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New Magazine Feature: Ask a Park Ranger

Posted by Janelle Nanos on August 3, 2010
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Park Ranger in Acadia National ParkEvery so often, we let you in on the inner workings of Traveler magazine before it hits newsstands. And if you’re a close reader, you may be aware that I write a column each month on the latest news from the National Parks. I’ve come to love talking to the Rangers about all of their upcoming projects (and am a huge proponent of Thank a Ranger Day as a result). So we decided to change up the column a bit to hear more from them.

Starting in October, the new column “Ask a Ranger” will be answering reader-submitted questions about the parks. That’s where you come in. Are you planning a trip and need advice on the best hikes, campsites, or drives? Do you want to know the best places to get that perfect photo? Trying to put together an itinerary that has a little bit of everything? Wondering what you’ll need to pack? Or looking to learn more about a particular aspect of the parks (climbing, biking, fossils, plant life, birding, etc.) and need some guidance? I’ll track down the right Ranger to help answer your questions, and together we’ll help you put together an plan for your visit.

So please, submit your questions, as I need to get to work! You can add them in the comments, or email me now.

[National Park Travel Guide]

Photo: A Ranger leads a group of students at Duck Brook in Acadia National Park, July 2009. Via NPS.gov.

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Comments

  1. Kara L-P
    August 3, 2010, 5:35 pm

    My husband and I are planning a trip to Acadia National Park in early September. Neither of us has ever been to Acadia and we are QUITE excited at the prospect.
    We made reservations to (tent) camp at the Seawall campground. But that’s all we’ve prepared so far! Can you suggest a two-day itinerary (hikes/photo ops, scenic drives, etc.) that would introduce us to the famous and, perhaps, overlooked gems of the park? What should we not miss?
    Thanks!

  2. Jessica
    August 3, 2010, 8:01 pm

    We take trips to National Parks quite regularly, however we are never able to plan our trips out as well as we’d like. The maps & information pamplets found in the parks are always SO much better than those found online. Are parks willing to mail maps & pamplets (for a fee)? Does the NPS have any plans to make these maps & pamplets available online?

  3. Lou Kawakami
    August 3, 2010, 8:57 pm

    Looking forward to the Q&As in this section!
    I would like to see useful articles, links and highlights on how parks users and visitors can practice responsible outdoorsmanship. In particular, I would like practical info on being good visitors and minimising impact on wildlife – animals and vegetation.
    Thanks very much

  4. Pat Sanagan
    August 27, 2010, 6:06 pm

    My husband and I have just re-discovered camping because of the new ultra-light trailers.
    We are hoping to get to the Pacific Northwest next spring (May/June)and will want to do some hiking. However we are both 60 plus and while we are in good shape, we probably shouldn’t tackle major hikes – 3-4hours is probably our outside limit.
    Any ideas about the best hikes given this restriction would be appreciated. We hope to get to Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Olympic Peninsula national parks.
    Thanks ,
    Pat Sanagan,
    Ontario, Canada

  5. Virginia Greene
    August 30, 2010, 2:54 pm

    I recently did the hike to Bear Den Mountain starting at Mile 99.7 from the Skyline Drive, and found the path and the view with no trouble. But my Guidebook (Hiking Shenandoah National Park, by Bert and Jane Gildart, published 2006 by Falcon Guides) says “seven old tractor seats have been inserted by their posts into the ground”; and I saw no sign of them. The view was great, but no tractor seats. What has happened to them? Were they ever really there? I was disappointed.

  6. Virginia Greene
    August 30, 2010, 2:55 pm

    I recently did the hike to Bear Den Mountain starting at Mile 99.7 from the Skyline Drive, and found the path and the view with no trouble. But my Guidebook (Hiking Shenandoah National Park, by Bert and Jane Gildart, published 2006 by Falcon Guides) says “seven old tractor seats have been inserted by their posts into the ground”; and I saw no sign of them. The view was great, but no tractor seats. What has happened to them? Were they ever really there? I was disappointed.