Theodore Roosevelt was our greatest conservation president. President Roosevelt's boundless vision and determination resulted in a system of national parks that is the envy of the world, and has been called "America's Best Idea." Ironically, his namesake national park, which includes his North Dakota homestead, is currently facing a threat...

This Saturday, April 20, marks the third anniversary of the oil rig explosion that devastated coastal communities, waters and lands in the Gulf of Mexico and imposed tragic loss among 11 families.

Nearly three years ago, I flew over the Gulf of Mexico in a small plane, to see...

To witness our new Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in her element, it helps to find her outdoors, whether she's hiking a trail, paddling a kayak, or climbing a mountain. I know because I've gotten to share a number of excursions with her over the eight years she...

Whether paddling the Potomac River along the boundaries of the C&O Canal National Historical Park with my wife and family, scaling snowy peaks of Mount Rainier National Park, or riding my bicycle to work every day along the National Mall, our national parks are a major ingredient of the places,...

Make no doubt about it, the National Park Service is strapped for cash. Before grappling with the new federal mandate to cut 5 percent of its entire operating budget, the agency was already suffering from a funding shortfall in the hundreds of millions of dollars, had already taken...

By now, I'm sure you know just how serious the situation is for our national parks due to the sequester cuts which went into effect on Friday.

It's alarming that this very avoidable threat is about to become a reality. From Yellowstone to Cape Cod, the Grand...

Americans are captivated by wilderness; it comes in all shapes and sizes from the forested Olympic National Park to the field of grass in the Everglades. The National Park Service preserves many of these inspiring places where the crisp air and sights and sounds of nature dominate.
After...

This week, as we celebrate the National Park Service's 96th birthday we can reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing our national parks as they near their second century. From the shores of Acadia to the battlefields at Gettysburg, the petroglyphs at Mesa Verde and the bison that roam Yellowstone,...

After a 14-hour drive and, hopefully, a good night's rest, you get the family up early and together you hike the trail or stand at an overlook along the rim. There it is before you; one of the most magnificent sights on the face of the earth, a place that...

By the end of the 1920s, the gray wolf had been eradicated from the greater Yellowstone ecosystem of northwestern Wyoming and southwestern Montana. This species had called this beautiful, mountainous region home for thousands of years, but was pushed out by human development and largely unfounded fears. And the environment...

In Florida, roughly 30 urban minority youths ages 15 to 20 from the inner city of Miami assist in planting 400 trees to create a native tropical hardwood hammock along the shores of Biscayne Bay. In the California Desert, local partners work to organize a workshop that connects teachers in...

National parks are very popular because they protect the unique and extraordinary places of history and natural wonder that define our country. They provide affordable vacations for American families, and they attract visitors from around the world. National parks are also economic hubs that provide jobs inside and outside their...

Anyone who has visited the Grand Canyon, or even just seen it in a photo or video, understands what a fine decision it was to make it a National Park and protect it forever. I love visiting there -- as do almost five million people annually -- and...

Our national parks have been around for almost 100 years, and they are more popular than ever with families flocking to visit them every summer. This Fourth of July weekend will be no different because our national parks -- from the iconic Grand Canyon to the historic battlefields where our...

As the ongoing federal budget battle rages on, is the bell about to toll for our national parks? Our national parks are among America's most fundamental assets -- admired and cherished by millions throughout the world. For less than one thirteenth of one percent of the federal budget,...

A crown jewel in the National Park System, Yosemite National Park has seen its fair share of high profile visitors--including the latest, Oprah Winfrey, who taped her travels with best friend Gayle King to share with America. As millions watched their camping adventure in Yosemite, Oprah and Gayle...

Last week, as we celebrated National Parks Week and the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar waived entrance fees to national park sites across the country, making it even easier and more affordable for Americans to connect with our natural and cultural heritage.

On behalf of the...

In 2008, President Obama made a campaign promise to restore our national parks: "I am committed to addressing the funding shortfall that the National Park Service has experienced."

He made this statement with good reason -- every federal dollar invested in national parks generates at least four dollars economic...