Trump's birthday added to list of free days at national parks; MLK Day, Juneteenth removed

The change to the schedule comes shortly after the Trump administration announced new fees for non-resident visitors.

• Dec 6

National Park Service to hike entrance fees for foreign visitors

The fee change for international visitors will impact 11 national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite, according to the Interior Department.

• Nov 25

Trump cuts leave national parks understaffed

Internal government data shows national parks across the U.S. are suffering after steep cuts from the Trump administration. Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association, joins CBS News to discuss how it's affecting the day-to-day for staff and visitors.

• Sep 3
• 04:12

New River Gorge finds new life in rapids and national park designation

In West Virginia's New River Gorge, whitewater rafting — and a 2020 national park designation — is breathing new life into a region once defined by coal mining.

• Aug 19

New River Gorge finds new life after coal decline

In West Virginia's New River Gorge, whitewater rafting -- and a 2020 national park designation -- is breathing new life into a region once defined by coal mining. Nikki Battiste reports.

• Aug 19
• 02:31

Park ranger who hung trans pride flag in Yosemite says they were fired

A former Yosemite employee says they've been fired by the National Park Service, three months after flying a transgender pride flag from El Capitan.

• Aug 19

Visitors warned not to feed bears at national parks: "Bears learn quickly"

The National Park Service warned that feeding bears can cause serious consequences including the "euthanasia of the animal."

• Aug 14

Dad hailed as hero after cougar bites 4-year-old in Olympic National Park

The father of a 4-year-old is being hailed as a hero for getting his child away from a cougar attack on a popular trail in Olympic National Park in Washington state.

• Jul 22

Trump signs executive order calling for foreign tourists to pay higher national park fees

In its 2026 fiscal year budget proposal released in May, the Interior Department estimated that such a surcharge would generate more than $90 million annually.

• Jul 3

Staffing cuts to national parks could pose safety concerns for summer visitors

At the Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland, visitors this summer are seeing shuttered lifeguard towers and signs warning that no lifeguards are on duty.

• Jul 3

National parks face lifeguard shortages after cuts

Among popular summer vacation destinations are national parks. More Americans than ever are visiting them, but there are fewer rangers, lifeguards and other workers to help them. Nancy Chen reports on the safety concerns.

• Jul 3
• 02:24

A solo journey through all 63 national parks

Emily Pennington, author of "Feral," speaks with "CBS Mornings Plus" to talk about her solo journey through America's national parks, and what it taught her about resilience, public lands, and finding peace in the wild.

• Jun 23
• 03:49

Emmett Till national monument at risk of removal due to Trump's anti-DEI stand

The Trump administration has announced plans to revoke or shrink certain national monuments as part of an anti-DEI movement.

• Jun 19

Cuts block landmark status for historical sites

There are more than 2,600 historical landmark sites across the U.S., according to the National Park Service. The designation not only preserves history but can often fuel economic redevelopment around the historic areas. Kati Weis reports some sites are being rejected under Trump administration changes.

• Jun 10
• 03:00

74-year-old hiker dies while attempting Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike

Dennis Smith was an "avid and experienced hiker," the National Park Service said.

• May 20

Tourist falls to his death at Arches National Park in Utah

Rudolf Peters was hiking in a rough section of a trail called The Windows Loop when he fell, the National Park Service said.

• May 8

Over the last few months, there's been a lot of talk about walls on the U.S.-Mexico border

Over the last few months, there's been a lot of talk about walls on the U.S.-Mexico border. Conor Knighton, "On The Trail" again, as part of "Sunday Morning"'s celebration of the National Park Service's centennial, takes us to Big Bend, the national park along the border whose natural walls are stunning to behold.

• Apr 3, 2016
• 04:58

Elon Musk makes false claim about billion-dollar National Park survey

In a Fox News interview, Musk claimed DOGE found billions in waste — including a nearly billion-dollar National Park Service survey. No evidence supports that.

• Mar 28

How DOGE cuts are jeopardizing our national parks, "America's best idea"

The Trump administration laid off approximately 1,000 employees of the National Park Service. Rangers and park employees say such cuts will be detrimental to the public's experience of these treasured natural resources.

• Mar 16

2 workers laid off from the National Park Service sound off on their struggles

The White House's Department of Government Efficiency laid off about 1,000 National Park Service workers last month as part of its wave of federal mass firings.

• Mar 4

Saving Nevada's dark skies - one license plate at a time

Nevada is one of very few places left in the country where there is so little artificial light the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye.

• Mar 1

Search underway at national park for man last seen nearly 2 weeks ago

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado is one of the last known locations where 31-year-old Jordan Marsters was seen, the National Park Service said.

• Feb 25

New plant species discovered at Big Bend National Park in Texas

The Wooly Devil, or Ovicula biradiata​, was first spotted by botany volunteer Deb Manley and a park ranger in Big Bend National Park in Texas in March 2024.

• Feb 24

Yosemite National Park workers hang upside-down U.S flag to protest cuts

A group of workers at California's Yosemite National Park positioned the U.S. flag on Saturday near the Horsetail Fall​ where crowds gather to witness Yosemite's annual firefall​.

• Feb 24

National Park ranger fired from "dream job" pens emotional letter

"I am the defender of your public lands and waters ... I am the highlight of your child's school day ... I am tired of waking up every morning at 2am wondering how I am going to provide for my family if I lose my job," Brian Gibbs wrote.

• Feb 18

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