One Line, 14,000 Feet, No Margin for Error: The Grand Teton’s First Ski Descent Every skier, snowboarder, and hiker has that one mountain they have been drooling over to scratch off their checklist. For Bill Briggs, that mountain was the Grand Teton in Wyoming — and on June 16, 1971, he achieved the first ski descent of the Grand Teton, becoming the most celebrated figure in American ski mountaineering history. This peak reaches nearly […] Brains Jesse | June 22, 2026 1 Comment
Going-to-the-Sun Road 2026 Opening Date Confirmed: Road Conditions, Shuttles, and New Rules Going-to-the-Sun Road 2026: Full Opening Set for Monday, June 22 The National Park Service announced Thursday that the Going-to-the-Sun Road 2026 summer season will begin Monday, June 22, when the full 50-mile route opens to motorized vehicles. Officials caution that rockfalls or other natural events may delay the opening, as conditions in Glacier National Park can change quickly. Related: Big Drift, […] National Parks SnowBrains | June 19, 2026 0 Comments
The Best U.S. National Park Hotels To Visit This Summer School graduations are happening across the country, which means that the dream summer vacation is almost here. The United States is blessed with amazing and beautiful national parks, and some of them feature some of the best hotels in the world. They feature some of the best lodging, amenities, and dining options any guest could want. What makes these hotels […] National Parks Gregg Frantz | June 8, 2026 0 Comments
National Park Service Ranger Killed in Crevasse Fall on Denali, AK A National Park Service mountaineering ranger died Thursday, June 4, 2026, after falling into a crevasse while on patrol high on Denali, Alaska, the tallest mountain in North America. Related: Skier Dies After Falling 80-Feet Into Crevasse in Jasper National Park, AB According to the National Park Service (NPS), seasonal mountaineering ranger Robin Pendery, of Enumclaw, Washington, fell into a […] Climbing SnowBrains | June 6, 2026 0 Comments
Big Drift, Buried Bathrooms, and Rockfall: The Real Story of Plowing Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2026 Glacier National Park, Montana, plow crews have reached the Big Drift, the final stretch of snow blocking Going-to-the-Sun Road, and are simultaneously working to clear the Logan Pass Visitor Center, park officials confirmed this week, marking a critical milestone in the Going-to-the-Sun Road 2026 opening season. Related: The Mountain Passes and Roads in the United States That Close Every Winter […] National Parks SnowBrains | May 21, 2026 0 Comments
Glacier National Park Bear Attack Kills Hiker for First Time in 27 Years Published, May 8, 2026 / Updated, May 11, 2026: This Glacier National Park bear attack article has been updated to reflect the official identification of the victim by the National Park Service, a correction to his hometown, and new details indicating the encounter was likely a surprise. Glacier National Park Bear Attack: What Officials Know So Far Search and rescue […] National Parks SnowBrains | May 8, 2026 0 Comments
Comparing North America’s Highest Peaks, Denali vs. Mount St. Elias—Goliaths of the North High above Alaska’s sweeping, expansive wilderness, Mount McKinley (also known as Denali) and Mount St. Elias rise with a presence rarely found anywhere else on Earth that commands both attention and a deep respect. Both are awe-inspiring in their own stature—Denali, tucked deep within the continent’s interior, and St. Elias, towering abruptly from sea to summit in just a matter […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | November 17, 2025 1 Comment
12,183′ Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, is Now Closed for the Season Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park officially closed for the winter season on Friday, November 14, marking a later-than-usual shutdown. The road, which reaches 12,183 feet at its highest point, is closed at Many Parks Curve on the east side and at the Colorado River Trailhead on the west side, barring through vehicle travel for the season. A […] Weather SnowBrains | November 15, 2025 0 Comments
8,512′ Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway, CA, Closed for Winter Season After Heavy Snowfall Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway (US Hwy 89) is now closed for the winter due to heavy snow and ice from recent storms. Starting November 13, vehicle access is limited to one mile from the northwest entrance near Loomis Plaza and one mile from the southwest entrance near the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. Last year, the highway closed on December […] National Parks SnowBrains | November 14, 2025 0 Comments
6,646′ Going-to-the-Sun Road, MT, is Now Closed for the Winter Glacier National Park, Montana, officials closed the alpine sections of the Going-to-the-Sun Road for the winter on Tuesday afternoon as a winter storm brought snow and ice to the region. The closure covers the stretch from Avalanche Creek on the west side to Rising Sun on the east, with vehicle access now limited to the lower sections of the road. […] Weather SnowBrains | October 17, 2025 0 Comments
North America’s Most Instagrammable National Parks Travelbag, an award-winning holiday company, analyzed 98 national parks, ranking them using a combined score based on both Instagram hashtags and TikTok posts to unveil the most Instagram’d national parks in North America. The travel company has been creating incredible long-haul travel experiences since 1979. Travelbag’s travel specialists use their expertise to create unforgettable vacations and unique itineraries. North America’s national […] Industry News Gregg Frantz | September 10, 2025 0 Comments
The 7 Least Visited National Parks in the U.S. National parks are a vital part of American tourism, attracting millions of visitors—both domestic and international—each year. Visitation has steadily increased in recent years, with a notable surge in 2020 as people turned to the outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, not all parks share the same level of fame or foot traffic. Some, like Zion, attract millions of visitors […] Brains Zach Suffish | August 28, 2025 7 Comments
Trump Signs Executive Order Raising the Cost of Entry Fees for Foreign Tourists at National Parks President Trump continued advancing his domestic agenda by signing two more executive orders regarding National Parks. On July 3, President Trump signed an executive order, Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks, that will increase the cost for foreign tourists to visit the parks. In a related move, Trump also signed the executive order, Establishing the President’s Make America […] Industry News Gregg Frantz | July 4, 2025 0 Comments
Top 5 National Parks for Backcountry Skiing Are you looking to earn some turns and check some National Parks off your bucket list this year? Most National Park enthusiasts plan their trips around the nicest weather. However, for skiers, after the tourist season at many National Parks has ended, and the snow has begun to fall, it’s the perfect time to visit. There’s no better way to […] Backcountry Aunika Skogen | November 23, 2024 0 Comments
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $44 Million to Restore and Strengthen Climate Resilience Across America’s National Parks Yesterday, the Department of the Interior announced over $44 million from the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda to meet critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs for the National Park Service in fiscal year 2023. These investments from the Inflation Reduction Act will be guided by the Department’s Restoration and Resilience Framework to support coordination across agency programs […] SnowBrains | August 10, 2023 0 Comments
Pack Out The Peels And Cores; Myth Busters Tackle Trailside Food Waste National Parks and Wildlands are spreading the word to grow awareness against a common misconception: it’s all good to leave so-called natural food trash along the trail. The myth at play is the preconception that decomposition of waste (like peels or cores) makes it OK to toss those items into the forest. According to information shared recently by Glacier National […] Paulie | August 5, 2022 0 Comments
Nature: A Proven Cure to Mental and Physical Health Issues As many people in the outdoor world know, a day spent outside feels much better than a day spent inside. In recent years there have been various studies released explaining the physical and mental health benefits of spending quality time in the outdoors. One of these studies, performed by students at Griffith University, Australia, determined that the national parks around […] Brains Ryan Nadiak | June 29, 2022 1 Comment
Your Guide to the National Parks Your Guide to the National Parks by Michael Joseph Oswald is a powerful tool when it comes to planning a trip to any one of our nation’s 63 national parks. It’s got everything in there you’ll need—everything. The smooth reading guidebook is the most put-together, well-thought-out collection of knowledge about U.S. National Parks I’ve encountered. Oswald’s guide is aesthetically pleasing […] Book Review Martin Kuprianowicz | June 6, 2022 0 Comments
Ticketed Entry to ‘Going-to-the-Sun Road’ Begins at Glacier National Park, MT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Glacier National Park (@glaciernps) Tomorrow, May 28, ticketed entry to Going-to-the-Sun Road begins at Glacier National Park in Montana. To enter Going-to-the-Sun Road between 6:00 am and 5:00 pm, you will need both a Park Pass and an Entry Reservation Ticket (or a reservation for service along GTSR). Related: […] Industry News SnowBrains | May 27, 2021 0 Comments
Comedian Jake Adams Issues Apology After Hitting Golf Balls into National Parks | Could Face Jail Time View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jake Adams (@jakemadams3) Comedian Jake Adams, who unexpectedly found himself in hot water over his successful mission to hit a golf ball in every state in thirty days, has issued a video apology on his Instagram channel. Several law enforcement officers are investigating the videos of him hitting golf […] SnowBrains | May 18, 2021 0 Comments
Brains
National Parks
Climbing
Weather
Industry News
Backcountry
Book Review
