Have you ever felt stronger as part of a group? The history of the Castillo de San Marcos shows us that there's strength in numbers -- a lesson to remember as we face the challenge posed by climate change. You will find the climate change topic represented across 91 parks and sites in the National Park System. Browse the full list to see which destinations match your interests.
91 parks and sites (NPS)
From NPS.gov
Have you ever felt stronger as part of a group? The history of the Castillo de San Marcos shows us that there's strength in numbers -- a lesson to remember as we face the challenge posed by climate change.
Although there is a relationship between weather and climate, they are not the same. Weather is a specific event or condition that happens over a period of hours or days. Climate change describes a pattern of change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region over many years. NASA scientists have observed Earth’s surface is warming. Explore the science behind climate change. Discover NASA Climate Kids. Natural forces that contribute to climate change include the Sun's intensity, volcanic eruptions, and changes in naturally occurring greenhouse gas concentrations. Humans also contribute to greenhouse emissions by burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are natural fuels, such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms. Burning these contributes to climate change, because the CO-2 they release into the atmosphere causes a "greenhouse effect.” The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when gases in Earth's atmosphere trap the Sun's heat. This process makes Earth much warmer than it would be without an atmosphere.
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
As the atmosphere warms, rain and snow patterns change, glacier and polar ice caps melt, and sea levels rise. Climate change contributes to extreme weather: tropical storms, heat waves, droughts, wildfire, rain and flooding, increased snow and ice, and more. Which of these could affect, or has affected, the area that you live in?
Climate change, together with other natural and human-made health stressors, influences human health in numerous ways. For example, extreme weather, like flooding or hurricanes, can cause injury, premature death, water-borne illnesses, or disrupt food distribution. However, there are steps we can take to protect ourselves. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has resources to help communities and people prepare for specific health impacts of a changing climate. Extreme heat is another example of how health can be negatively impacted. The National Park Service has tips to help you stay safe on your park visits. Check out this Summer Safety video.
Climate Friendly Parks (CFP) Program
CFP is one of many initiatives supporting the National Park Service Green Parks Plan. The CFP program provides national parks with support to address climate change. The goals of the CFP Program include:
• Measure park-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Educate people about climate change and demonstrate ways individuals and groups can take action to address the issue.
• Develop strategies and specific actions to address sustainability challenges, reduce GHG emissions, and anticipate the impacts of climate change on park resources.
Since Florida is already at sea level, the effects of climate change are intensified. To combat the flooding caused by rising sea level, wind, and high tides, the park is hosting the Seawall Improvement Project. This is a big project that will have many parts and will take several years to complete, but when finished it will protect park resources. Click here for additional actions that help protect our park resources.
Did you say, "Stay on walkways and keep my hands off the coquina walls?" Great job! By taking this simple action, you can help keep coquina intact and preserve the centuries of history written into the stone. Over a million people visit Castillo and Fort Matanzas every year. Over time, the pressure from our touch can erode the stone. We want to preserve this treasure for future generations to come and experience the park. Learn more about coquina. This photograph was taken of an exhibit inside the fort. It went on display in 2012, and it encourages the visitor to touch this sample block, instead of the fort's walls. Over time, the square block is being worn away by visitors touching it. Good thing it's just a sample and not the walls of the Castillo!
And—because we are much stronger together—there’s much more we can do! So what other actions—taken as a group over time—can help protect the places we love in the face of climate change? If you choose just one action or develop one new habit, you are taking a positive step toward a more efficient home and a healthier community. Learn more!
Related stories and places from NPS.gov, same as the official app.
Ranger Walkabouts · Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
Join a Park Ranger and explore the Blackstone River Valley. During the months of June, July, and August, park staff offer specialty tours at varying locations across the Blackstone River Watershed. These programs begin at 6:30 PM and are 60-minutes long. Please wear comfortable footwear and bring water. Most tours are outside and often include walking on uneven surfaces on varying types of terrain with no access to bathroom facilities. Bug spray and sunscreen are also highly suggested. Please Note: There will be no…
Hike the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail · Cape Cod National Seashore
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp, a 1.2-mile loop trail in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. The trail descends through a stunted oak and pine forest into a mature woodland, leads to a boardwalk that winds through the picturesque Atlantic White Cedar Swamp, and returns via the historic “Wireless Road” (a sand road) to the starting location. The trail is rated as moderate. It has solid surface for the duration of the trail with some…
Snowmobile in Kenai Fjords National Park · Kenai Fjords National Park
Snowmobiles Snowmobile use is prohibited until the park superintendent has made a determination that there is adequate snow cover. Adequate snow cover is determined by evaluating the ability of the snow pack to support snowmobile use in a manner that does not damage resource values such as vegetation and soils. A combination of factors such as snow depth, snow structure, and the characteristics of the vegetation in the area are considered in this evaluation. The Harding Icefield has adequate snow cover year-round,…
Ranger-led Programs at Padre Island · Padre Island National Seashore
Attending a ranger-led program in the park is a great way to discover new things and learn more about Padre Island National Seashore. The park offers a variety of ranger-led programs such as deck talks and beach walks. All programs are offered free of charge. However, there is a fee to enter the park. Check the calendar or the NPS App for daily activities and at the visitor center for special pop-up programs being offered. Children in attendance at programs must be accompanied by an adult participant during the ent…
Towpath Talk · Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
Join a Park Ranger for a walk along the historic Blackstone Canal Towpath. Walks last between 45 - 60 minutes. Rangers offer talks on the history of the Blackstone Canal, transportation, and industrial landscapes. Programs might also be on environmental topics such as geology, birding, wildlife, natural landscapes, and pollution. These programs are offered on Saturdays in the months of June, July, and August. Walks start in front of the Captain Wilbur Kelly House Transportation Museum at 10:00 A.M. (6/6 - 8/29). In…
Ranger Walkabouts
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
Join a Park Ranger and explore the Blackstone River Valley. During the months of June, July, and August, park staff offer specialty tours at varying locations across the Blackstone River Watershed. These programs begin at 6:30 PM and are 60-minutes long. Please wear comfortable footwear and bring water. Most tours are…
Hike the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail
Cape Cod National Seashore
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp, a 1.2-mile loop trail in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. The trail descends through a stunted oak and pine forest into a mature woodland, leads to a boardwalk that winds through the picturesque Atlant…
Snowmobile in Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park
Snowmobiles Snowmobile use is prohibited until the park superintendent has made a determination that there is adequate snow cover. Adequate snow cover is determined by evaluating the ability of the snow pack to support snowmobile use in a manner that does not damage resource values such as vegetation and soils. A combi…
Ranger-led Programs at Padre Island
Padre Island National Seashore
Attending a ranger-led program in the park is a great way to discover new things and learn more about Padre Island National Seashore. The park offers a variety of ranger-led programs such as deck talks and beach walks. All programs are offered free of charge. However, there is a fee to enter the park. Check the calenda…
Towpath Talk
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
Join a Park Ranger for a walk along the historic Blackstone Canal Towpath. Walks last between 45 - 60 minutes. Rangers offer talks on the history of the Blackstone Canal, transportation, and industrial landscapes. Programs might also be on environmental topics such as geology, birding, wildlife, natural landscapes, and…
Winter Programs
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
Join us for hikes along the Blackstone Canal Hike the Blackstone Canal with a park ranger this winter! Join us for hikes on Saturday mornings in January at 10:30 AM. Hikes will depart from various locations along the historic Blackstone Canal on 1/3, 1/10, 1/17, and 1/24. All hikes are free. This series is presented in…
Hike the Valle Grande Exploration Trail
Valles Caldera National Preserve
Follow the brown posts into the heart of the Valle Grande. This 0.8-mile (1.3 km) out-and-back hike will lead you to a constructed pond on La Jara Creek which served as a water source for cattle and sheep when this land was a private ranch. There are good opportunities for viewing elk, birds, and wildflowers. Be weathe…
Hike the South Valle Grande Trail
Valles Caldera National Preserve
The South Valle Grande Trail is a pet-friendly hike that descends the southeastern rim of the caldera to the edge of Valle Grande. Because this trail transitions between two habitat types—mixed conifer forest and montane grassland—it hosts great biodiversity and is a renowned wildlife viewing spot, especially at dawn a…
Hike the Rabbit Ridge Trail
Valles Caldera National Preserve
The Rabbit Ridge Trail (2.4 miles, 3.8 km round-trip) is an optional spur off of the Rabbit Mountain Loop that ascends to the south rim of Valles Caldera. The trail passes through aspen groves and offers outstanding views of Valle Grande and Redondo Peak. At the trail's summit is the boundary line between Valles Calder…
Hike the Rabbit Mountain Loop
Valles Caldera National Preserve
The Rabbit Mountain Loop (2.9 miles, 4.7 km round-trip) contours along the southern rim of the caldera, offering great views of Valle Grande and Redondo Peak. The trail passes through shady aspen groves, open meadows, and parts of the Las Conchas wildfire burn scar. Burned areas with standing dead trees can be hazardou…
Hike the Jemez River Trail
Valles Caldera National Preserve
This 3.4-mile (5.5 km) out-and-back trail features breathtaking views along the East Fork Jemez River as it flows toward the southwestern corner of the preserve. The trail initially climbs up a hill with outstanding views of Valle Grande and then drops down into the canyon of the East Fork. From here, you'll hike downs…
Hike the Cerro La Jara Loop
Valles Caldera National Preserve
This 1.5-mile (2.4 km) loop trail circles Cerro La Jara, the smallest volcanic dome in the park, which formed about 500,000 years ago when lava oozed up and onto the caldera floor. South Mountain, to the west, and Cerro del Medio, on the opposite side of Valle Grande, are also volcanic domes and can be seen from this t…
Learn about Boston's "Wicked" High Tides
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
For thousands of years, Boston's coastline has been filled, moved, and transformed thanks to both human and natural interventions. Learn about Boston's ever-changing coastline by following the High Tide Trail , a short 6-stop walking tour in downtown Boston. You can also join our partners, the Stone Living Lab , for on…
Float the Kobuk River
Kobuk Valley National Park
Calm Kobuk The Kobuk River is a source of life to many in Northwest Alaska. It hosts caribou migrations, the return of salmon from the Pacific Ocean, and a waterway of transporation for the people of Northwest Alaska. Although the segment of the river which flows through Kobuk Valley National Park is not designated as…
Boating at Lake Roosevelt NRA
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
Our 22 public boat launches offer a variety of opportunities for every type of watercraft from canoes to motorboats to paddleboards. Please remember that Lake Roosevelt is an active reservoir. Seasonal fluctuations regularly affect lake levels and access to boat launch facilities. For details on boating, obtaining a pe…
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million visits a year, it's one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the United States. Visitors enjoy 27 miles of historic motor roads, 158 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of carriage roads.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, located at the northern tip of Wisconsin's Bayfield Peninsula, features 21 stunning islands, a scenic 12-mile shoreline along Lake Superior, and is located within the ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe people. Established in 1970, the park showcases picturesque sea caves, sandy beaches, and the largest collection of lighthouses in the National Park system.
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.
Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.
In the 1840s the Arkansas River was the border between territory claimed by the United States and Mexico. Located along the river, Bent's Fort was an adobe trading post on the Santa Fe Trail, where traders, trappers, travelers, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes came together in peaceful terms for trade. Today, a reconstructed fort allows visitors to explore the front line of Westward Expansion.
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here too; from prehistoric tribes to shipwrecks, and pineapple farmers to presidents. For many, the park is a boating, fishing, and diving destination, while others enjoy a warm breeze and peaceful scenery.
The Blackstone River powered America's entry into the Age of Industry. The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked and where they lived. Learn how this revolution transformed the landscape of the Blackstone Valley and the United States. The Visitor Center at Old Slater Mill is closed for the winter season.
Centered on the north slope of Beacon Hill, the African American community of 1800s Boston led the city and the nation in the fight against slavery and injustice. These remarkable men and women, together with their allies, were leaders in the Abolition Movement, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, and the early struggle for equal rights and education.
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
Hoodoos (irregular columns of rock) exist on every continent, but here is the largest concentration found anywhere on Earth. Situated along a high plateau at the top of the Grand Staircase, the park's high elevations include numerous life communities, fantastic dark skies, and geological wonders that defy description.
The great Outer Beach described by Thoreau in the 1800s is protected within the national seashore. Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species. Lighthouses, cultural landscapes, and wild cranberry bogs offer a glimpse of Cape Cod's past and continuing ways of life. Swimming beaches and walking and biking trails beckon today's visitors.
Showing 1–12 of 91 parks
