July 12, 2026

Presented By

Simon Nicoloso

Editor’s note

Good morning. Put on your Patagonia, open up AllTrails, and Google “what to do if bear,” because we’re talkin’ national parks, baby. From Mount Rainier to Death Valley, US national parks feature some of the most stunning ecosystems and geological features in the world. We’ll take you through the history of the National Park Service, explain the economics behind the parks, outline their unique charms (and dangers), and throw in some tips to make the best of your excursion. Welcome to Morning Brew Park.

cash canyon

How much it costs to run a national park

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A solid fleet of riding mowers and a couple cans of bear spray should do the trick, right? The National Park Service (NPS) manages more than 85 million acres of public land in the US, including the 50+ million acres of actual national parks and the 87 national monuments frequented by classes of eighth graders. But how much money the federal government grants the agency to run the parks, and how much it actually costs to operate them, are very different.

Federal money. In January, Congress passed an annual budget bill that approved $2.88 billion to operate the NPS through October of this year. That’s a steep decline from the 2023 budget of $3.48 billion, but relatively flat from 2025.

This year’s budget was almost slashed. Last May, the Trump administration proposed a more than $1 billion cut to the NPS, but public pushback forced lawmakers to cut the cuts. National park advocates celebrated, though a decade of reduced staffing (exacerbated by steep 25% cuts last year) and booming visitor numbers since the pandemic have already left park staff stretched thin:

In popular parks like Yosemite, too few park rangers mean visitors are running wild and flying drones, climbing without permits, and throwing trash wherever they want.
Last summer, some parks that required entrance fees but didn’t have enough staff to collect them resorted to implementing QR codes and asking visitors to abide by the honor system.
The NPS reported about $23 billion in deferred maintenance projects (e.g., fixing restrooms, maintaining hiking trails, etc.) at the end of 2024.

Other income. Park fees, private philanthropy, and volunteers help sustain the parks. The National Park Foundation, which is a nongovernmental organization and a nonprofit, said it donated over $83.8 million last year to parks and their partners. Parks also take a percentage of private concessions and lodging if they are operated on their property.

The economic output is massive. In 2024, national parks helped generate $56.3 billion for the US economy and provided 340,100 jobs, according to the NPS. A huge chunk of that spend went to small towns near parks or gateway regions.—MM

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PARKING BETWEEN THE LINES

The crowds are charmed and potentially dangerous

Crowded hike on Angel's Landing in Zion National Park

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If you visit a national park this summer, expect to spend some time camped out in line. While that could be the perfect opportunity to delete all of those accidental screenshots of your phone alarm, it might also put you in a dangerous position.

Tough crowds: Between the parks’ entrances, shuttles, visitor centers, and bathrooms, many travelers are sick of the lines before they even reach the first trailhead. But that’s when they need the most patience, since what makes national parks beautiful—like rugged terrain and cliffside views—can also make them unforgiving:

At Half Dome in California’s Yosemite National Park, several people have reportedly died from accidental falls while traversing the cable system that helps climbers maintain their footing.
At Angel’s Landing, a trail in Utah’s Zion National Park that also uses cables in its most treacherous section, at least 17 people have died from falls, according to local officials. “When there’s a lot of people, a lot of crowds, it can be so dangerous to hold the cables,” mountaineer Sherin Elmeleegy told KSNV Las Vegas.

Wild cards: Trail traffic can also make a 20-minute hike last hours, prolonging exposure to high temperatures and making it harder to avoid storms that pop up midclimb.—BC

timeline

Here are some key dates in the history of US national parks:

1864: President Abraham Lincoln signs the Yosemite Grant, making it a protected area and giving it to California “upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort, and recreation.”

1872: The Yellowstone National Park Act is signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant. It establishes Yellowstone as the first national park in the US and goes on to inspire half a dozen Taylor Sheridan shows.

1916: President Woodrow Wilson creates the National Park Service.

1933: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs an executive order consolidating 56 national monuments and military sites from the Forest Service and the War Department to the National Park Service.

1944: Smokey Bear (there is no “the” in his name) is created by the Forest Service. He’s been warning people about forest fires ever since.

1972: Attendance at national parks reaches 165 million for the year.

2014: Fat Bear Tuesday debuts at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, setting the stage for the first Fat Bear Week the following year.

2020: New River Gorge in West Virginia becomes the most recently established national park in the US, and the 63rd overall.—DL

Darkness amid light

Nocturnal purists head to the 18 national parks that are designated as official Dark Sky Places by DarkSky International, an organization that certifies locations as having minimal light pollution:

The Official Dark Sky Park list includes the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and Zion National Parks.
Even fewer are dark enough to offer the clearest views of the Milky Way and phenomena like Zodiacal Light, meriting inclusion in Dark Sky’s top Gold tier, awarded to parks like California’s Death Valley, Big Bend National Park in Texas, Utah’s Canyonlands National Park, and Nevada’s Grand Basin National Park.

The National Park Service minimizes artificial light disturbance by using glare-free light fixtures, pointing illumination downward, and encouraging visitors to use red flashlights. And many national parks host celebrations of nighttime celestial wonders, known as dark sky nights, with astronomer talks and opportunities to peer through telescopes.

Satellite view: Only 20% of North Americans live in areas where they can see the Milky Way, with the starry spiral blurred by industrial light and particulate emissions for the rest.—SK

(ALPINE) BOWLING ALONE

National parks where you can avoid crowds

Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park

Getty Images

As many national parks become more hectic than a mall on Black Friday, here are some less frequented options where you can be alone with nature without hearing about a stranger’s homemade trail mix recipe:

Trek to the top of the world…at the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska, a vast expanse of rugged Arctic tundra and mountains ideal for experienced outdoorspeople looking for backcountry backpacking, rafting down rapid rivers, and caribou-watching. The northernmost and second-largest national park in the US, it was visited by fewer than 15,000 people last year.

Ascend “America’s Alps”…at the North Cascades National Park in Washington state. This snowy peak-laden park was visited by nearly 47,000 people last year despite being less than three hours from Seattle. There are alpine climbs for beginner and advanced mountaineers, as well as the glacial Diablo Lake, famous for its turquoise tint. But beware of frequent wildfires.

Go off-grid…at Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park, situated on an island in the pristine waters of Lake Superior and accessible only by boat or seaplane. The Midwest’s best-kept secret is prized for its forested seclusion and lack of light pollution.

Dive into history…at the Dry Tortugas National Park—an archipelago that’s home to Fort Jefferson, which served as a prison during the Civil War—near Key West, Florida. Once you’ve satisfied your Civil War buff dad, snorkel or dive in the surrounding blue waters to explore the massive coral reef that makes up much of this park’s territory.

Get sandy without the beach…at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in eastern Colorado, boasting the highest altitude desert environment in North America and superb birdwatching.

Beyond the US

Hike without elevation in England…in the fairytale-like moorlands of England’s Exmoor National Park, punctuated by rocky cliffs, undulating hills, and a medieval castle.

Go on a Hellenic odyssey…along the vertiginous gorges of Vikos–Aoös National Park in northwestern Greece, threaded by uncrowded footpaths that cross ancient stone bridges and lead to breathtaking mountain vistas.—SK

MAILBAG

Last week, we asked you to tell us about your favorite national parks. Here are some of our favorite responses:

“The Waco Mammoth National Monument in Texas—it’s a museum and active Columbian Mammoth dig site. The Columbian Mammoth is bigger than a woolly, and there are SO MANY at this dig site! Did you know there are only 20 paleontologists employed by the National Park Service and one of them works at this park? I just went in May for the first time with a few of my nieces and nephews, and the park was perfect for adults and kids. There were a few different trails to hike through, but the best part was the volunteer staff who were incredibly knowledgeable about the active dig. They told the story about how these fossils were found on private property in a creek bed by a few teenagers just goofing around and it has led to essentially a mass grave for these gigantic creatures. They are still discovering fossils in this area, and there are some apprentices actively working when you visit.”—Ginalle from Chicago, IL
“Florida’s Everglades National Park because deep within the ‘River of Grass’ exists the rare and mysterious Ghost Orchid, a delicate flower that appears to float in midair.”—Bob from Fort Lauderdale, FL
“California’s Channel Islands National Park is a gorgeous park for a group of islands with amazing views, requires a ferry ride, and offers hiking, camping, and water activities. I loved learning the island’s history: For thousands of years, it was sacred to indigenous Americans, then it was turned into a working ranch that destroyed the land with sheep and pigs. Finally, it was reclaimed to become a national park. To restore the island, the Nature Conservancy hired a New Zealand-based hunting firm with helicopters to eradicate thousands of wild pigs that were destroying the land. Now it’s a success story that demonstrates the great progress made to reclaim the land.”—Carol from Monument, CO

brew's best

A cookbook inspired by America’s national parks.
Ten more gorgeous national parks you’ll have to leave the US to see.
Is that Zion or Yosemite? Identify national parks from one picture.
One of the last fire lookouts in the world keeps watch over Washington’s Cascades.
Check for closures, heat notices, and other active alerts before your park trip.
The travel backpack that fits almost anything you could need at a national park.**

Get inspired by the US Men’s National Team in The Assist, a docuseries from New York Life. It reveals the moving stories behind Tim Ream, Tyler Adams, and Matt Turner.*

^{*A message from our sponsor. **This is a product recommendation from our writers. When you buy through this link, Morning Brew may earn a commission.}

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answer

We made up “Great Lakes National Park.” Sorry, Yoopers.

Written by Matty Merritt, Brendan Cosgrove, Dave Lozo, Sam Klebanov, Molly Liebergall, and Adam Epstein

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