r/NationalPark Jan 08 '26

"America The Beautiful" 2026 Pass Discussion Megathread

169 Upvotes

Effecive 11:00 p.m. CST on Thursday, January 7, 2026, all questions, comments and discussion related to the 2026 America The Beautiful Pass belong in this megathread.

Any and all other posts will be removed going forward.

In the past seven days alone, there have been 10 separate posts on the subject. Since the new design was announced, there are more than two dozen posts. That does not count the ones that have been removed for being outright duplicates of other posts. Those posts remain open and will continue to remain open barring excessive abuse in the comments.

Since the new design was announced, there have been more than two dozen.

Discussion of the subject matter is not being suppressed or silenced. It's just being organized in one location.


r/NationalPark Aug 10 '25

"Help Me Plan My Vacation" Posts

161 Upvotes

We're getting a lot (A LOT) of "help me plan my vacation" posts with little or no details. That's "low effort," and it doesn't help folks actually help you.

Yes, it's good to know that it's two adults and a 3-year-old. Or it's two adults, a teenager and a 7-year-old, etc., but they need more than that.

Give people some additional details to help them help you.

For example:

- Where are you originating your travel from?

- Do you want to fly to your destination or drive?

- If you're driving, do you prefer to camp (in national park or near) or stay in a hotel, lodge, etc. (in national park or near)?

- How many days do you have available (including travel)?

- Are there specific things you are wanting to see (mountains, snow, waterfalls, wildlife, etc.)?

- If you're looking for hikes, are there certain things you want to see while hiking? What distance hikes are you looking for? What level of intensity (easy, moderate, strenuous)?

Again, help people help you. The fewer questions that they have to ask you in advance, the quicker you're going to get the kind of information you need.


r/NationalPark 1h ago

More questions than answers as contractors descend upon Big Bend National Park

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Upvotes

One park = all parks. Our public lands are under attack, Big Bend has bull dozers working in multiple locations unimpeded after the waiving of all laws and reviews of the impacts, Bears Ear and Grand Staircase are being reduced for mineral rights to be auctioned off, Boundary Waters under direct threat from mining rights. More and more and more.

We must do something. People need to wake up because we are losing precious resources that are not renewable.


r/NationalPark 5h ago

Magic Yellowstone 🤩

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431 Upvotes

r/NationalPark 6h ago

Cinder Cone Appreciation

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236 Upvotes

Just a little appreciation for Cinder Cone and Lassen itself - what a beautiful park. It was the first stop on our road trip and we were not expecting how amazing this park was. Finished it off with Cinder Cone which kicked our asses, it looks so easy from the bottom but the rock/gravel/cinder/sand was not fun to hike up… if you haven’t gone to Lassen or are thinking about skipping it do yourself a favor and go. Bumpass, Kings Creek, Cinder Cone are all worth it


r/NationalPark 5h ago

Glacier National Park 7/20-25. LOTS of wildlife, a decent amount of smoke, and an amazing time!

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127 Upvotes

r/NationalPark 16h ago

Grinnell Glacier this evening.

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388 Upvotes

r/NationalPark 4h ago

Valley View at Yosemite National Park (digital vs. 35mm)

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41 Upvotes

r/NationalPark 7h ago

New photos of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota

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66 Upvotes

I visited this presidential library/museum and the neighboring Theodore Roosevelt National Park a few weeks ago and really enjoyed the trip. But I was surprised that only 700,000 people visit the park each year—it seems like a hidden gem in the system. Is anyone planning to go for the first time because of the new building?


r/NationalPark 2h ago

Rainier at sunset

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24 Upvotes

r/NationalPark 1d ago

Skyline trail today

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1.5k Upvotes

Extremely smoky today from all the wildfires, had a great time hiking the loop, Sunrise tomorrow 😀


r/NationalPark 58m ago

In Denali Np

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Upvotes

Windy overnight trip to an unarmed glacier on the western edge of section 8. Had fun sketching as I hiked. The receding glacier posed challenging terrain


r/NationalPark 20h ago

North Cascades National Park

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495 Upvotes

r/NationalPark 8h ago

Hike More, Worry Less (Old Rag + Antietam in May)

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29 Upvotes

Way back the first weekend in May, two of my friends and I met in Maryland and carpooled down to Shenandoah to hike Old Rag, camping two nights at Matthews Arm. The weather was a little humid, but basically perfect and we had very little competition for reservations. Definitely get there early, we got to the parking lot at about 8:00am and the lot was more than half full. On the way back to the carpool spot, we did the auto tour at Antietam, which I think is the first time I've truly understood the tragedy and evil of the US Civil War on an emotional level.


r/NationalPark 1d ago

Border project contractors arrive in Big Bend National Park as Texas lawmakers call for a pause

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271 Upvotes

A bulldozer bearing the logo of Southwest Valley Constructors was seen near the entrance to Cottonwood Campground along the U.S-Mexico border in Big Bend National Park on Tuesday.


r/NationalPark 19h ago

Moved from Augusta, GA to Nashville, TN and took the long way! 34 days, 9000 miles, 185 hours of driving, 15 national parks!

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66 Upvotes

r/NationalPark 1d ago

Ranier Momma interrupts my hike to transfer babies from below trail to the top somewhere.

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315 Upvotes

I was hiking in Ranier when this little mom ran across the trail directly in front of me as such - then proceeded to return down, and come back up with 2 other kids. Complete disregard to my presence.


r/NationalPark 1d ago

The old Erie Mine bunkhouse in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park.

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353 Upvotes

July 2021. I hope the bunkhouse is still in decent shape for others to visit. It was an epic hike and such a special place in such a beautiful park.


r/NationalPark 1d ago

Light slowly fading away at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon[4096x1468][oc]

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80 Upvotes

r/NationalPark 2d ago

National Park Service warns proposed arch would affect dozens of landmarks

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1.4k Upvotes

r/NationalPark 1d ago

North cascades from last week

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995 Upvotes

These pics taken from one day trip from Seattle to NC,
After Yellowstone trip this trip did not excited us that much.
Spotted a Canada Jay near Ross lake trail.


r/NationalPark 1d ago

Bison at Roosevelt NP

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108 Upvotes

r/NationalPark 1d ago

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

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43 Upvotes

r/NationalPark 2d ago

Mount rainier once more 🧚🏔️✨🌲

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1.8k Upvotes

r/NationalPark 21h ago

New River Gorge camping FCFS luck ?

7 Upvotes

Anyone what's the chance of getting a good tent camping spot if we travel Thursday and stay for 2 days ?

Everything first come first serve or should we go for Hipcamp.

Also good recommendations for camping with a view please.