“There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth; remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them…”  In this episode of Parkography, we explore Everglades National Park and the incredible life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

This week’s national park news roundup covers a wave of potential job cuts across the Department of the Interior — including hundreds from the National Park Service — plus new legislation in Congress aimed at tackling wildfires and forest management. We’ll also look at wildlife making surprising moves in Yellowstone and Michigan, new state parks opening in Tennessee, major campground expansion plans in Michigan, and California’s push to bring art and culture into its parks. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

On the northern shores of Minnesota lies a remote waterscape steeped in history, nature, and tradition. Named for the wild men who paddled its waterways in the Canadian fur trade, Voyageurs National Park is home to nesting bald eagles, moose, grey wolves, black bears, loons, owls, otters, beavers, and a vast array of other wildlife. Most of its hidden waterways remain untouched, and pristine boreal forests cover the landscape, where on a cloudless pre-dawn morning under the northern lights, you can almost hear the echo of the songs sung by fur traders traveling in their massive canoes.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

One week in, we have a clear as mud idea about which National Parks and areas of parks are open and which aren't. In this episode, I'll show you where to find the most up to date info, and former National Park Superintendents share with us some more details about how a shutdown works and the concerns over protecting parks during one. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

This week’s National Parks & Public Lands News Roundup covers the impending federal government shutdown and its affect on National Parks, an expansion of coal mining on federal lands, the re-opening of the north rim of the Grand Canyon, vandalism at Gettysburg, and more. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:  @RVMiles   @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction01:48 Impact of Government Shutdown on National Parks02:37 State Responses and Historical Context03:30 Concerns and Appeals from Park Officials05:44 Sponsor Message: Slinky Stove06:22 Grand Canyon North Rim Reopening08:18 Vandalism at Gettysburg National Military Park09:01 White Nose Syndrome Detected in Bats10:02 Federal Land Coal Leasing Announcement10:26 National Park Service Concessionaire Opportunities11:41 Conclusion

This week’s National Parks & Public Lands News Roundup covers some big and controversial stories: Reports that slavery- and racism-related exhibits are being removed from multiple National Park Service sites following a new Interior Department directive. A proposal to create “Florida Springs National Park” is facing growing opposition. The Interior Department’s plan to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule. The launch of a brand-new U.S. Wildland Fire Service to modernize wildfire response. A major water system failure at Mount Rainier’s Paradise Inn. A tragic fatality at Grand Canyon National Park. Zion National Park reopening its Weeping Rock Trail. And finally… why Yellowstone’s geysers have coughed up more than 300 hats (plus some bizarre bonus items). Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:  @RVMiles   @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction and Overview00:46 Controversial Removal of Slavery Exhibits03:37 Debate Over Florida Springs National Park06:36 Changes at the Bureau of Land Management08:17 New US Wildland Fire Service09:16 Mount Rainier Water System Failure10:11 Grand Canyon Incident10:58 Zion National Park Reopens Weeping Rock Trail11:44 Yellowstone's Lost and Found12:59 Conclusion and Farewell

At the edge of Utah and Colorado, where canyons plunge and rivers carve through stone, lies Dinosaur National Monument — a place known today for Jurassic fossils and wild rivers. But hidden within its history is the story of a woman who lived on the frontier with grit, resilience, and ties to some of the West’s most notorious outlaws. This episode of Parkography explores the life of Josie Bassett Morris — rancher, homesteader, friend (and sometimes lover) of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch — who carved out a life of independence in one of the harshest landscapes of the American West. From her outlaw entanglements in Brown’s Park to her rugged cabin at Cub Creek, Josie’s story is one of resilience, hardship, and defiance. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the Parkography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:  @RVMiles   @RVMilesPodcast ​

Law enforcement rangers cleared an illegal cannabis grow in Sequoia National Park, where they found thousands of plants, toxic chemicals, and major environmental damage. A new national park could be coming to Florida—legislation has been introduced to study the creation of “Florida Springs National Park.” Workers at Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon have voted overwhelmingly to unionize, joining a growing movement across the Park Service. Plus: new hunting and fishing opportunities at wildlife refuges, the Maurice Bathhouse restoration at Hot Springs, a fruitless year at Capitol Reef’s orchards, and more.The NPS report, via National Parks Traveler: https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/sites/default/files/attachments/nps_staffing_impact_data_july_2025_-_copy.xlsx Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

Everyone knows about America’s 13 original colonies… but did you know there was almost a 14th? In 1775, a private land deal known as The Transylvania Purchase sought to create a brand-new colony in the rugged mountains where Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee meet. Frontiersman Daniel Boone carved the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap, opening America’s first true gateway to the West. But the plan was tangled in conflict with Indigenous nations, colonial governments, and the Revolution itself. In this episode of Parkography, Jason explores the rise and fall of the Colony of Transylvania, the battles that defined it, and how the Cumberland Gap went from a dangerous frontier to a National Historical Park that tells the story of America’s earliest westward expansion. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the Parkography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:  @RVMiles   @RVMilesPodcast ​

A ranger stabbed in a Colorado state park, hundreds exposed to rabies at Grand Teton, Isle Royale wolf put down, plus updates on hurricane closures, statue restoration, peak renaming, and more national park news. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:  @RVMiles   @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 Introduction00:07 Colorado Park Ranger Stabbing Incident00:59 Rabies Exposure at Jackson Lake Lodge02:24 Rabid Raccoon at Delaware Water Gap03:01 Wolf Issues at Isle Royal National Park04:38 Sponsored by Slinky Stove05:15 Restoration of Albert Pike Statue06:12 Mount Woodring Name Change08:01 Hurricane Erin Impact on East Coast Parks09:20 Reopening of Black Canyon of the Gunnison10:30 Grand Canyon Fire Update10:50 Yosemite Ranger Fired Over Trans Pride Flag12:27 Conclusion

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir embarked on a legendary three-day camping trip through Yosemite. Away from politics and public life, they huddled under the stars, explored the towering sequoias, and shared a vision that would change the future of America’s wild places. This unforgettable meeting is often credited with sparking the modern conservation movement—leading to the expansion of national parks and permanent protection for some of our most treasured landscapes. Join us as we retrace their journey, uncover the stories behind their conversations, and explore how a few nights in the wilderness helped shape the course of American environmental history. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the Parkography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

At Petrified Forest National Park, a strange phenomenon has persisted for decades: people from all over the world mailing back pieces of petrified wood they stole—along with heartfelt apology notes. These “conscience letters” speak of bad luck, misfortune, and regret. But is the so-called curse real, or just a product of guilt? In this episode of Parkography, we explore the fascinating history behind the curse of the Petrified Forest and the power of a national park to stir the conscience. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography

In this episode, we cover the Trump administration's reorganization of the Department of Agriculture and its impact on the US Forest Service, as well as ongoing wildfires, including the Dragon Bravo fire at the Grand Canyon, and debunk myths about animals fleeing Yellowstone. We'll also discuss significant land acquisitions in Texas that will lead to the establishment of new state parks, a tragic incident at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas, a Netflix series set in Yosemite, and much more. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography 00:00 Introduction00:08 US Forest Service Reorganization01:49 Interior Department Job Cuts02:57 Sponsor Message: Slinky Stove03:36 Muir Woods Exhibit Removal04:17 Bear Incidents and Safety05:13 Yellowstone Animal Rumors07:15 Lake Powell Water Levels07:40 New Shark Species Discovery08:02 Wildfire Updates11:05 Texas State Parks Expansion11:56 Arkansas Hiking Tragedy12:35 Netflix Show Set in Yosemite13:33 Conclusion and Farewell  

In Michigan, the country’s second National Park would be established in 1875, only to be redesignated just twenty years later as the state’s first State Park. Likewise, a cave named for its position overlooking the trail of Lewis and Clark would begin its protected life as an early National Monument before later joining a growing number of State Parks in the United States. And in Oklahoma, a former National Park remains preserved under the jurisdiction of the Park Service, providing key insight into the conversation of how and why we protect the places that we do for generations to come.  Join us as we explore three parks you won’t find in your National Park Service  Passport: Mackinac National Park, Lewis and Clark Cavern National Monument, and Platt National Park.  Written by Lizzie TeschHosted by Jason Epperson Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:  @RVMiles   @RVMilesPodcast ​

Deep within Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park, one can find so much more than rock formations. The shale-capped mass of 400 known miles of caverns holds the history of America, told by the Black enslaved cave guides that made it one of the country's top tourist attractions, then and now.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography  

In this week's episode, a controversial provision to sell off over a million acres of public land has been blocked, but significant cuts to National Park funding are still proceeding. We cover the construction of a massive migrant detention center inside a national preserve, sparking legal actions and protests. Yellowstone's iconic hot spring tragically claims the life of a bison, and new signs asking visitors to report negative information about Americans are causing quite a stir. We also bring you critical safety updates from Rocky Mountain National Park, the transition to cashless payment systems at two parks, and more. Find the Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography 00:00 Introduction01:31 Controversial Public Land Sales Blocked02:27 Rescinding the Roadless Rule03:28 New National Park Signage Sparks Protests04:45 Migrant Detention Center in National Preserve06:15 National Parks Move to Cashless Payments07:36 Tragic Bison Incident at Yellowstone09:41 Safety Updates from Rocky Mountain National Park10:28 White Nose Syndrome in Bats11:28 Ken Burns' American Revolution Series12:59 Conclusion

Just steps from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall lies the barely visible foundation of a house that once held the weight of a revolution, a presidency—and a deep contradiction. This week on Parkography, we uncover the story of the President’s House in Philadelphia, a mansion that passed through the hands of a British general, a colonial governor, a wealthy financier, a traitorous American officer, and two U.S. presidents. But beneath its grand halls and bowed windows lived another story—one of enslaved people fighting silently for their own freedom in the shadow of a nation proclaiming liberty for all. Join Jason Epperson as he walks through the rubble and history of the forgotten home at Sixth and Market, where the founding of the United States unfolded brick by brick—and where the legacy of freedom remains unfinished. Written by Lizzie Tesch Hosted by Jason Epperson Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:  @RVMiles   @RVMilesPodcast ​

In 1870, Truman Everts set out as part of an exploration of the Yellowstone wilderness. What followed was a harrowing 37-day survival story filled with fire, frostbite, mountain lions, and near starvation. Lost, alone, and presumed dead, Everts defied all odds to become one of Yellowstone’s most legendary figures. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography

In this episode, an update on the dramatic hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin, the Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal for the National Park Service, and the opening of Voyager's National Park's Crane Lake Visitor Center. Also, Denali National Park's live puppy cam is back, and Disney announces a new Piston Peak National Park-themed expansion at Magic Kingdom.  Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography 00:00 Introduction00:07 Yellowstone's Hydrothermal Explosion03:08 Sponsor Message: Slinky Stove03:47 Trump Administration's Budget Proposal05:53 Controversial Directives on Public Lands07:50 Voyager's National Park New Visitor Center08:24 Denali National Park Puppy Cam09:12 Disney's New National Park Themed Land10:17 Conclusion

A $50 bet turned into a six-day national spectacle atop Devils Tower: The bizarre true story of George Hopkins—the daredevil parachutist who leapt onto the summit of America’s first national monument... and couldn’t get down. Stranded on the iconic rock formation for nearly a week, Hopkins sparked a media frenzy, drew thousands of spectators, and prompted wild rescue offers from blimps to military helicopters—all thanks to a friendly wager. Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography