its mission is "to protect and enhance America's National Park System for present and future generations."

National Park Trust - We preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow.We acquire the missing pieces of our national parks, the privately owned land located within and adjacent to our national parks’ boundaries. We also bring thousands of kids from under-served communities to our parks; they are our future caretakers of these priceless resources.

National Battlefield Trust - The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters.

National Park Friends Alliance - Our MISSION is to enhance support for national park sites by creating a space for collaboration, creativity, and support of philanthropic partnerships between the National Park Service and their official nonprofits.

Western National Parks Association - In partnership with the National Park Service since 1938, WNPA advances education, interpretation, research, and community engagement to ensure national parks are increasingly valued by all.

Hawaii Pacific Parks Association - HPPA is a nonprofit cooperating association working in partnership with the National Park Service in Hawaiʻi and American Samoa. Proceeds from our park stores support interpretation, educational programs, research projects, publications, and cultural activities.

National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation - As the philanthropic partner of the five national parks of Lake Superior, we inspire people to create meaningful connections with our parks. We do this by providing funding for programming, educational initiatives, and outreach efforts.

Washington's National Park Fund - To raise funds to preserve and enhance the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and recreational opportunities of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks so that they remain vibrant, thriving ecosystems and cherished destinations for future generations.

Support Specific Park Partners

These Organizations Support Specific Parks

• Acadia National Park - Friends of Acadia
• Alaska Gateway National Park - Friends of Alaska Gateway National Park
• Antietam National Battlefield - Antietam Institute
• Arches National Park - Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks
• Badlands National Park - Badlands National Park Conservancy
• Big Bend National Park - Big Bend Conservancy
• Biscayne National Park - Friends of Biscayne Bay
• Capitol Reef National Park - Capitol Reef Natural History Association
• Channel Islands National Park - Channel Islands Park Foundation
• Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park - C&O Canal Trust
• Chimney Rock National Monument - Chimney Rock Interpretive Association
• Congaree National Park - Friends of Congaree Swamp
• Crater Lake National Park - Friends of Crater Lake National Park
• Craters of the Moon National Monument - Craters of the Moon Natural History Association
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• Death Valley National Park - Death Valley Conservancy
• Everglades National Park - Friends of the Everglades
• Fort Laramie National Historic Site - Fort Laramie Historical Association
• Gateway Arch National Park - Gateway Arch Park Foundation
• Glacier National Park - Glacier National Park Conservancy
• Golden Gate National Recreation Area - Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
• Grand Canyon National Park - Grand Canyon Conservancy
• Grant Teton National Park - Grand Teton National Park Foundation (website down)
• Great Sand Dunes National Park - Friends of the Dunes
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Friends of the Smokies
• Hot Springs National Park - Friends of Hot Springs National Park
• Isle Royale National Park - Isle Royale Families and Friends Association
• Joshua Tree National Park - Friends of Joshua Tree
• Katmai National Park - Katmai Conservancy
• Lake Clark National Park - Friends of Dick Proenneke and Lake Clark National Park
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area - Get Outdoors Nevada
• Lassen Volcanic National Park - Lassen Park Foundation
• Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park - Friends of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
• Mammoth Cave National Park - Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park
• Manassas National Battlefield Park - Manassas Battlefield Trust
• Mesa Verde National Park - Mesa Verde Foundation
• Mojave National Preserve - Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association
• Mount Rainier National Park - Mount Rainier National Park Associates
• New River Gorge National Park - Friends of New River
• North Cascades National Park - Friends of the North Cascades Grizzly Bear
• Olympic National Park - Friends of Olympic National Park
• Petrified Forest National Park - Friends of Petrified Forest National Park
• Point Reyes National Seashore - Point Reyes National Seashore Association
• Redwood National and State Parks - Redwood Parks Conservancy
• Rocky Mountain National Park - Rocky Mountain Conservancy
• Saguaro National Park - Friends of Saguaro National Park
• San Juan Islands National Historical Park - Friends of the San Juans
• Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park - Sequoia Parks Conservancy
• Shenandoah National Park - Shenandoah National Park Trust
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Friends of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
• Wind Cave National Park - Friends of Wind Cave National Park
• Yellowstone National Park - Yellowstone Forever
• Yosemite National Park - Yosemite Conservancy
• Zion National Park - Zion National Park Forever Project

In the event of parks having federal funding cut off, or facing government shut downs, these organizations help keep parks running. Many conservation, research, and trail maintenance projects are also supported by these organizations year-round.

Volunteer

Although recent executive orders may affect volunteering through volunteer.gov, many of the organizations I mentioned still offer a range of volunteer opportunities. Depending on your interests and skills, you could help with tasks like staffing visitor center desks, assisting with trail building and maintenance, or supporting retail operations. If you’re near a particular park or nature reserve, there might also be local volunteer roles that directly support these organizations’ missions.

Ways to get more involved:

• Contact the organizations directly to ask about remote or socially-distanced volunteering opportunities.
• See if they need assistance with digital tasks, such as social media, administrative work, or virtual education programs.
• Consider volunteering for special events, educational programs, or fundraising efforts, many of which may still be going ahead despite the changes.

Hi y'all, me and my partner are planning on going to a national park for college spring break and we both want to see snow, we are considering Olympic and would love to hear some alternatives! We chose Olympic because it's versatile which has both coastal and ridge that has snow right now. We both aren't experienced hikers so would love to hear some advices!

National Parks are popular with all regardless of political party, but I feel that many don't know that the terrible things happening to federal employees are also going to greatly affect your visit this summer and beyond to your favorite National Park. While I know personally many agencies and other federal employees are just as important, the mass appeal of the Park Service can't be overlooked.

Just like all others, National Park Service Rangers and employees are being terrorized, demoralized, and told we are "unproductive". Your visit IS going to be affected. Lines will be longer, trails will be closed, campgrounds will be closed, educational programs and tours will be cancelled, bathrooms will be closed, safety will be compromised, and tons and tons of institutional knowledge will be lost, just to name a few problems. Not to mention you will be dealing with rangers and employees, most of whom were extremely passionate about the NPS mission, serving the public, and serving the country, who now are demoralized, scared, and confused about why the leadership of this country is demonizing them. And that is the ones who stay; many can't or won't.

If you care about National Parks at all, if you've ever been inspired at one or enjoyed one with your family, if you've ever taken advantage of America's Best Idea, then you should be horrified about what is currently happening, and you should be standing up and saying it, regardless of your politics.

Hi, as the title said, I'm planning a trip to go to some national parks for the first time and wanted some opinions about my current plan options. For reference, I live in South Jersey and would be driving for the first two plans, but flying for the others. my biggest want for a national park trip is great views and hiking, especially mountains, lakes, and wildlife. I was planning on lodging instead of camping. I was thinking of going in mid-May but have seen some parks are better later in the summer which I'm fine with too, and I'm, planning on an about week long trip but fine with a little longer. I made these plans based on some brief research and trying to group nearby parks together, and avoiding any California parks because of flying cost. Any advice is appreciated! Currently, my possible plans are:

Plan A: Shenandoah National Park, Luray Caverns, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mammoth Cave National Park, New River Gorge National Park.

Plan B: Acadia National Park.

Plan C: Glacier National Park.

Plan D: White Sands National Park, Carldbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe National Park.

Plan E: Olypmic National Park, North Cascades National Park, Mount Ranier National Park, Trillium Lake.

Hi all,

I am traveling to Mexico via FLL toward the end of February. This is a group trip and replaced my original late February vacation plan of Everglades/Biscayne/Key West/Dry Tortugas. But because my connection is overnight anyway, I decided to do a couple days and visit the NE of the Everglades (in the end probably the management areas rather than the park itself) anyway on this trip.

Like most things, Google search just gives me ads or AI generated content, so I figured I'd ask any people in the know here what they would do with a couple days. I am good with 1-2 5 mile hikes per day, am interested in an air boat tour or something if they are cool. Etc. I am also willing to change my plans and just stay somewhere in Homestead and go into the park from there, if it is worth making that change.

Any advice appreciated!

Hey! I am in vegas for a weekend with limited time so can’t go to Zion!

My choice is between either valley of fire state park or mojave national preserve (teutinoa peak trail)

Would anybody be able to reccomend which would be more enjoyable for a roughly 1/2 hour hike? Cooler sights to see etc?

Also, would love to see any ghost towns etc, stuff like that if any recs? I’m seeing a lot of people say red rock state park too if any opinions on that?

Thanks in advance!!

The beautiful Lake District, taken from Helvellyn

Not sure if anybody has posted about this year, so here's details of the system, for this year, that starts April 1. It runs from then to early summer, is paused in summer heat time, then picks up again late summer through fall. That is, I believe, new from previous pilots that ran spring-fall straight through.

So, if you want to experience Fiery Furnace at peak fire, no timed entry ticket this year!

G

Greetings! My partner and I are going on a bit of an impromptu trip this coming week, and we’re looking to spend time in Arches and Canyonlands. We’ll be arriving between 2-3 on Monday and headed out sometime after sunrise on Friday. We have all day Tuesday through Thursday to soak in everything we can.

We’ll both be experiencing these parks for the first time. We’re comfortable doing just about anything under 10 miles and down for a bit of scrambling if needed. Our car is nothing special. She’s no off road queen (though she does have AWD).

As it stands we’re looking to get sites at Devil’s Garden and Island in the Sky, with the potential to stay at one of the BLM sites along the Colorado as well.

Any and all tips and recommendations would be appreciated, be they for the must-see mainstays, or on the often overlooked fringes.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and happy hiking!

I have 2 weeks off and I’m deciding on where to go. I would be sleeping in my van in free campsites most likely. I would be leaving from SoCal. My 2 choices are:

1.) Redwoods NP > Jedediah Smith SP > Samuel H Boardman SP > something else?

2.) Bryce > Capitol Reef > Canyonlands > Arches > Monument Valley

What are your thoughts?

Starting to plan a fall trip to North/South Dakota to visit Badlands, Wind Cave, Roosevelt and it seems like Custer State park and Jewel Cave needs to be added. It will be a 10-ish day trip.

We will be flying into DIK. Realistically, how many days should we plan for Theodore Roosevelt NP? I am assuming based on initial searches that we will be dedicating more time in South Dakota.

Open to suggestions.

Doing a road trip early April. We're trying to figure out if we want to go from Bryce to Monument Valley and stop in Page or go from Bryce to MV and stop at Capitol Reef. The Page route looks like 4.5 hours and the Capitol Reef one looks like 5.5

Hey guys, posting here today cause I just found that my original plan of photographing the lunar eclipse in white sands national park isn’t going to work out.

I really wanna capture something unique, beautiful, and kinda out there. White sands was my original call cause of how otherworldly it would look, but the park closes before the eclipse even starts. This would’ve been my first trip there. So I’m a little bummed

I have a Honda civic and live in Denver. I was picking south cause I don’t wanna drive through the mountains in my tiny lil Honda. But now idk what to do cause the park rangers office says there’s not really any other spot in the area with the white sand dunes like the park itself.

Any other recommendations? Beautiful spots in New Mexico or northwest Arizona?

I’m going to guadalupe national park,white sands national park and carls bad caverns i was wondering if it’s a good idea to stay in el paso since it’s like in the middle of everything and im only going to white sands once and carlsbad once then the rest of the week will be guadalupe mountains

Just wanted to post this here as a heads up for people as they plan their spring breaks and national park trips in March/April.

The US federal government currently has a Continuing Resolution in place until March 14, 2025, which means if a new budget isn't passed before then, national parks will likely be closed until they pass one.

Keep that in mind when booking and try to book refundable tickets and reservations when you can.

Hope it won't happen, but it seems to be becoming more common!

My wife and I wanted to plan a vacation to a national park but now I'm nervous that the new government will ruin it somehow either through budget cuts, staffing issues, or full government shutdown.

Should we still go? Which parks would you recommend? We're looking for something lush, not desert.

I have my first trip to Glacier planned for this summer. I’ve heard about the park entrance restrictions. Is anyone able to shed some light on what I need to do to make sure my trip isn’t a let down?