News and Trivia
Latest information about traveling through the USA
On this page you will find current information and news about traveling through the USA. Also things that might be interesting and do not fit anywhere else.
February 20, 2026 - Permits will no longer be required for Arches NP, Glacier NP, and Yosemite NP in 2026!!!
Arches NP, Glacier NP, and Yosemite NP have suspended permits for 2026. All information can be found on the websites of the respective parks.
January 1, 2026 - Change in national park admission prices for international visitors
Starting in January 2026, there will be some changes to the admission prices for international visitors to national parks. As the changes are extensive, we recommend that everyone visit the official national park website to inform yourself about the topic.
Dezember 2025 - Closures and roadworks on Highway 1 in California still relevant over one year later
Once again, Highway 1 has been so badly damaged by landslides that it had to be closed. The closure is currently located about 15mi south of Big Sur between Lime Creek and Limekiln SP. In addition to this closure, there are numerous construction sites where you have to reckon with considerable delays. It is currently not known when the road will be open again. Update Dezember 2025: Highway 1 may be fully passable again by the end of March 2026. However, this is only a preliminary estimate. Before traveling on Highway 1, we recommend that everyone check the current situation.
Update January 15, 2026 – As of today, Highway 1 is now fully open to traffic again!!!
October 21, 2024 - Kasha Katuwe NM reopens to tourists after more than 2 years
After being closed for almost 2.5 years, the National Monument will reopen on October 21, 2024. You will need both a permit and a Chochiti Pueblo Tribal Access Pass to visit. All information can be found on the page of the BLM.
Aug. 10, 2023 - Wildfires destroy parts of historic Lahaina on Maui
Severe wildfires that have been raging for a few days on Maui have spread to the small town of Lahaina on August 10 and partially destroyed it. At least six people lost their lives. Hurricane Dora, which passed Hawaii at a distance of 500mi, probably fueled the fires with strong winds. Several forest fires continue to rage on Maui and Big Island. Current information can be found among others in the local media.
05/03/2022 - Sedona shuttle for certain trailheads
Due to the tremendous volume of visitors, shuttles are operated year-round, Thursday through Sunday, to several trailheads around Sedona. These are
- Cathedral Rock
- Little Horse
- Soldier Pass
- Dry Creek, with access to Devil’s Bridge
- Mescal ( starting summer 2022)
When the shuttles are in operation, the parking lots at Cathedral Rock and Soldier Pass are closed. All info can be found on the official webpage. If the number of visitors is very high, the shuttles will also be used on the other days of the week. Current updates on this topic can also be found on the official homepage.
03/15/2022 - As of March 15, there are important changes to the daily lottery for the Wave Permits.
Starting from the 15th of March the on-site lottery for wave permits will be changed to an online system. How it works exactly we explain at our Permitsite for the Coyote Buttes North. All information can also be found at the websites of recration.gov, through which the lottery will also take place.
10/20/2021 - Access to Rainbow Bridge no longer readily available
Until further notice, the conventional access via Lake Powell is no longer readily available. Primarily due to low water levels, the dock no longer connects to the established trail. Work is underway to make access possible again. However, it is not yet clear when this will happen. All information can be found at the official webpage.
08/14/2021 - Zion NP - Permits required for Angels Landing hike beginning January 2022
Finally, there seems to be a permit system for the hike to Angels Landing. The hike became famous because of the great views, but also because of the challenge and the thrill. Especially in the summer months, the trail became so crowded that it became more and more a danger to the hikers. Previously, attempts were made to channel the masses by stopping them at the trailhead and only allowing a certain number of people onto the trail at any given time. This has probably not been enough and so now from January 2022 a permit system is to be introduced. How this will look exactly is not yet quite clear.
St George NEW
Update December 2021: The permit system is established. Permits can be reserved online here. Recreation.com. The number of permits has not yet been determined, as this is a pilot project the exact number will be decided depending on interest and further observations on site. You can read all about it here. .
06/18/2021 - Juneteenth - A new national holiday
Juneteenth or National Independence Day is a day of remembrance that commemorates the liberation of the African American population from slavery. It will be celebrated every year on June 19, starting in 2021.
03/01/2021 - New National Park App
This app contains all the important information about over 400 areas managed by the National Park Service. So you have all the information about all the parks always available. You can download maps, among other things, and have them at hand offline. The app is available free for iOS and Android devices. Everything you need to know about it can be found on the official webpage.
01/11/2021 - More permits for the Wave
Many have wished for it, now it has come true. From now on there are 64 instead of 20 permits every day for the hike to the Wave in the Coyote Buttes North. All important info about this permit extension can be found here..
12/27/2020 - New River Gorge in West Virginia to become a new national park
As of Dec. 27, 2020, New River Gorge is the 63rd national park of the United States. It is the first and only national park in West Virginia. LEARN MORE.