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A new report shows that visitors to national parks spent a record amount in surrounding communities last year, providing a major economic boost to those areas.

The National Park Service released visitation statistics this week showing that five of the top 15 most-visited parks in 2022 are in the Mountain West. Big crowds can put pressure on national parks, though.

Researchers have new evidence that enhancing wildlife connectivity between national parks in the West would help animals live hundreds of generations longer.

The Biden Administration has recognized some national landmarks in our region. But some advocates want to see more sites protected that are important to underrepresented groups.

Several environmental and scientific groups are petitioning the Department of the Interior to ban lead-based ammunition and tackle in national parks. They argue the move would be meaningful in slowing the spread of lead poisoning in wildlife.

National Park Service locations report how many people visit, how much tourists spend and how many jobs that creates every year. In 2021, those visitors spent more than $20 billion.

They signed onto a letter that calls on the National Park Service to extend reservation windows up to a year out.

Glacier National Park has re-instituted a mask mandate inside federal buildings, like visitor centers. Officials there say they’re following National Park Service and Interior Department guidance. That is, when the CDC reports a high level of COVID-19 community spread around a park, officials re-institute an indoor mask mandate. Other national parks could bring back mask requirements, too, if rates increase around the West.

As of this week, the National Park Service is requiring masks in crowded parks again. The new mask mandate will require everyone, regardless of vaccine status, to wear masks in national park facilities and in crowded outside areas. That means you’ll need a mask wherever you can’t adequately distance outside.

Astronaut Megan McArthur grew up visiting national parks like Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Zion. Now she’s photographing them from 250 miles above the surface of Earth.