The Journal
Destinations to consider, gear we actually trust, checklists worth saving, and a few honest sounds and stories from the community.
Marmot’s End of Summer Sale: Up to 40% Off Through November 22
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here. Marmot’s End of Summer Sale is live now, with up to 40% off through November 22, 2026 — genuinely good timing if you’re gearing up for fall and winter trips. What’s […]
Five Yellowstone Campgrounds Are Moving to Recreation.gov for 2027
If you’re planning a Yellowstone camping trip for summer 2027, there’s a new place to book. Starting with the 2027 season, reservations for five of the park’s campgrounds move to Recreation.gov: Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant Village, Madison, and Fishing Bridge RV Park. Until now, those sites were booked through the park’s lodging concessionaire, Yellowstone National […]
California’s New Camping No-Show Rules: What the Three-Strikes Policy Means for Your Trip
California State Parks has tightened its cancellation rules, and the changes apply to every reservation with an arrival date on or after July 1, 2026. Late cancellations and no-shows now cost you the full price of the stay, and enough no-shows in a single year can lock you out of the booking system. The state’s […]
Traverse City State Park Is Reopening 151 Campsites for Fall
If a Traverse City State Park site slipped away from you over the past year, there is a window this fall. Michigan’s DNR is reopening 151 campsites at Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park from October 8 through November 8, even though the campground is in the middle of an $8.5 million redevelopment. What’s […]
How to Properly Put Out a Campfire
A campfire that looks out often isn’t. Embers can hide under a layer of gray ash and stay hot for hours, and according to the Forest Service, nearly 90 percent of wildfires nationwide are caused by people. Putting your fire out properly takes a few extra minutes, and it is the most important chore of […]
No Government Shutdown This Fall: What It Means for Your Park Trips
If you have a national park trip booked this fall and are wondering about a repeat of last year’s shutdown, the short answer is: not this October. Congress passed a stopgap funding bill early, and it was signed into law on September 2, so there is no lapse in funding as the new fiscal year […]
Davidson River Campground Aims to Reopen Oct. 1 in Time for Leaf Season
Davidson River Campground, one of the most popular campgrounds in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest, is close to reopening after nearly a year of renovations. The Forest Service’s goal is October 1, timed for leaf season, though the weather still gets a vote. A Long Road Back The campground closed in November 2025 for bathhouse […]
Silver Falls State Park: Oregon’s Waterfall-Packed Crown Jewel
Silver Falls is regularly called the “crown jewel” of Oregon’s state park system, and once you see why the reservation window sells out in minutes, you will understand the reputation is earned. The Trail That Makes This Park Famous Silver Falls is Oregon’s largest state park at more than 9,000 acres, built around the Trail […]
Pfeiffer Big Sur Was Just Named California’s Best State Park for Camping
The California State Parks Foundation just named Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park the best park for camping in the state for 2026 — and if you have ever driven Highway 1 through Big Sur without knowing this campground was tucked into the redwoods just off the road, it is easy to see why it won. […]