MAYA RIVERA SET OUT before sunrise, lacing her boots in the dim light of a headlamp as the chill of Yosemite Valley clung to the air.

The dos, the don’ts and how not to be “that person” So you’re heading to a U.S. national park. Elite choice. We love a main-character moment with mountains, canyons, waterfalls, and dramatic skies. But before you lace up your boots and sprint toward the nearest overlook, let’s talk about how to actually do this right — safely, responsibly, and without becoming the subject of someone else’s “tourist fail” TikTok. First: plan like you mean it. Parks like Yellowstone National Pa

Yosemite Valley and Bridalveil Fall at sunset from tunnel view, California. In a rare show of bipartisan unity, Congress this week passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill—bringing long-awaited funding clarity to the federal agencies that manage America’s public lands. According to a release from Outdoor Alliance , the bill passed as part of a broader funding package with overwhelming support: 82 Senators and 397 Representati