Celebrating National Hiking Day

Mark your calendars: this Sunday is National Hiking Day! This is a great opportunity to invite a friend or take a family member out on a hike, especially those that have never really experienced the joys of traipsing through the woods. For those of you who might be asking; yes, this is a relatively new "holiday." In 2015, the American Hiking Society officially designated November 17 of each year as National Hiking Day, also known as “Take A Hike Day,” to encourage more people to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

To help celebrate National Hiking Day I’ve put my entire collection of eBooks on sale (see below). Right now, all four of my eBooks are half off at Amazon – just $4.95 each. What better way to learn about every day hike in Glacier or Grand Teton? Or, help you discover new hikes across the entire Rocky Mountain Range? Or, if you really want to impress your hiking friends with your knowledge of our favorite pastime, check out my book on the history of hiking!

Lastly, with Christmas just around the corner, these books will also make great gifts for all your hiking friends. And as a bonus, now's a great opportunity to get ahead of the Black Friday madness!


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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:

[This book is also available in paperback]

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Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

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Rising more than 7000 feet above Jackson Hole, the majestic mountains of Grand Teton National Park provide one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. With more than 240 miles of trails meandering throughout this park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Grand Teton National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Grand Teton:

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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk in the woods for pleasure?

Ramble On explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world:

[This book is also available in paperback]

As always, thank you very much!

Glacier National Park announces a timed entry vehicle reservation pilot for 2025

Glacier National Park will once again implement a pilot vehicle reservation system in 2025, from June 13 to September 28, 2025, for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork. Visitors can begin making advance reservations on February 12, 2025. Reservations will be required from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. As in previous years, visitors may enter reservation areas without a reservation before or after reservation hours.

New in 2025, the park will be piloting timed entry reservations for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork. Visitors will enter the park according to the time block they have reserved and can remain in the park for as long as they like on the day of their reservation. Visitors who miss their reserved time block can enter after 3 p.m. Multiple time blocks will be available between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Additional information regarding time blocks will be announced in a separate press release.

“In 2025 we are continuing successful measures from the 2024 season, including access to Apgar Village, Two Medicine, and the East Entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road outside of the vehicle reservation system. Within that successful framework we are going to try timed entry to see if we can minimize congestion, optimize visitor arrival, and improve visitor experiences,” said Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer. “Timed entry has proven to be a valuable tool in other popular national parks and should reduce congestion and wait times at the West Entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road.”

West Entrance
One timed entry reservation per vehicle will be required to travel Going-to-the-Sun Road beyond the Apgar Village area from June 13 through September 28, 2025, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can enter before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. Like previous years, visitors with lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity reservations can access their intended service within the Going-to-the-Sun Road reservation area with proof of their reservation. Only commercial reservations that originate beyond the Apgar vehicle reservation checkpoint and west of Logan Pass will provide entry in place of a vehicle reservation.

As a reminder, lodging, camping (including Fish Creek and Apgar campgrounds), and commercial activity reservations originating in Apgar will not provide access beyond the Apgar vehicle reservation check point. .

North Fork
One timed entry reservation per vehicle will be required at the Polebridge entrance station June 13 through September 28, 2025, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can enter before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m. without a vehicle reservation. A reservation is not required to access the community of Polebridge which is located outside the park entrance.

Two Medicine Valley and St. Mary
As in 2024, vehicle reservations will not be required to enter Two Medicine Valley or the St. Mary entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2025. Entry may be temporarily restricted at certain times of day (typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.) when areas become too congested. Visitors with service reservations (e.g., boat tours, lodging, horseback ride, guided hikes) in these areas will be permitted entry during temporary restrictions.

Many Glacier Valley
As the park has previously announced, the Swiftcurrent area of Many Glacier Valley will be closed to public access during the summer of 2025 due to ongoing construction. The closure will greatly reduce the amount of available parking in Many Glacier Valley. The park is currently researching access alternatives for the valley in 2025. More information about 2025 visitor access options will be announced in a separate news release.

Vehicle reservations and entrance passes
Vehicle reservations will only be available on Recreation.gov, the Recreation.gov mobile app, or through the Recreation.gov Call Center (Reservation Line: 877-444-6777). Each of the specified areas of the park will require a separate reservation. Visitors will need to set up an account on Recreation.gov to obtain reservations. The only cost associated with booking a reservation is a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.

Vehicle reservations will be available through two booking windows.

* A portion of reservations will be available 120 days or approximately four months in advance, starting on February 12, 2025, at 8 a.m. MST on a rolling basis on Recreation.gov.

* The remaining vehicle reservations will be available at 7 p.m. MDT for next-day entry starting on June 12, 2025.

In addition to a vehicle reservation, each vehicle entering the park is required to have an entrance pass for any entry point into the park. These passes could include any of the following: a $35 vehicle pass, good for seven days; a valid Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass; or a Glacier National Park Annual Pass. A vehicle reservation does not include an entrance pass, and the park entrance pass does not serve as a vehicle reservation.

Pursuant to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, vehicle reservations are not required for tribal members throughout the park.

Visitors are encouraged to check the park website frequently for updates and additional information.

Grizzly bear #399's remains returned to Grand Teton National Park

On November 1, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with Grand Teton National Park, honored the legacy of grizzly bear #399 by returning her ashes to the Pilgrim Creek area of the park, where she spent much of her life. Following a respectful cremation, grizzly #399’s remains were brought back to Grand Teton National Park, recognizing the connection grizzly #399 had to the area and the interest she inspired among visitors to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

“399 will always be part of this special place,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “However, there is still work to do to ensure her descendants and all grizzly bears continue to thrive in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. It's up to all of us to make sure they do.”

Grizzly bear #399, who lived a long life and contributed significantly to the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, was killed in an accidental vehicle collision on October 22, 2024, approximately 40 miles south of Grand Teton National Park. Following the accident, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service received considerable public interest regarding how to honor the bear’s legacy. Taking into account the range of thoughts shared by the public, as well as operational and safety considerations, wildlife managers cremated her remains and returned them to her natural habitat.

“Grizzly bear #399 captivated people around the world, inspiring many to learn about the conservation of this important species,” said Hilary Cooley, Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “We received an outpouring of appreciation for #399 and aimed to honor these sentiments in handling her remains.”

Grizzly bear #399’s yearling has not been located, though there is no indication it was struck in the collision. Given the bear’s age and the time of year, the yearling has a strong chance of surviving independently, and there are no current plans to capture it.

Grizzly bear #399’s life brought global attention to the grizzly population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and underscored the unique opportunity and responsibility to coexist with these iconic animals. The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue to work with partners to find ways to honor the legacy of grizzly bear #399 through education and conservation efforts.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com