Mountain bikers are pumping up their tires in anticipation of Rocky Mountain National Park opening up a piece of trail to off-road cycling for the first time later this year. It’s a small slice of the 415-square-mile park: only two miles of the East Shore Trail, a 6 mile hiking ...read more

• By Amelia Arvesen
  Mar 9, 2018

E-bikes officially won access to National Parks last week, when the National Park Service (NPS) ruled that low-speed models are allowed for now where traditional bikes are allowed. The federal order comes as states and municipal governments grapple with regulating the new form of ...read more

• By Amelia Arvesen
  Sep 3, 2019

From outdated facilities to crumbling roads to well-traveled trails, many national parks are in need of facelifts with a total price tag of more than $11.6 billion. In order for generations to come to enjoy the parks' wonders and rejuvenating magic, that maintenance backlog must ...read more

• By Amelia Arvesen
  Aug 3, 2018

In national parks across the country, the scene unfolding is as if a babysitter left a child to fend for himself on the playground—more feces, trash, and unruly behavior. It's been nearly two weeks since the start of the government shutdown on Dec. 22 and the forced furloughs of ...read more

• By Amelia Arvesen
  Jan 2, 2019

When Starbucks moved to Yosemite National Park, more than 25,000 people signed a petition against the coffee giant setting up camp and 80 percent of SNEWS readers opposed it. Petitioners said multinational corporations and amenities would rob the natural place of its essence. But ...read more

• By Amelia Arvesen
  Oct 16, 2019

With thousands of federal workers on furlough during the government shutdown, the national parks are left without crucial stewards. Some sites are seeing an increase in human waste, garbage, and bad behavior. While these treasured places should be accessible for all, some are ...read more

• By SNEWS
  Jan 7, 2019