Best Nationalparks Podcasts (2024)

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Grizzly Confidential 46:35

32m ago46:35

46:35

What is it about grizzly bears that intrigues us, or scares us? They are magnificent apex predators that long have been vilified by some while admired by others. Enter the National Park System and you often will find yourself in a landscape with bears. In the East you’ll find black bears in Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah, and Acadia national par…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Investigating Recreation.gov 47:33

2h ago47:33

47:33

One of the most troublesome aspects of heading out into national parks, national forests, and other federal lands for camping, paddling, or climbing – as well as many other recreational pursuits – is the rising tide of fees to do so. There are reservation fees, cancellation fees, fees to change the date of your trip, even fees to gain a priority po…

1
412 Author PJ Anderson Is the Guest 59:59

3h ago59:59

59:59

On episode 412, Bob chats with local author PJ Anderson about "Cheyenne Mountain - Here's Looking at You" an exhaustively researched book about the history of Colorado Springs' nearest mountain. They discuss Anderson's history in developing Cheyenne Mountain State Park at the base of the peak, the history of the early discovery and then mining and …

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Coastal Climate Change Impacts 50:53

2h ago50:53

50:53

Along 1,600 miles of the Eastern Seaboard, from Maine to Florida, sea level rise, subsidence, and more potent storms are challenging the National Park Service to figure out how best to protect wildlife and their habitats, as well as historic structures, archaeological sites, modern infrastructure, landscapes, and, of course, visitors. In the coming…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Reporting from Cape Hatteras 40:43

6d ago40:43

40:43

There is never a shortage of stories to follow across the National Park System, whether you’re in the West at Olympic National Park, the Northeast at Acadia National Park, or the Southwest at Grand Canyon National Park. This week, Contributing Editor Kim O’Connell is down in North Carolina to spend a few days at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, whi…

1
411 Lifeseeker Technology Can Save Your Life 27:23

14d ago27:23

27:23

On this episode, Bob chats with Hector Estevez, the CEO of Centum Research and Technology. Calling from his company's headquarters in Spain, he and Bob talk about the "Lifeseeker" technology and devices that have been used in Europe and are now being introduced in the United States. The devices, which can locate a missing hiker in minutes, work alo…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Alaska's Stained Rivers 49:41

13d ago49:41

49:41

In the remote wilderness of the Brooks Mountain Range in Alaska, where untamed rivers wind through vast expanses of tundra and towering mountains, a peculiar and alarming phenomenon is taking place. Since 2017 at least 75 pristine waterways, which once shimmered with crystalline clarity, have taken on a haunting hue of orange and now contain very c…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | State of Grand Teton National Park 50:31

24d ago50:31

50:31

Have you ever wanted to scratch beneath the surface of a national park and gain a better understanding of the issues the National Park Service is challenged with? Or to see what research is being conducted, or understand what goals are being chased? The staff at Grand Teton National Park just released their 2024 Grand Glimpse of the Park and the ma…

1
410 Bob visits North Carolina 28:31

1M ago28:31

28:31

On this week's podcast, Bob goes solo as he talks about his trip hiking and photographing waterfalls in North Carolina. He discusses the scenery, the trails and the people he's encountered. Also, a short discussion on when you should go with a tour group and when you should make your own arrangements. Also, Colorado Springs E-bike survey and El Pas…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Managing Yellowstone Bison 41:10

27d ago41:10

41:10

As the National Mammal and a symbol closely tied to the National Park Service and the national parks, bison are highly revered in the United States. But that doesn’t mean they’re free of controversy. Recently the staff at Yellowstone National Park released the Final Environmental Impact Statement on a bison management plan for the park. The preferr…

1
Breck O'Neill 1:16:17

1M ago1:16:17

1:16:17

Brian calls Breck O'Neill the "Forrest Gump" of the river community. They chat about Breck's adventure through the river running world, with some skiing and Hollywood sprinkled in. Enjoy Breck O'Neill!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big AdventuresEntertainment LLC.By Breck O'Neill, Brian Dierker, Margaret Knight, Bill Gloeckler, Gavin Boughner

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Letters from the Smokies 52:59

1M ago52:59

52:59

There is so much rich history across the National Park System, from chapters of the Revolutionary War held in parks in the eastern half of the country to stories from the gold rush that stampeded through Alaska during the late 1890s. This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at The National Parks Traveler. I’ve always been fascinated with history. And when…

1
409 Big changes coming to the podcast! 52:23

1M ago52:23

52:23

On this week's podcast, Bob and co-host Kevin discuss big changes coming to the podcast, and ask the listeners to voice their thoughts on the changes. Also, water safety and Kevin went to the Outdoor Magazine event in Denver Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob w…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Parks as Founts of Wildlife 45:37

1M ago45:37

45:37

Recently I read “The Wolverine Way”, by Douglas Chadwick. It’s a book from 2012 that really dives into the lives of wolverines, a small mammal with a cantankerous reputation that the US Fish and Wildlife Service late last year announced would be a threatened species. The book is a fascinating biography, if you will, of wolverines. Chadwick has an e…

1
408 Author and Adventurer Kevin Fedarko is the guest 49:58

2M ago49:58

49:58

On this week's podcast, Bob's guest us author and adventurer Kevin Fedarko. They talk about his newly released book "A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon". The book details his and photographer Pete McBride's attempt to hike the entire length of the canyon, from east to west. Also, they discuss how ov…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Underwater Photography with the Submerged Resources Center 1:10:32

2M ago1:10:32

1:10:32

Did you know that there are some five and a half million acres of our National Parks that are underwater? There are sunken ships and aircraft. There are remnants of industry and mining. There are coral reefs and underwater caverns. The Submerged Resources Center of the National Park Service is where these water resources are explored and documented…

1
407 City leader Richard Skorman is the guest 41:25

2M ago41:25

41:25

On this week's podcast, Bob sits down for a chat with Colorado Springs' Richard Skorman. Skorman is a a former city councilor, a small business owner, outdoor advocate, civic leader and water conservation activist. They talk about his newest initiative of getting volunteers to help clean up trash in sensitive areas and neighborhoods, the scarcity o…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Traveler's Summer Outlook 51:16

2M ago51:16

51:16

Summer is almost here. The upcoming Memorial Day weekend is the official kickoff to the summer travel season, and I’m happy to say that the National Parks Traveler will be continuing to bring you news about the parks and how you can enjoy them. As much as Editor-in-Chief Kurt Repanshek was looking forward to retiring, listener and reader support ha…

1
406 Pikes Peak Update, Fox Run Nature Center, other news 47:55

2M ago47:55

47:55

On this week's podcast, Bob provides an update on the shuttle and reservation system on Pikes Peak. Also, interesting facts around the proposed Fox Run Park Nature Center, a new feature on the COTREX app and website, and Bob is selling one of his cameras. Pikes Peak season/annual passes: https://tinyurl.com/tz94b427 COTREX wildfire alerts: https://…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | NPS Budgetary Blues 48:10

2M ago48:10

48:10

With the summer vacation season not too far off, no doubt many National Park Service Superintendents are trying to figure out how to manage the crowds and avoid impacts to natural resources in the park system. With Memorial Day weekend just two weeks away, and Congress in its usual battles over how to fund the federal government, we wanted to take …

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Smokies Life 42:36

2M ago42:36

42:36

Smokies Life, which most of you who closely follow Great Smoky Mountains National Park know was previously known as the Great Smoky Mountains Association, produces educational and informational materials for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This week we’re joined by Laurel Rematore, the chief executive officer of Smokies Life, to discuss the na…

1
405 City and County Master Plans, Pikes Peak Shuttle 40:22

3M ago40:22

40:22

On this week's podcast, Bob and Kevin discuss master plans projects underway for Colorado Springs' Fishers Canyon Open Space and El Paso County's Jones Park. Also, a discussion about timed-entry reservation requirement for Pikes Peak, and a new shuttle system that leaves out recreational users. Fishers Canyon Master Plan: https://tinyurl.com/3ndbv8…

1
404 A hike and conversation with "Hiking Unlimited" 24:12

2M ago24:12

24:12

On this week's podcast, Bob takes a short hike while interviewing Sheila Doherty a/k/a "Hiking Unlimited" on social media. An expert based in Phoenix, she gives advice on hiking in the desert Southwest, chats with Bob about her favorite trips and hikes, and also her future plans. Along on the hike was Sheila's friend, Michelle, a new hiker who was …

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Fossilized Parks 49:35

3M ago49:35

49:35

Have you ever closely inspected the landscape when you’re touring the National Park System, particularly in the West? You never know what you might find. Back in 2010 a 7-year-old attending a Junior Ranger program at Badlands National Park spied a partially exposed fossil that turned out to be the skull of a 32-million-year-old saber-toothed cat. I…

1
403 Want to hike to Hanging Lake? Plan ahead. 46:06

3M ago46:06

46:06

On this week's podcast, Bob is joined by co-host Kevin "Wild" Westendorf and they catch up on what Kevin has been doing since he was last on the show. They also discuss people behaving badly on trails, a rescue due to people being woefully underprepared, and if you want to hike to the popular Hanging Lake, you will need to prepare carefully and far…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Wolverine Recovery in Colorado 47:15

3M ago47:15

47:15

Wolverines, the largest land-dwelling members of the weasel family, once roamed across the northern tier of the United States, and as far south as New Mexico in the Rockies and southern California in the Sierra Nevada range. But after more than a century of trapping and habitat loss, wolverines in the lower 48 today exist only as small, fragmented …

1
402 Rocky Mountain Field Institute's Jolie NeSmith 44:29

3M ago44:29

44:29

On this week's podcast, Bob interviews Jolie NeSmith, the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI). They talk about her first year at the helm, including challenges and accomplishments, and then move on to discuss the 2024 work season. The review the projects RMFI will be working on, with an update on the multi-year Devils Pl…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Cultural Resource Challenge 42:15

3M ago42:15

42:15

Spur a discussion about traveling to a national park for a vacation and odds are that it will revolve around getting out into nature, looking for wildlife, perhaps honing your photography skills, or marveling at incredible vistas. Will the discussion include destinations that portray aspects of the country’s history, or cultural melting pot? Equati…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Nationalparks Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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