University of Miami, School of Communication

Welcome !

There are 401 parks, preserves, historical parks and battlefields, monuments, historic sites, memorials and other units that are part of the national park system in the United States in summer 2013. They attracted about 282 million visitors in 2012.

We hope you will find our work valuable to your interest in the U.S. national parks.

These parks are found in just about every region of the nation, from remote places to busy urban areas.

Since 2002, journalism and other School of Communication students at the University of Miami have prepared a series of about 600 feature and news articles with accompanying photographs, maps, lists, charts, and multimedia. Many of the contributors to this site are also part of the South Florida Travel Writers Group.

Our stories, images, and multimedia content tell you about the activities, environments, scenic rivers and recreation areas, the unusual places, monuments, historical sites, cultural heritage, museums, nearby places, and the people of Our National Parks.

We are developing our fall 2013 projects. In the meantime, please check our spring 2013 work as well as other recent efforts on the site. We hope you will take time to view our story packages.

The name of our site comes from the ground-breaking 1901 book by naturalist John Muir, Our National Parks. It is in the spirit of Muir's life-long effort to preserve some of America's most remarkable wilderness spaces that we have developed this journalistic work.

We remind readers that the information in these stories was current when it was posted, but information may have changed over time. Each article that we prepare has a posting date at the top right of the page. Always check for changes in fees, facilities, hours of operation, dates, and other information before traveling.

Featured Parks and Locations

		Issues and Problems facing Our National Parks This unique section of our Web site examines many of the most pressing issues and problems that involve our parks at both the national and regional levels. Our most recent set of stories is being prepared in fall 2013 and we continue to offer our work from earlier projects.
		Acadia National Park We journeyed to New England and Maine in fall 2013 to visit Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island and near Bar Harbor. We highlight activities --- such as hiking, bicycling, whale watching, kayaking, dining on local foods, and lobster fishing --- in and around the park.
		Rocky Mountain National Park We traveled to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in fall 2012 and spring 2011 to visit Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park. Our work during these trips highlights the alpine environment, the animals, trees, hiking trails, camping, and other outdoor activities.
		Joshua Tree National Park We traveled to the Mojave and Colorado deserts of Southern California in fall 2011 to visit Joshua Tree National Park near Twentynine Palms. Our work highlights the unique desert environment, its animals, Joshua trees, trails, camping, and other outdoor activities.
		Grand Teton National Park We traveled to the Grand Teton Mountains of Wyoming in fall 2011 to visit Grand Teton National Park near Jackson Hole. Our work highlights the environment, wildlife, plants and trees, trails and hiking, bicycling, the Jackson Hole art scene, and other activities.

Header photographs, issues photograph, and video by Bruce Garrison. Joshua Tree, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain featured parks photos by Zongchao Li. Statue of Liberty photograph courtesy of the National Park Service.