U.S. National Park Service

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Reported birth of rare white buffalo calf in Yellowstone park fulfills Lakota prophecy

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The reported birth of a rare white buffalo in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times, according to members of the American Indian tribe who cautioned that it’s also a signal that more must be done to protect the earth and its animals.

https://apnews.com/article/white-buffalo-calf-lakota-prophecy-yellowstone-c7c77fb2791c2ccc271222bd0174aa99?

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Yellowstone officials: Rare white buffalo sacred to Native Americans not seen since June 4 birth

Yellowstone National Park officials said Friday a rare white buffalo sacred to Native Americans has not been seen since its birth on June 4.

https://apnews.com/article/yellowstone-white-buffalo-calf-86e95f80354a1ef6a5bced2b0a93bb49?

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5 people escape hot, acidic pond after SUV drove into inactive geyser in Yellowstone National Park

MAMMOTH, Wyo. (AP) — Five people were able to escape a hot, acidic pond in Yellowstone National Park after the sport utility vehicle they were riding in went off the road and into an inactive geyser, park officials said Friday.

https://apnews.com/article/suv-inactive-geyser-yellowstone-park-583bebfeb2a85efef3d94c57fb538597?

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US national parks are receiving record-high gift of $100M

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The official nonprofit organization of the National Park Service is set to receive the largest grant in its history, a $100 million gift the fundraising group described as transformative for the country’s national parks.

https://apnews.com/article/national-parks-foundation-largest-grant-9fb09b8cc54a9cd7265024e87dea020a?

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Most popular parks

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios Rocky Mountain National Park lost its top-five status last year. It now ranks sixth in visitors, Axios Denver's John Frank reports. The Colorado park's new permit system is limiting visitors, even as other parks abandon similar efforts. 🏔️ The five busiest national parks in 2025: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina (11.5 million visitors). Zion National Park, Utah (4.9 million). Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (4.7 million). Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (4.4 million). Yosemite National Park, California (4.2 million). Take a hike ...

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America's best idea

Visitors walking around Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone's Midway Geyser Basin in May. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images America's "best idea" remains one of its most popular — and influential. Stat du jour: The past three years have been among the busiest on record for America's national parks. The National Park Service logged 323 million visits last year — the third-highest total ever, after a record-setting 2024 and 2023. This year could bring another surge as people visit parks for the nation's semiquincentennial. 🏞️ The big picture: America invented the modern national park. Yellowstone, established on March 1, 1872, was the world's first such park, and it inspired other countries to protect their extraordinary landscapes and open them up to everyone — not just royalty or the wealthy. By the numbers: Today, the National Park Service manages 433 sites, including 63 national parks. Every state is home to at least one site, whether it's an expansive park, a monument or an iconic stretch of seashore. California has the most national parks (9), followed by Alaska (8) and Utah (5). 🎥 The intrigue: For many Americans — including several Finish Line readers — visiting all the national parks has become the ultimate bucket list adventure to be completed during a post-college gap year or after retiring. The journey has become a hobby in itself. People choose to mark the accomplishment in all sorts of ways, from decorating water bottles with stickers from each park to blogging and vlogging every stop. 📬 We want to hear from you! Which is your favorite national park and what's the best photo you snapped there? Send 'em to us at finishline@axios.com, and we'll feature them all summer long.