Western National Parks Association

There are over 21,000 miles of trails in the National Park Service, and many of our favorites are within our 72 partner parks. There are short hikes that take you through ancient pueblos or across the site of a battlefield. Or much longer routes that are thousands of miles long and designed to commemorate the overland journeys of people who came before. Hiking is a good way to get physical exercise. It’s a breath of fresh air and a welcome mental retreat from our busy modern lives. At Western National Parks Association, we recognize that hiking is also a way to gain a greater appreciation for the cultures, ecologies, and communities that make national parks so special. Looking for your next hike? Some of our trails will take you to: The summit of the tallest sand dune in North America. The largest open-air Ice Age fossil site in the Desert Southwest. A grove of the world’s most ancient trees. The nesting grounds of the world’s most critically endangered sea turtle. The most intact group of Spanish missions in the world. Tell us—where are you planning to hike next? #outdoors #outdoorrecreation #hiking #hikingshoes #hikingboots #hikingtrails #optoutside #leavenotrace

Happy birthday, National Park Service 🎂 On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill establishing the National Park Service! This landmark moment helped ensure the preservation of the nation's public lands as places for people to connect with vibrant cultures, learn about important history, and go #outside for recreation, education, or the simple enjoyment of natural beauty. We're proud to partner with 72 national parks across 12 states and look forward to many more years of connecting people to the parks they love. 📍: Pinnacles National Park, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, Channel Islands National Park, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Great Basin National Park, Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park. 📷: NPS / Gavin Emmons, Victoria Stauffenberg, Nicholas Goodman, Neha Mahajan, Reuven Bank, Andrew Cattoir, Teri Jobe, M. Murphy, Peter Jones

WNPA is thrilled to attend Arizona Governor’s Conference on Tourism this week, proudly representing our 18 incredible NPS destinations across the state. According to a recent National Park Service report, in 2022, Arizona's national parks welcomed 10.3 million visitors who contributed a remarkable $1.2 billion to the state. This spending created 16,418 jobs and brought a total economic impact of $1.88 billion. We are honored to help highlight the profound influence our national parks have on Arizona’s communities, economy, and natural heritage. Michael Matthews Maria DelVecchio Samuel B. Julie Thompson #AZGCOT

Gateway towns play a vital role in shaping the national park experience for millions of visitors each year. We want to extend our gratitude to Outside and Mikaela Ruland for highlighting the significance of these communities in their thoughtful article on gateway towns across the National Park Service. At Western National Parks Association, we deeply value these towns' contributions in enhancing every aspect of a park visit. Strengthening partnerships with Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CVBs) is key to our shared mission of creating unforgettable, enriching experiences for park visitors. We're thrilled to see two of WNPA’s partner gateway towns, Flagstaff and Alamosa, featured—communities that are indispensable to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.

National parks are powerful - they connect us to history, to culture, to nature, and to each other. Fort Bowie National Historic Site, this month's featured park, helps us remember and reflect on an important history that must not be forgotten. Learn the stories of the Chiricahua Apache who fought for their homelands here, breathe in the landscape's natural beauty, and pause in the moment of an unforgettable national park experience. Enjoy this month's featured park video for Fort Bowie National Historic Site, and we hope to see you at a national park soon! #nationalparks National Park Service #tourism #history #culture #preservation #arizona

We're thrilled to welcome Bret Muter to the WNPA team as the Director of Philanthropy and Programming. Bret is a creative, collaborative, and mission-driven leader with more than two decades of public service experience fusing interests in conservation, environmental education, communications, community engagement, fundraising, and development.    We are so fortunate that he is joining us on August 12 and look forward to expanding our philanthropic and programming under his leadership. #philanthropy #nationalparks

Explore and experience the significant history and breathtaking natural beauty at this month's featured park Fort Bowie National Historic Site, located on the ancestral homelands of the Chiricahua Apache. This southeast Arizona site preserves a history that must not be forgotten. Hike into this serene landscape that once saw turbulent battles as Indigenous peoples fought to protect their home. Learn more about Fort Bowie National Historic Site in August's edition of American West Monthly: https://lnkd.in/gmZPu_zy #nationalparks #tourism #arizona National Park Service

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, a landmark law investing in our public lands. To celebrate, today is a fee-free day in all US national parks! It’s a great day to #optoutside, have an adventure, and enjoy a little bit of our parks' natural beauty. 📍: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area 📷: NPS #findyourpark #nationalparks #recreateresponsibly #travel #tourism Outdoors #domoregood

This week’s trip to Colorado, which involved visiting six diverse and historically significant national parks, has been a whirlwind of experiences, connection, and learning. From the jaw-dropping depths of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park to the solemn reminder of the historical atrocities of Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, each park offers a powerful glimpse into our country's natural beauty, cultural heritage, and complex history. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: This park's steep cliffs, rugged rock formations, and coursing river create a dramatic landscape that is both humbling and breathtaking. Curecanti National Recreation Area: Nestled amidst stunning mesas, this area is a haven for water sports enthusiasts and nature lovers. Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site: Stepping into this reconstructed trading post is like traveling back to the days of the Santa Fe Trail, a time of great historical complexity. It offers rich insights into the frontier life of the 1800s. Amache National Historic Site: A somber and poignant reminder of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, this site underscores the importance of remembering and learning from our past. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve: Home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, this surreal landscape is a wonder of natural history and a playground for adventurers and dark sky enthusiasts. Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site: This site commemorates a tragic chapter in American history, honoring the memory of the Cheyenne and Arapaho people who lost their lives on November 29, 1864, at the hands of US soldiers. While traveling, I never have enough time to fully immerse in the stories, landscapes, cultures, and histories preserved in our national parks. But what never fails is that I always learn something new, find inspiration from the WNPA and National Park Service teams, and discover how WNPA can further support our partner parks. With each visit, I reflect on the power of connection and how we can grow as people.  Each park's unique story and significance contribute to a richer understanding of our nation's diverse landscapes and history, inspiring us to strive for a more just, responsible, and compassionate future. And, in my opinion, we all become better humans when we pause and allow ourselves to feel, learn, and connect in these vitally important places. Thank you, Lindsey S., WNPA Associate Director of Learning and Development, for your partnership on this journey. Most importantly, we are so grateful to our Western National Parks Association staff for your dedication and unwavering service to our park sites and the visitor experience.

If you're heading to a national park anytime soon, don't forget to visit the park store before you head home! 🏞️🛍️ Whether it's your first stop before hitting the trails 🥾🌲 or your last stop as you head toward the highway 🛣️, Western National Parks Association-operated stores are a meaningful part of your park experience. Every park store has items unique to that park 🏕️, and every purchase helps support the park. 🌟🌿Discover amazing items to take home and essential gear for your park adventure, and you might just spot adorable furry friends along the way. Don't miss the last picture! National Park Service #national parks #retail #retailwithpurpose #retailmatters #outside #hike #optoutside #explore Coronado National Memorial Saguaro National Park Guadalupe Mountains National Park Petroglyph National Monument Bandelier National Monument