However, every now and then, a visit to a park leaves someone unhappy. The social media team at Joshua Tree National Park is tackling that head-on with their own reviews of bad reviews. 

Here are a few great responses to people who are less than happy to visit the desert.

From @JoshuaTreeNPS:

“I dislike the outdoors.” Two stars. My dude, WHY are you going outdoors then?

From @JoshuaTreeNPS:

“Never been here.” One star. PLEASE, just give us a chance.

From @JoshuaTreeNPS:

“Little to no true JT’s.” 4 stars. This is true; of our many plants, only some are truly Joshua trees.

From @JoshuaTreeNPS:

“Same tree over and over.” 3 stars. Totally, it’s like a forest.

From @JoshuaTreeNPS:

“More JT’s by Grandpa’s house.” We give this 5 stars. Also, where does gramps live because we want to cruise this highway.

From @JoshuaTreeNPS:

“Hot and boring. Too rocky.” We give this review 3 stars. Hot? Absolutely. Boring? That’s a choice. Too rocky? We do have, like, A LOT of rocks.

Do you love bad reviews about national parks? You’ll love these posters.

The post ‘Hot and boring. Too Rocky’: Joshua Tree National Park Responds to Bad Reviews With Hilarious Comments appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

When it comes to national parks, Denali puts up some pretty impressive numbers. It’s the most popular national park in Alaska, it’s the third-largest U.S. national park with nearly 4.8 million acres, and it’s home to the highest peak in North America.

And there’s a lot more to it than just that. Read on to learn five things you didn’t know about Denali National Park. 

5. The park was originally called “McKinley” because of the gold standard

Denali National Park was named after the highest peak in the park, Mount Denali, which was the name given by the Native Americans. In the Koyukon language, the term means “the high one.” For a long time, though, neither the park nor the mountain was officially recognized that way by the federal government. 

As the story goes, a gold prospector started calling the mountain “Mount McKinley” circa 1896 because the then-presidential candidate William McKinley supported the gold standard. Many followed suit using the unofficial name, especially after he was elected president and assassinated a few years later. Then, when the land was established as a national park in 1917, it was named Mount McKinley National Park to commemorate the late president.   

Of course, the name change never sat well with the locals. Jump ahead to 1975, the Alaska Board of Geographic Names changed the name of the mountain back to Denali and tried to exert influence over federal lawmakers to do the same. In 1980, lawmakers combined Mount McKinley National Park with the Denali National Monument and renamed the area Denali National Park and Preserve. 

However, the federal government didn’t fully recognize Denali as the official name of the mountain until 2015, when President Barack Obama called it that and directed the Department of Interior to officially rename it. 

4. Mount Denali is harder to climb than Everest

Standing 20,310 feet tall, Mount Denali is the highest point in all of North America and belongs to a collection of peaks called “The Seven Summits,” a mountaineering term referring to the highest points on each of the seven continents. Although Denali ranks as the third highest of the seven, some argue that it’s the most difficult. 

According to Seven Summits, a company that guides people to complete mountaineering expeditions, Denali is the most strenuous, because climbing it requires a high level of skill and expertise for navigating glaciers, rope team travel, and carrying heavier loads. 

Plus, the weather is unpredictable around Denali year-round. According to the National Park System (NPS), the weather in the park has a wide range of temperatures and conditions. When the sun is out, it can be hot, but at higher elevations, it can be negative 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, wind is the biggest danger on the mountain. The winds, which have been clocked at 100 mph, are so strong that they will not only knock you off balance, but they’ll also accelerate the frostbite process, even amid milder temperatures. 

While Mount Everest is incredibly dangerous — the cold and lack of oxygen make it deadly — hundreds of people complete the trek each year. 

3. It’s the only national park with a working dog sled kennel

Dog sledding is rooted in Denali’s history. According to NPS, when Charles Sheldon studied Dall sheep in the area that would later become the park, he hired veteran Alaskan dog musher Harry Karstens to guide him. 

Years later, after Sheldon successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress to establish the federal land as a national park, Karstens became Denali’s first park ranger. In that role, he patrolled the grounds using dog sleds and significantly reduced wildlife poaching. Since then, the park hired more rangers and added more dog kennels around the lands. 

Today, rangers continue to navigate the park using dog sleds. The kennels have also become a major tourist attraction. 

2. Denali has some 600 earthquakes a year

According to NPS, Denali National Park has about 600 earthquakes a year — that’s approximately 1.6 earthquakes each day — because of active plate tectonics. However, most people in the area never feel them. 

The park service explained that about 70% of the quakes average between magnitude 1.5 and 2.5, meaning they’re small and can’t be felt, but they can still be recorded by a ​​seismograph. Additionally, they almost all happen 54-75 miles below the earth’s surface. 

1. You’ll find America’s “Big 5” at Denali

The “Big 5” refers to the five biggest or most domineering mammals in an area. Denali’s Big 5 include moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, and wolves, and that’s not all there is to see at the park. 

According to park officials, scientists have documented 39 species of mammals at the park, along with 172 birds, 14 fish, and one species of amphibian (the wood frog). Additionally, they’ve identified 758 vascular plants, eight trees, 380 mosses, 119 liverworts, and 442 lichens. 

Read more facts about the national parks:

• Great Smoky Mountain National Park
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Isle Royale National Park
• Big Bend National Park
• Zion National Park
• Voyageurs National Park
• Glacier National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Grand Canyon National Park

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The post 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Denali National Park appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

According to a social media post, the national park is working to partially reopen on October 15. The proposed plan would be for the park’s west side and include the entrance through Lone Pine, California, along CA-136, giving visitors access to Penamint Springs, Stovepipe Wells Villages and the Furnace Creek area. 

The park closed after Tropical Storm Hilary hit August 19. Over 400 people were trapped inside the park boundaries after flash flooding tore up roadways and was debris over others. NPS crews and road construction teams from the State of California worked to clear a path to give people a way out. Since then, the NPS has sent employees from other parks to help in the process of reopening.

However, for Death Valley’s targeted reopening, they need several things to fall into place. First, park officials say they must avoid further weather complications that could slow work progress. Second, the park must receive all the road materials needed to complete the roads that still need repairs. 

In late October, temperatures usually drop enough in the park to increase visitors and kick off the camping season.

Visitors should expect traffic delays in the park as work will be ongoing. So far, there has yet to be an announced timeline for opening the park’s eastern half.

In their release, Death Valley National Park officials say, “On behalf of the staff and partners of Death Valley National Park, we are grateful for your patience and support as we have been working to reopen the park.”

The post Death Valley National Park Announces Possible Reopening Date appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Experiencing the Rut First-Hand

While all animals in the deer family, including moose and mule deer, go through the rut each fall, none is quite as impressive as the elk (wapiti). A bugle, the guttural sound a male makes throughout the rut season, can be heard beginning at the end of August through October. 

The bugle itself changes throughout the rut. As bull elk shed their velvet, they bugle short high sounds to locate females (cows) within distance and communicate with other bulls. As daylight shortens, the call changes in both sound and meaning. The short bugle becomes louder, longer, and more frequent. Sometimes referred to as more of a “scream,” this call establishes territory and dominance. This call is most often bull to bull, but a cow knows that it means to stay close to her chosen bull. 

It was in search of hearing this noise in person that brought me, my husband, and our then four-year-old daughter to Rocky Mountain National Park during rut season for the first time back in 2017. Ever since that first early-morning experience of hearing bull elk going back and forth with each other across the mountainside, we have headed to the park yearly to watch the machismo and delight in the bellows. Seeing a male stand his ground, corralling his group of females while another male approaches is nature at its finest. 

The calls of bulls in the middle of the night while snuggled in a tent in early September, the sound of a bugle carrying through the valley while on a hike, bulls chasing females back to the herd, two bulls fighting over a cow—we have experienced all these memorable moments within the park. But nothing can replace that first experience and the delight when we heard that first call. 

The rut is just one interesting animal behavior to watch out for this fall while you’re exploring the outdoors. Here are a few more.

Migration 

Migratory birds begin their journey south for the winter in the fall months. Some birds head straight south, while some make stops during the long journey. If you notice different birds in your area during autumn that seem to only make a short stay, it’s probably a species that needs to stop for rest, eat, or even molt. For instance, eared grebes flock to the Great Salt Lake in Utah, while warblers stop to rest in cottonwoods while the leaves turn bright yellow. 

Some animals are nomadic migrators that move seasonally but not over long distances.  If you are spending time outdoors, you may see these animals making their journey to warmer climates. 

Pronghorn migrate to lower elevation areas, along with mule deer and elk, for milder weather and more access to food during the winter. American bison often migrate south for more open areas for grazing.

Hyperphagia and Food Intake

In North America, bears begin hyperphagia in preparation for winter sleep or “torpor.” This means they drink and eat as much as possible throughout the day. While bears are most active in the early morning and late evening hours in spring and summer, during the fall, they are more active throughout the day, meaning there are more chances for sightings. For this reason, it is important to be extra diligent with food and trash, making sure it is stored and disposed of properly. 

You may see other mammals, including marmots and woodchucks, hunting for food throughout the day during these transitional months. These animals are also trying to build up reserves of fat within their bodies to help get them through the cold months. 

Animals like mule deer that stay active during the winter also tend to eat more food before the season sets in to build up energy reserves. This allows them to be more sedentary, lower their heart and respiratory rates, and conserve heat as they battle the elements of winter.

Scatter-Hoarding and Larder-Hoarding

Scatter-hoarding refers to the act of spreading food items across many hiding places. Birds and small mammals use this technique to make sure they do not go hungry over the cold months when food is scarce. Squirrels are notorious for taking nuts and hiding or burying them. 

Blue jays are also known to use a wide area of space to scatter acorns—sometimes as far as a mile long. Scatter-hoarding is also helpful for germination and seed dispersal, allowing for plant populations to continue to thrive and stay healthy. 

Larder-hoarding is when an animal puts food items in one place for consumption at a later time. Larder-hoarding animals will bury their food stores to hide it from other animals. Food stores are often near where the animal calls home, like its nest or burrow. 

Winter Coats 

Animals that do not hibernate or migrate in any form go through a change in coat to help them survive the winter. These changes typically begin in October, peaking in November, depending on altitude and climate. There are two benefits to changing to a winter coat. The first is that these coats are often a lighter color than summer coats. For animals like the arctic fox and snowshoe hare, their white winter coats help camouflage the mammals from predators. It also is beneficial for the animals to blend in when they are on the hunt for their own food. 

Mammals, including bison, deer, and moose, grow a thicker multi-layer coat during the winter. The underlayer (underfur) is thick and provides much-needed insulation from the snow and cold temperatures. Guard hairs grow on top of the underfur to provide a waterproof layer and to protect the underfur from wear and tear.

The transition from summer to winter is a big one for the animal kingdom. For outdoor lovers, fall is for more than just foliage; it’s for observing the incredible changes taking place among the wildlife in whatever area you’re exploring. Which transition is your favorite to observe?

The post Rut Season at Rocky Mountain National Park, Plus Other Fall Animal Behavior appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Numerous studies prove spending time outdoors is packed with mental health benefits. Even more surprising, newer studies show simply looking at nature may have positive results. In the study shared earlier this year, around 50 college students were exposed to nature virtually. As a result, many had decreased anxiety. The study found those who were passionate about the outdoors benefited even more from the virtual experience.

So whether you just like to watch live cameras or need a mental vacation, here are some of the best livestreams you can find on Explore.org. 

Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park

If you love grizzly bears, fishing, or grizzly bears fishing, this is the camera for you. Positioned in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, the camera often captures grizzly bears fishing for salmon. A few other types of wildlife occasionally show up as well, but the bears are the highlight. The best part is it’s relatively easy to catch a glimpse of some bears, even in the dark and early hours of the Alaskan morning.

Orcalab in British Columbia

This is the destination for foggy seaside cameras capturing the Pacific coast. Orcalab is an organization that has studied whales for five decades. The organization’s set of cameras gives viewers worldwide an occasional glimpse of a pod of orcas moving through the area. Other wildlife you could spot include sea birds, dolphins, and sea lions.

Northern Lights in Manitoba, Canada

This camera located in far northern Canada is something you’ll have to keep in mind for the evening. The camera is positioned directly under the aurora oval, one of the best places to spot the aurora borealis or Northern Lights. Outside the Churchill Northern Studies Center, the daytime livestream won’t bring much, but good things come to those who wait. Be sure to watch this camera closely, especially in late winter and early spring.

Underwater Manatee-Cam at Blue Spring State Park, Florida

For some relaxing zen moments, few animals are gentler and more calming to watch than a manatee. The animal, nicknamed sea cow, quietly grazes underwater. This camera at a Florida state park is a great way to see the animals up close. The warm spring water at the park attracts hundreds of manatees a year.

Waimea Bay Cam in Oahu, Hawaii

You can go on vacation from your desk chair with this live stream on the north shore of Oahu. The beach is known as the birthplace of big wave surfing, so expect to catch a talented surfer shredding the massive swells occasionally. If nothing else, watching the relaxing crashing of the waves almost lets you smell the salty air. 

Have you checked out any livestreams on Explore.org? Which is your favorite?

The post How to Get Outdoors When You’re Stuck at Work: The Best Livestreams to Enjoy From Your Desk appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

With two rims offering very different views, you’ll be able to head to the Grand Canyon multiple times and experience different views and vivid imagery that cannot be compared to one another. They do call it the Grand Canyon, after all.

Here are five facts you may not have known about this incredible place.

5. The Exact Age of the Grand Canyon Is Unknown

The Grand Canyon exists due to tectonic uplift, and parts of the Grand Canyon are older than others. While scientists have been arguing over the exact age of the rocks for over a century, it is believed that the Grand Canyon is somewhere between 70 million and 5 million years old, which is a big range. Depending on the area of the rock you test, either could be considered right, as the rocks have continued to form and change over time.

4. There Are Fossils in the Park, But None Belong to Dinosaurs

There are a variety of fossils within the Grand Canyon, including ancient marine fossils that date back over a billion years. Unfortunately, if you’re looking to find some dinosaur remains and fossils at the park, there is a very low chance of finding them. Though the rocks in the Grand Canyon are significantly older than the dinosaurs, the formations didn’t come to be until after the dinosaurs went extinct. So if you’re looking for dinosaur fossils, you might want to pick a different national park.

3. It Is Considered to be a Gateway to the Afterlife

The Hopi tribe is one of the oldest tribes in documented history, and they spent much of their time in the Grand Canyon. According to the Hopi, the Grand Canyon is where they emerged, at a place called the Sipapuni, which is the gateway to the afterlife.

2. It’s Home to a Tiny Town

At the bottom of the Grand Canyon is the city of Supai, and is not actually a part of the national park. The town consists of about 200 people and is usually not a traveler’s final destination. To visit, you’ll have to apply for—and receive—a permit. To get to Supai, you’ll need to hike the eight miles, travel via horse or mule, or fly in via helicopter. When you arrive in Supai, you must stay at least one night. The citizens of Suapi are not tour guides, so please be respectful.

1. The Pink Rattlesnake Can Only Be Found in the Grand Canyon

There have been at least 11 documented rattlesnakes in the national park, and the Grand Canyon Rattlesnake has never been found anywhere else in the world. This specific species of rattlesnake is often described by the pink color of its scales. The Grand Canyon Rattlesnake has been seen in areas such as Lees Ferry all the way to National Canyon.

Read more facts about the National Parks:

• Great Smoky Mountain National Park
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Isle Royale National Park
• Big Bend National Park
• Zion National Park
• Voyageurs National Park
• Glacier National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park

The post 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Grand Canyon National Park appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

However, not everywhere in the country waits for the leaves to change—some jump right to snow. 

That’s good news if you’re a fan of winter hiking or skiing. The colder temperatures are coming. Here are a few early signs.

Snow in Breckenridge

The well-known Colorado resort shared photos of a light dusting on some of their higher-elevation mountains. While the town sits at 9,600 feet, the mountains go up to 12,998 feet, giving the resort the title of highest-elevation ski resort in North America. Unfortunately for those looking to hit the powder, it’s not quite time. The snow didn’t stick around.

RMNP Reports Snow on Trail Ridge Road

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park also saw its first round of snow. The road is the highest continuous paved road in North America and connects the busy eastern half of the park with the quieter western half. The first round of snow came yesterday. While a little bit of snow won’t do much, in about a month, the road usually closes altogether for the season. It usually doesn’t reopen until after Memorial Day, when plows can finally make their way through the snow.

Alaska Sees Its First Winter Storm Warning Since Before the Summer

If Colorado has already seen snow, it shouldn’t be surprising that Alaska had its first snowfall and winter storm warning a few days ago. While most snow fell in far northern Alaska’s Brooks Range, parts of the state’s southeast corner also saw light snowfall. The winter storm warning was the first in the U.S. since May 18.

Are you excited for the cooler months ahead?

The post Winter Is Coming: Here Are the Places in the U.S. That Skip Fall appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

You can watch a live stream of the volcano in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park here:

According to a press release, the eruption is coming from the summit crater with multiple lava fountains, creating a lake of molten rock. Lava started flowing Sunday afternoon. The national park is located on Hawaii’s Big Island. As of now, all volcanic activity is confined to the park. There is no current threat to any homes or communities.

Not everyone is watching the live stream of the volcano, as the volcanic activity is attracting extra visitors to the park. Park Rangers want to remind everyone about safety precautions and the sacredness of the volcano to the Hawaiian people.

While an eruption is somewhat unpredictable, the optimal viewing of the lava lake and fountains are at Uēkahuna, Kīlauea Overlook and areas along Crater Rim Trail.

Visitors should stay on trails and avoid closed areas. Also, be cautious around cliff edges as they are unstable. Park Rangers also stress that hazardous volcanic gases can be harmful, especially to young children, the elderly, pregnant people and those with respiratory issues.

Finally, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park staff want to remind visitors to “Observe the eruption quietly and respect Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners who honor the sacred legacy of this land and give them space to practice their customs.”

Here are some additional tips to observe a volcano safely.

The post Watch a Live Stream of a Volcano Actively Erupting Inside a National Park appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

In a social media post, Olympic officials say several portable toilets along Hurricane Ridge Road were flipped between the evening of Sept. 3 and the morning of Sept. 4. Two were pushed over an embankment. A nearby restroom at Picnic Area A was also damaged.

Earlier this year, a fire destroyed the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge. The lack of facilities has resulted in controlling crowds in the area. Once a certain number of vehicle enters, the roadway closes. The toilets are in place for visitors in the meantime. Fewer toilets available means fewer visitors will be allowed in the area. 

Park rangers say the company supplying the toilets was able to bring new ones. However, retrieving the two that were pushed down an embankment will take time. The toilets now rest on a slope hundreds of feet down.

Olympic National Park says anyone with information about the vandalism should call 360-565-3115.

The post Vandalism Hits Olympic National Park – Here’s How It Could Impact Visitors appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

National forest search-and-rescue officials said the attack occurred Friday afternoon. A group of hunters say they were tracking deer when a bear mauled a member of their group. After calling 911, officials chose to airlift the victim to the hospital. There is no word on the victim’s condition.

Custer Gallatin National Forest officials issued an emergency closure in the area. The hunters fired a shot during the attack, which may have injured the bear.

The Buck Ridge Yellow Mule area closure remains in effect while officials search for the bear.

The national forest is outside of Yellowstone National Park. A separate bear attack in July in Custer Gallatin resulted in the death of one woman who was hiking alone on a trail. Officials put a similar closure in place but could not locate the bear.

Preparing for Grizzly Country

Wildlife officials remind everyone to be vigilant in bear country.

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) released these reminders for anyone in brown bear territory.

• Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately.
• Travel in groups whenever possible and make noise, which can help alert bears to your presence.
• Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears.
• Follow food-storage orders from the applicable land management agency.
• If you encounter a bear, never approach it. Leave the area when it is safe to do so.
• Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food, and other attractants put away in a secure building. Keep garbage in a secure building until the day it is collected. Certified bear-resistant garbage containers are available in many areas.
• Never feed wildlife. Bears that become food-conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose threats to human safety. It is illegal to feed bears in Montana.

The post Second Grizzly Attack in Montana Closes Part of Custer Gallatin National Forest appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.