National Park After Dark
Hosted by two friends who share a passion for public lands and a fascination with what can go wrong there, each week hosts Danielle and Cassie explore the darker side of our National Parks. But it isn’t always chills and thrills. By sharing inspiring tales and their desire for protecting our planet’s wild places, they hope listeners will be inspired to take a walk into the wild and create meaningful adventures of their own.
Episodes
The Deadly Hunt for the Lost Dutchman Mine: Tonto National Forest
When a dying prospector revealed the secret of a hidden gold mine deep within Arizona's Superstition Mountains, he ignited a mystery that has lured people to their deaths for more than a century. Cryptic maps, mysterious stone carvings, suspicious deaths, and countless expeditions have failed to reveal it’s location. More than 130 years later, the Lost Dutchman Mine remains one of America's greate
Trail Tales 98: Spooky Sleuths, Tentacle Bunnies & Shaming Monkey Owners
Today’s stories include spooky sleuths, tentacle bunnies, satisfying curses, bully grouse, and shaming monkey owners. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the sh
What Happened to Sheila Kearns? Mount Rainier National Park
In the fall of 1996, 43 year old Sheila Kearns had just finished her first summer season working in Mount Rainier and was excited to begin a winter season in the park she had grown to love. When she failed to show up for work at the National Park Inn, a search was dispatched. It wasn’t until seven months later when her scattered remains were found less than a mile from her housing. 30 years later
The Cog Railway Disaster: White Mountain National Forest
Mount Washington became the location of one of the deadliest accidents in American Railroad history in 1967. Home to the world's first Cog Railway, a routine descent turned catastrophic when the locomotive left the tracks, sending a passenger car full of tourists into a terrifying runaway ride down one of the steepest railroad grades in the world.
For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodca
Trail Tales 97: Hot Cowboys, Cold Nights & Bathroom Ghosts
Today’s stories include cold camping, hot cowboys, haunted first dates, high evacuations, bathroom ghosts, and a bad night in the Badlands. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Su
The Mysterious Death of Mostly Harmless: Big Cypress National Reserve
In July of 2018, two hikers in Big Cypress National Preserve stumbled across a deceased camper. The man was emaciated, surrounded with food and cash but no form of identification. The mystery surrounding who this man was stretched nearly two years. Law enforcement, the media, and thousands of online sleuths worked tirelessly to identify the man in the yellow tent, but what they ultimately discover
The Grizzly Mauling That Changed Yellowstone National Park
In June 1972, 23-year-old Harry Walker left Alabama for the adventure of a lifetime. Days after arriving in Yellowstone National Park, he was killed by a grizzly bear. Harry's death exposed decades of controversial bear management practices and sparked a legal battle against the federal government. At the center of it all was a question that Yellowstone had been struggling to answer for generation
Trail Tales 96 ft. LGBTQ Outdoors
Today’s stories includes campsite sabotage, bigfoot gaslighting, Yosemite Valley spookiness, type 3 fun, finding belonging, and titanic-ing in Voyageurs National Park. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
Connect with LGBTQ Outdoors!!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:
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The Sasquatch Scapegoat: Sierra National Forest
In June of 1987, 16 year old Theresa Ann Bier vanished while on a camping trip outside of Yosemite National Park. The man who accompanied her, 43-year-old Russell “Skip” Welch, returned alone days later with a startling story - Bigfoot took her.
For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on
Abducted on Lake Champlain
On the shores of Vermont’s Lake Champlain in the summer of 1968, two camp counselors watched a glowing craft descend over the dark water before losing hours of time they could never explain. What followed were terrifying dreams, recovered memories, hypnosis sessions, and claims of telepathic contact that would haunt them for decades. Known today as the Buff Ledge abduction case, the encounter beca
Trail Tales 95: Ghost Grandpas, Faking Injuries & Spooky Flavored Lore
Today’s stories include ghost grandpas, tent crushes, trail angels and spooky flavored lore. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show by becoming an Outsider and re
2 Girls, 1 Fort: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Looming over St. Augustine, Castillo de san Marcos, the oldest stone masonry fort in the country, has drawn paranormal enthusiasts from far and wide. With over three centuries of history, the fort has seen its fair share of tragedy. Spanish battles, sordid affairs, indigenous internment and more have led to a plethora of ghost stories - today’s episode delves into the truth behind the legends.
The Full Ted Bundy Story | Presenting America’s Most Infamous Crimes
Serial killers. Unsolved murders. Investigations that gripped America. If you think you know these cases, think again.
America's Most Infamous Crimes is a Crime House original hosted by Katie Ring. Each week, we go deep on one of the most notorious true-crime cases in American history. Not the quick recap version, but the full story told across multiple episodes every Tuesday through Thursday.
F
Kidnapped by a Satanic Cult? Alpine National Park
A couple heads out for a picnic, but everything changes when they’re attacked by masked strangers and taken deep into the wilderness of Alpine National Park. Their disappearance sparks a massive search, but as police begin investigating, strange details start to emerge, and suspicion grows that something far more calculated than originally believed may be behind it… possibly even a cult.
For a
Trail Tales 94: P***y Poltergeists, Dirtbag Dads & Wholesome Hauntings
Today’s stories include pussy poltergeists, wholesome hauntings, cobbler killers and horrible first impressions. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show by becoming an
Not Our War: Namib-Naukluft National Park
Henno Martin and Hermann Korn were two German-born geologists conducting research in present-day Namibia when World War II broke out. Instead of facing internment or being forced into a war they did not believe in, these two friends loaded up a truck with their dog Otto and some basic survival supplies and set out to escape the war by surviving off the land in the harsh Namib desert.
For a full
Adventure, Death & A Mother’s Day Tradition: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Every Mother’s Day, hundreds of climbers hike up Mount St. Helens wearing bright and elaborate dresses, a tradition that’s fun and easy to laugh at. However, behind this celebration is the story of Kathy Phibbs, a bold climber who helped create space for women in the mountains. When a winter climb on Washington’s Dragontail Peak goes wrong, a legacy that’s as inspiring as it is heartbreaking is le
Trail Tales 93: ASStronauts, Butt Foam & Getting Too High
Today’s stories include full moons, lost partners, foam to the face, and getting high in God’s Country. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show by becoming an Outsider
The Mountain That Moves: The Frank Slide Disaster
In April of 1903, Turtle Mountain fell. Long known by indigenous nations to be dangerous, the town of Frank built at its base and mined into its sides nonetheless. In the early morning hours of April 29th, 100 million tons of rock broke free and hurdled down the mountain, killing 70 people and burying much of the town in nearly 100 feet of debris. It was over in less than 90 seconds, but has remai
The Incarcerated Women Fighting California’s Fires: Santa Monica National Recreation Area
Across California, incarcerated women are sent to the frontlines of wildfires, risking their lives for a chance at reduced sentences and a small paycheck. On Malibu 13-3, an all-women fire crew, the work was brutal, the stakes were high, and the bond between crew members ran deep.
When a falling boulder killed one of their own, it exposed the reality behind the program, the risks, the lack of pro
Trail Tales 92 ft. National Park Trust
Today we are joined by Aylish and Annaliese from the National Park
Trust! They speak to us about all the wonderful programs the NPT
facilitates while also helping us share trail tales that include
thieving bears, grandpa lore, wise 5th graders, bison close encounters
and the healing power of nature.
Learn more and support the National Park Trust
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc
The Murder of Bianca Rudolph: Kafue National Park
In October 2016, Bianca Rudolph was killed while on a hunting trip with her husband Larry in Kafue National Park. Initially reported as an accidental firearm discharge, her death raised suspicions amongst family and friends who believed her husband had much more to hide than met the eye.
For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel de
Acadia National Park, Just Skip It! ft. Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet
Acadia, it’s just not for everyone! Today we are joined by sibling hosts Christine and Xandy Schiefer of Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet to visit some of the most loved, and apparently loathed, locations in the park.
WE WERE NOMINATED FOR A WEBBY! VOTE FOR US HERE BY APRIL 16TH!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:
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Trail Tales 91
Today’s stories include silent fury, collecting clouds, Titanic misses, cougar snacks, haunted Maine, and late night cheesy bread. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
WE WERE NOMINATED FOR A WEBBY! VOTE FOR US HERE BY APRIL 16TH!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:
Instagram: @n
The Bravest Little Dog in Alaska: Glacier Bay National Park
In the summer of 1880, John Muir set out to explore the icy wilderness of what is now Glacier Bay National Park. Traveling by canoe with a missionary and Tlingit guides, he reluctantly allowed a small black dog named Stickeen to join the expedition. At first, Muir dismissed the dog as a useless companion. However, when a violent storm trapped the two of them on Brady Glacier, surrounded by deep cr
The Questionable Death of Duncan MacPherson: Stubai Alps
In August of 1989, 23 year-old Duncan MacPherson vanished from a ski resort in Austria. His parents relentlessly and fruitlessly sought answers for 14 years, until 2003 when a melting glacier revealed Duncan’s remains. What they thought would be the answer to the question that haunted them for decades, turned out to be just the beginning of another heart-wrenching search for answers. Was Duncan th
Trail Tales 90 ft. Rangers of the Lost Park
Today’s stories all have a theme - rangers! We are joined by former US Forest Service field ranger Liz Crandall to chat between the tales about the current state of public lands, what challenges they are facing - and more importantly, how we can help and keep hope alive.
Rangers of the Lost Park: Instagram
Rangers of the Lost Park: Website
Get involved with Conservation Lands Foundation: Here
A Deadly Uprising: Manzanar National Historic Site
During World War II, the United States government rounded up over 120,000 Japanese Americans, most of whom were U.S. citizens, and sent them to remote incarceration camps across the western United States for suspected disloyalty. One of those camps was Manzanar, located in the harsh desert of eastern California. When a popular community leader was arrested without explanation, thousands of incarce
A Sit Down With a Psychic
Today’s episode is unlike any other we have done before! We will be speaking to Alissa Smith Moore, an evidential medium and spiritual intuitive. She answers your questions about her gift, what she has learned on her journey and how we can all connect to our loved ones - who never quite leave us.
Alissa’s Website Alissa’s Social Media
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and
Trail Tales 89
Today’s stories include survival of the fittest, mistaken identities, mythical rangers, badass advocates and legendary names. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show b
Killed for a Kiss: Appalachian Trail
In May of 1988 a young couple set out for a weekend of alone time in the woods, but only one would make it out alive. After being viciously gunned down at their campsite off the Appalachian Trail in a heinous act of violence fueled by hate, Claudia Brenner struggled to survive, but ultimately went on to share their story, and went on to become a fierce advocate for LBGTQ safety and justice.
Doc
National Park After Dark Trailer
Welcome to National Park After Dark. Join us every week as we explore the dark side of our beloved National Parks.
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Abandoned in the Arctic: Northeast Greenland National Park
In the early 1900s, explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen and a young mechanic named Iver Iversen traveled to northeast Greenland. Their mission? To recover the lost records of a doomed expedition that proved Greenland was a single landmass under Danish control. When their ship was crushed by ice and their crew departed, the mission turned into years of starvation and isolation in what has since become the wor
Trail Tales 88 ft. Creeps and Crimes
Today’s stories include haunted cabins, fake moose, symbolic dragonflies, probable alien abductions and a whole lot of yapping. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdark
Support the show
Haunted Highway: Route 66
Established in 1926 as one of America’s OG highways, Route 66 linked over 2,000 miles of the country from Illinois to California. Although long since decommissioned, in today’s episode, we make eight stops along the iconic route from mansions to battlefields to visit old haunts of the past.Sources:Urge Congress to Support National Historic Trail Designation for Route 66NPS Preservation Program
NP
What Happened to Sophia Koetsier? Murchison Falls National Park
In October of 2015, 21 year old Dutch medical student Sophia Koetsier vanished inside Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, a place with strong river currents and dangerous wildlife. When Sophia’s belongings were found along the Nile River, investigators were quick to jump to an explanation, but many argue that the scene left more questions than answers.
If you have any information regard Soph
Trail Tales 87
Today’s stories include drug smuggling, lightning trauma, beaver attacks, childhood confessions and dirtbag dads. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSupport the show by becoming an
Access to Adventure: Accessibility in National Parks
We hear “the outdoors are for everyone” a lot, and while that is true, accessibility to the outdoors is not always created equal. Today’s episode is dedicated to two remarkable stories of people with disabilities reaching for history in National Parks. A group of paraplegic hikers who set out to climb Guadalupe Peak in wheelchairs and two kayakers who paddled through the Grand Canyon—facing some o
The National Forest Serial Killer
In the mid-2000s, hikers began disappearing from national forests across the southeastern United States, with their bodies later found in remote areas of the parks. When investigators compared timelines and locations, a pattern emerged. The disappearances were connected by a man who moved easily through public land, blending into trail culture and exploiting the trust shared between strangers in t
Trail Tales 86
Today’s stories include almost abductions, cemetery shenanigans, shared trauma and men saving (and ruining) the day. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodesFor the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:
Instagram: @nationalpar
Cheers to Five NPAD Years
Take a stroll down memory lane as we reflect on the last five years of NPAD. Come laugh with us (and at us) while we look back on some of the memorable moments that brought us to where we are today.
For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:
Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSupport the show by
Into the Wild Truth: What You Didn’t Know About the McCandless Story
Ever since September of 1992, when Chris McCandless was found deceased inside a bus in remote Alaska, the story of why he chose to walk into wilderness has captivated the world. Chris has been idolized, questioned, criticized and immortalized by strangers for decades. Books have been written and movies have been made to share his fascinating story, but were incomplete in their tellings. In 2014, C
Introducing Valley of Shadows: The Devil’s Punchbowl
Valley of Shadows is a new true crime podcast that digs into a nearly 30-year old secret buried in the California desert. On June 11, 1998, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Jon Aujay set out for a run in California’s Devil’s Punchbowl park — and never came back. Aujay has yet to be found. The Sheriff’s Department rules Aujay’s disappearance a suicide, but friends, family, and fellow deputies in
Trail Tales 85
Today’s stories include prank fails, questionable evidence, bear saviors, damned girls trips, and mountain flavored Disneyworlds. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!
For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodesFor the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:
Instagram:
The Cost of Survival: The Cordillera Huayhuash Reserved Zone (Part 2)
In the previous episode, a catastrophic fall high on Siula Grande forced an impossible decision. With Joe badly injured and hanging in space, Simon cut the rope, believing his climbing partner was lost. Now, high in the Cordillera Huayhuash Reserve, both men must attempt to get off the mountain alive. Joe is alone with a shattered leg and no supplies. Simon is stranded high on the face with night
The Cost of Survival: The Cordillera Huayhuash Reserved Zone (Part 1)
High in the Cordillera Huayhuash Reserve of the Peruvian Andes, two British climbers attempt the first ascent of the West Face of Siula Grande. The mountain is remote, unforgiving, and lethal to mistakes. After reaching the summit, a catastrophic accident during the descent forces a decision that places survival and death on opposite ends of a single rope.For a full list of our sources, visit http
Trail Tales 84
Today’s stories include pizza in Zion, getting stalked, mule saviors, mysterious trapezoids, and pooping lake water. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSupport the show by becoming a
Willing to Risk Death Daily: Pony Express National Historic Trail
Not many of us would accept a job that risked life and limb, but for a brief moment in time, young men did just that - just to carry the mail. It may have only been in operation for 18 months, but the legacy of the Pony Express has lasted generations. A 2,000 mile horseback ride from Missouri to California posed risks of all kinds, but with no telegraph wires or trains connecting the coasts, brave
Murder or Kidnapping in a Gateway Town: New River Gorge National Park
Fayetteville, West Virginia sits on the edge of the New River Gorge, a small Appalachian town now known as a gateway to one of America’s newest national parks. But on Christmas Eve in 1945, it became the setting for one of the most haunting unsolved mysteries in American history. After a house fire destroyed the home of George and Jennie Sodder, five of their children vanished without a trace, lea
Trail Tales 83
Today’s stories include snubbing trail magic, spider inflicted injuries, railroad watchers and unexplained orbs. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSupport the show by becoming an Ou
Death on a Painted Lake: Algonquin Provincial Park
In July of 1917 a pioneering landscape painter paddled out onto Canoe Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park and never returned. His death was initially ruled an accident, but in the following decades peculiar “evidence” and claims from the locals raised a lot of questions. Theories began to arise that maybe it wasn’t an accident after all. Tom Thomson’s death may have happened nearly 100 years ago, bu
Grand Canyon’s Most Daring (and Foolish) Stunts
The Grand Canyon has always been a magnet for the bold, the reckless, and the people who look at a mile-deep chasm and think... yeah, I can take that. In this episode, we race through a century of jaw-dropping stunts, from a 1922 biplane pilot who somehow landed inside the park’s early boundaries to Nik Wallenda balancing across tribal land on a high-wire without a harness. Along the way we unrave
Trail Tales 82
Trail Tales 82 - Today’s stories include cemetery tales, childhood tubing trauma almost felonies and ghostly protectors. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSupport the show by becomi
Your Leg or Your Life: Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
In November of 2024, 65 year-old Valdas Bieliauskas was on a rafting trip with a group of friends in the wilds of Tasmania when he did something we all have - he stumbled. But that trip landed him in an impossible situation. With his leg pinned between boulders in fast moving cold water, options were running out. A decision had to be made - a limb or his life.
For a full list of our sources, visit
The Fight for Native Lands - The Leonard Peltier Story: Badlands National Park
In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, we venture into Badlands National Park, where a 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation left two FBI agents and an activist dead. Leonard Peltier, convicted on questionable evidence and finally released after 49 years, insists his only crime was “being an Indian.” This is a story of defiance, injustice, and the complex fight for Native lands
Trail Tales 81
Today’s stories include rites of passage, veiled threats, small town legends, and mysterious melodies. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSupport the show by becoming an Outsider and
Broken Promises, Broken Hearts: Nez Perce National Historical Park
In June of 1877, 800 people were faced with an impossible choice - leave their home or be forcibly removed from it. What resulted was a 126 day 1,500 mile journey across four states by a band of Nez Perce who were attempting to escape forced relocation. They were relentlessly and violently pursued by the U.S. Army, eluding and fighting them for months through mountain ranges and within Yellowstone
Lost & Found: The Miraculous Survival of Truman C. Everts. Yellowstone National Park
Truman Everts, a 54-year-old bureaucrat, joined the 1870 Washburn Expedition to explore Yellowstone. After becoming separated from the group, he lost his horse, food, gun, and blankets. Alone for 37 days, he endured brutal storms, frostbite, a scalded hip, and even a mountain lion. His dramatic survival captivated the nation and helped inspire the creation of Yellowstone as America’s first nationa
Trail Tales 80
Today’s stories include wilderness tripping, formative moments, interrupting crimes and protective spirits. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodesFor the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @
The Forgotten Winchester: Great Basin National Park
Topping every “America’s Most Haunted” list sits The Winchester Mystery House. It’s story has been told time and time again, but do we really know the truth of the woman behind its facade, and have we treated her legacy fairly? In today’s episode, we discuss the forgotten Winchester.For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodesFor the latest NPAD updates, group travel detai
The Morbidly Curious Book Club x NPAD
We have a special Halloween episode for you this month to celebrate spooky season. We’ve decided to release what would have been a subscribers only episode :) This week we are joined by Patricia, better known as Patches, the creator of The Morbidly Curious Book Club. What began in 2021 as a small online space for readers to share dark and fascinating nonfiction has grown into a worldwide community
The Death of Folklorist Robert Kirk: Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
Do you believe in goblins and fairies? Do you believe in their the magic? Well, the Fairy Minister Reverend Robert Kirk did. In 1691 he published "The Secret Commonwealth of Elves and Fairies", a book that described their habits, appearance, and secrets in detail. The following year, Reverend Kirk was found dead on Doon Hill, the alleged entrance to the realm of the fairies. Coincidence? You decid
Trail Tales 79
Today’s stories include haunted government housing, mystery hair, almost animal attacks, breaking the (leash) law, family trauma bonding and bad shipwreck vibes. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodesFor the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our
Cemeteries: Our First Public Parks
Graveyards are often portrayed as eerie, haunted places. Today, they’re depicted as places of fear and sorrow, where the living rarely go. But historically, cemeteries were central to community life. Far from being hidden or feared, they were embraced as spaces for reflection, creativity, and leisure. They allowed for open religious expression, inspired art and literature, and helped shape landsca
The Dark History of Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Carved into the granite heart of the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore is one of America’s most recognizable (and controversial) monuments. Beneath the towering faces of four presidents lies a dark and often untold history of stolen land, massacres, and the erasure of Indigenous people who have called this place sacred for generations. From sculptor Gutzon Borglum’s troubling past to the Lakota’s ongoin
Trail Tales 78
Today’s stories include traumatizing rites of passage, calls for help, wedding dress ghosts, missing friends and anonymous letters. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodesFor the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nation
Short Life, Long Legacy: The Vision of George Meléndez Wright
In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, today’s episode is dedicated to George Meléndez Wright, the first Hispanic person to occupy a professional role in the National Park Service. His life was cut tragically short, but his holistic approach to wildlife management in the National Parks has left an indelible mark.To submit a business for the Outsiders Gift Guide, please email assistant@npadpodc
Never. Give. Up: Angeles National Forest
When a small Cessna went down in the San Gabriel Mountains in February 1979, eleven-year-old Norman Ollestad was thrust into a fight for his life. Stranded in a blizzard on alpine terrain more than 8,500 feet up, he drew on the skills and grit he’d learned from his father to make his way out.For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodesFor the latest NPAD updates, group travel det
Trail Tales 77
Today’s stories include being locked in taxidermy museums, meeting legends, lightning escapes, ghostly hikes and trolling blue butterflies. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSupport t
The Pablo Escobar of Eggs: Matobo National Park
When Jefferey Lendrum was a boy, he loved birds. What began as a childhood passion volunteering for an ornithology program transformed into a life of wildlife crime - scaling cliffs to steal and then smuggle falcon eggs around the world. Despite multiple arrests, steep fines and various investigations - he just couldn’t quit. What motivated him? How did his dedication to birds turn to destruction?
Introducing: CRIME HOUSE DAILY
Crime doesn’t take a day off. And neither does Crime House Daily. Hosted by self-defense instructor and advocate for victims, Katie Ring, Crime House Daily iscoming to you twice every weekday, covering the biggest crime stories as they unfold. Morning episodes give you the need-to-know. The latest headlines, breaking developments, and where things are going next. Evening episodes go deeper. Into t
National Park After Dark X Heart Starts Pounding
In today’s long awaited collaboration, we team up with Kaelyn Moore of the podcast Heart Starts Pounding. Kaelyn covers all sorts of creepy, strange and unexplainable topics from around the world on her show, but today we all dive into the Reddit world (which is scary in and of itself) to bring you some tales of scary and strange happenings from where we know best ... the forest.For the latest NPA
Dying for the Lost City of Z: Xingu National Park
In 1925 famed British explorer Percy Fawcett set out on his most ambitious journey yet — to find a legendary city hidden deep in the Amazon. At his side were his 21-year-old son Jack and Jack’s best friend, Raleigh Rimell. All three vanished without a trace. What began as a quest for discovery became one of the most enduring mysteries in the history of exploration.For a full list of our sources, v
Trail Tales 76
Today’s stories include lightning drama, peeing with friends, and choosing the bear. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!Listen to Watch Her Cook on Apple and Spotify! Follow us on InstagramFor a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodesFor the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials
Happy Birthday National Park Service, Not Everyone Loves You!
Today marks the NPS’s 109th birthday! In celebration (?) we pulled a few less than enthusiastic 1 star reviews of some of our favorite places. A few are straight up silly, some are maddening and others prove that just because National Parks are for everyone, not everyone are for National Parks.All reviews found on YelpFor a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodesFor the lat
The Murder of Tomomi Hanamure: Grand Canyon National Park
On May 8th, 2006 to celebrate her 34th birthday, Tomomi Hanamure laced up her hiking boots, as she had done so many times before, for an adventure. Her return journey to the Grand Canyon was a way to mark another year around the sun, to a place she felt so personally drawn to. Tragically, the date that marked her entrance into this world would also be the day someone violently ripped her out of it
Trail Tales 75
Today’s stories include traumatizing children, urns in odd places and a day of the grizzlies. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!Listen to Watch Her Cook on Apple and Spotify! Follow us on InstagramFor a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodesFor the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and ou
The Wildest Woman in America: Cumberland Island National Seashore
She’s been called the wildest woman in America—and with good reason. Carol Ruckdeschel has wrestled alligators, dissected roadkill in the name of science, and lived off the grid in the wilderness she vowed to defend. But behind the sensational headlines is a sharp, fearless conservationist whose tireless efforts helped protect one of the last truly wild places in the Southeast: Cumberland Island N
NPAD Goes Lights Out: The Butcher Baker of Alaska
Today’s episode is a collaboration a long time coming! Our friends Josh and Austin of the Lights Out podcast hosted us in their studio during a recent trip to Denver to discuss the extremely disturbing case of Robert Hansen aka The Butcher Baker.Listen to Lights Out wherever you listen to your favorite shows! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodca
Trail Tales 74
Today’s stories include getting schmacked, stinky ghosts, victorian asylums, salty situations and rescues from beyond the grave. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!Listen to Watch Her Cook on Apple and Spotify! Follow us on InstagramFor the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @na
