This year's most funky finds in Yellowstone National Park

The latest edition of Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles features an itemization of all the trash left behind by visitors in the park’s hydrothermal areas this year. As a result, Yellowstone National Park’s Geology team has collected some pretty interesting stuff.

According to the article, "As of early September 2026, Yellowstone’s Geology team has removed more than 20,100 pieces of trash, 5,600 rocks and sticks, and over 280 hats from hydrothermal areas around the park—a record-setting year so far! Among all that debris have been a lot of interesting items, some wacky, some yucky, and others... puzzling?

Here are (some of) the 2026 hydrothermal debris highlights:

Most head-scratching: Some of the more bizarre things to find in a hydrothermal area: 5 Airpods, 3 Delta Flight Pins, an inhaler, 3 golf tees, and an Uno card.

Most common: Besides the abundant plastic and paper trash collected by the team, the most common items found in hydrothermal areas are camera lens caps (54), hair ties (47), binkies (17), hotel key cards (20), pencils (42), and sunglasses (36)!

Grossest: In 2026, the Geology team found 6 (!) Invisalign retainers, 15 fake nails, numerous floss picks, and one lump of glittery pink children’s slime stuck to a handful of geyserite sinter pieces.

Please click here to read the full story.



              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

National Public Lands Day 2026

This Saturday, September 26, an estimated tens of thousands of volunteers across the country will join together for the 33rd annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD), which supports and celebrates America's public lands through activities like trail maintenance, tree planting, beach clean-ups, and more. NPLD is a fee-free day that not only supports conservation efforts but invites participants to experience and appreciate the beauty of America's public lands.

This year's theme, "Caring for our Shared America," calls on all of us to show up for the parks, trails, forests, and waterways we hold in common. Hosted by the National Environmental Education Foundation, National Public Lands Day is a collective act of care that brings communities together and strengthens our shared American story.

National Public Lands Day is more than a clean-up—it connects communities, provides meaningful outdoor experiences for attendees, and showcases the educational, recreational, and health benefits of public lands. The excitement surrounding NPLD also provides a boost in volunteer recruitment for federal, state, and local public land managers. Last year, over 52,000 volunteers participated in more than 750 events across the US, representing $10.5 million in volunteer service.

To find interesting NPLD events happening near you, please visit https://www.neefusa.org/npld-event-search, or visit the National Parks event page.



                *******************************************************************************

From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:

Golden Gate Canyon State Park achieves Urban Night Sky Place designation

Golden Gate Canyon State Park has achieved Urban Night Sky Place designation from DarkSky International in recognition of the park’s efforts to lessen metropolitan light pollution for wildlife and habitat conservation. Golden Gate Canyon staff worked to replace or retrofit 96 light fixtures, increase education programming to align with DarkSky principles, hold regular star gazing parties and forge relationships with local astronomy groups.

"By protecting the night skies at Golden Gate Canyon State Park, we’re protecting a natural resource and creating opportunities for people of all ages to explore, learn and appreciate the stars in Colorado," said Park Administrative Assistant Bronwyn Phillips.

“DarkSky International is proud to welcome another of Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s state parks into the International Dark Sky Place Program with Golden Gate Canyon State Park’s certification as an Urban Night Sky Place,” said Michael Rymer, DarkSky International Community Program Manager. “Golden Gate Canyon is Colorado’s first Urban Night Sky Place, and sites like these are integral to protecting nighttime environments that are so close to urban areas, while also educating visitors about the issue of light pollution and why dark skies are so important. The staff and volunteers at Golden Gate Canyon have done exceptional work, and we are encouraged to see further progress in and around the park in the future.”

Golden Gate Canyon began the application process in 2024 with assistance from the Colorado Tourism Office and DarkSky Colorado. CPW staff also worked with multiple municipalities and agencies to become an Urban Night Sky Park including the Jefferson County Commission, City of Golden, Gilpin County, University of Colorado Boulder United Power and Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance.

The park joins Jackson Lake State Park as the second state park recognized by DarkSky International. Jackson Lake was named an International Dark Sky Park in 2020.



              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Watch for flash flooding while recreating in Colorado through Thursday

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the four corners region:

FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.

* WHERE...A portion of southwest Colorado, including the following areas, Animas River Basin, Four Corners/Upper Dolores River, Northwest San Juan Mountains, San Juan River Basin and Southwest San Juan Mountains.

* WHEN...Through Thursday evening.

* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. This also includes the Gold Mountain, Elk and Ferris burn scars as well as areas of steep, susceptible terrain.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- Recent heavy rainfall in southwest Colorado has led to already saturated ground. In addition, multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening producing periods of heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding.

Click here for the latest updates.



              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Meet America's first extreme hiker

The following is an excerpt from Ramble On: A History of Hiking:

In all likelihood, Norwich, Vermont native Alden Partridge is America’s first avid hiker. Although he’s probably best known as the fifth superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he also established a series of private military academies. According

to A History of Norwich, Vermont, Captain Partridge was also “a noted pedestrian, on several occasions walking sixty miles a day, and once pacing off seventy miles within that limit.” As an example of his endurance, strength and tenacity, in 1818 he undertook an extended excursion that included ascents of both Mt. Mansfield and the Camel’s Hump, the highest and third-highest peaks in Vermont. The entire trip, which covered roughly 200 miles, was made within a week, much of it in cold, drenching rain that involved tough, challenging bushwhacks up both mountains. In 1830, at the age of 45, Captain Partridge trekked to Massachusetts and back, a roundtrip hike that covered roughly 300 miles and ended with a grueling 64-mile march on the last day. During his fairly long life, the indefatigable military instructor recorded numerous extended treks across the Northeast, as well as ascents of several prominent peaks, including Mt. Washington, Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Equinox, Mt. Ascutney, Killington Peak, Grand Monadnock and Mt. Moosilauke. In an article published on the Norwich University website, journalist and historian Mark Bushnell proclaimed Partridge to be “the first extreme hiker.” According to Bushnell, Partridge also “wrote widely circulated newspaper columns about his wilderness treks and in so doing helped popularize the sport of hiking.”

Learn more about Alden Partridge and the other pioneers of hiking in Ramble On: A History of Hiking.



                *******************************************************************************

Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.