National Parks Good News, Resources

All of the best good news and inspiration for U.S. national parks

Earth Day! (with an illustrated, colorful planet earth in between the two words)

33 Ideas To Meaningfully Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22nd. We’ve put together the best ideas and activities to help you meaningfully celebrate it...

A woman bends down on the ground in Big Bend National Park, photographing something in the dirt using a smart phone

National park ranger photographs newly-discovered species for the first time while on the job

Alongside a park volunteer, the ranger unearthed a fuzzy new member of the Big Bend ecosystem.

Meteorology equipment in Great Smoky National Park

This 'listening lab' is eavesdropping on national parks to improve your visits

Penn State’s Protected Areas Research Collaborative Listening Lab records sounds that help manage wildlife populations, protect natural sounds, and improve park management.

Two national park rangers smile with two dogs at Saratoga National Historical Park

These are all the national parks where your dog can become a 'BARK Ranger'

At about 150 national park sites — of the 433 under the NPS umbrella — visitors who bring their dogs along can collect an official “BARK Ranger” badge.

A national park ranger in a black wetsuit snorkels in a shallow creek, his face in the water

National park ranger photographs rare species for the first time while snorkeling on the job

Biologist Michael Reichmuth captured something scientists had never photographed before in the wild.

An electronic billboard in Times Square shows a map of the United States and a ticker tracking support for public lands

Taxpayers own 640M acres of public lands. Activists are selling symbolic stock in national parks to protect them

The “Going Public” campaign aims to celebrate Americans’ pride for public lands and inspire people to help protect these national treasures.

Wide landscape shot: The mountains of Utah as the sun is setting.

When national parks were under attack last year, these 60+ outdoor brands stepped in to help

When the National Park System faced heavy budget cuts in 2025, these outdoor fitness brands lent their voice in support.

A beach entrance at Cape Cod National Seashore on a sunny blue sky day

Cape Cod National Seashore is bringing a 445-million-year-old species back from the brink

An ancient species is thriving again at Cape Cod after vanishing for more than a century.

A young Native American girl stands at the edge of a green field

From eviction to co-stewardship: Indigenous communities reclaim park lands

From the Grand Canyon to Yosemite, Indigenous leadership is guiding restoration, protecting land, water, and culture.

An artwork by Mariah Reading, a landscape painting of Acadia National Park on a discarded glove, called "Lend A Hand"

This artist collects trash from national parks — and then paints it: 'A zero-waste practice'

Mariah Reading has been an artist in residence at multiple national park sites, and her work isn’t done yet.

A person walks down a flight of stairs into a cave at Craters of the Moon National Monument

These national monuments are 10 of the best hidden gems in the whole national park system

National monuments are areas of federal land protected for their significant historical, cultural, or scientific importance.

2026 Calendar of Fee Free National Park Days

The eight fee-free days of 2026 — plus more ways to score free or discounted passes at U.S. National Parks