Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park's Kīlauea Volcano vented its fury during 2018/USGS

From volcanic fireworks and geothermal explosions to political upheaval, the past year frequently saw national parks in the forefront of news. Here's a look back at some of the top stories of 2018 from the National Park System and National Park Service.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park's Kīlauea Volcano

Arguably the top story of the year was the awakening of the park's Kīlauea Volcano, which erupted for roughly four months, destroying hundreds of homes and structures in its path, redesigning the Halema‘uma‘u Crater, and greatly damaging park infrastructure. "The summit area of the park was dramatically changed by tens of thousands of earthquakes, towering ash plumes, and 62 massive collapse explosions," park staff reported. "The events caused profound damage to park infrastructure unprecedented in the park’s 102-year history, including building damage, rock falls, deep cracks in roads and trails, and numerous breaks to water and sewer lines."

Here's a list of some of Traveler's coverage of the volcanic upheaval:

Earthquakes Rumbling Across Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Causing Minor Damage

An ongoing series of earthquakes, some measuring a magnitude of 4.4, rumbled across Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on Wednesday, causing minor damage to park buildings while cracks crept their way across nearby roads and billowing clouds of ash and steam rose into the sky thousands of feet.

Most Of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park To Close Due To Volcanic Activity

As Kīlauea Volcano becomes more active and poses an explosive threat that could toss blocks of rock into the air, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park officials are closing most of the park for the immediate future.

Watching Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park's Changing Landscape

In the following short video, National Park Service personnel provide a summation of how the recent eruptions from Kīlauea Volcano have changed the park's landscape.

Eleven Fined $350 Each For Venturing To the Rim Of Hawai'i Volcanoes' Halema‘uma‘u Crater

Temptation in the form of an active volcanic crater can be a powerful motivator, but for 11 people the thrill of staring down into the fuming Halema‘uma‘u Crater at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was tempered by a $350 ticket each from park rangers for ignoring closure signs and disorderly conduct.

There Could Be A New Normal In The Future Of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

With Tūtū Pele seemingly having come to the end of her latest eruptive run, staff at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park are working to get back to the business of running a national park, not responding to an erupting volcano. But it won't be business as usual at the park now, or for the foreseeable future, as repairing the damage carries a bill of an estimated $100 million, at least, and some areas might not reopen for a long, long time.

New Video Traces This Year's Volcanic Activity At Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

For those who have closely followed this year's volcanic activity at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, or are simply interested in earth geology, the park staff has created a new video that traces the history of this year's eruptions from the Kīlauea Volcano specific to Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō , Halema‘uma‘u and the East Rift Zone in lower Puna.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's departure from the Interior Department was not as photogenic as his arrival/DOI

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Resigns After Two Years In Office

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who entered office riding a horse and spoke of being a Theodore Roosevelt conservationist, left office at year's end while facing a handful of investigations. Though Zinke bolstered energy reviews from public lands, both onshore and off-shore, he was a lightning rod for conservationists and environmentalists who highly criticized the secretary, most vociferously over his recommendation to President Trump that both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah be greatly downsized, which the president did.

President Trump Says Interior Secretary Zinke Will Leave By Year's End

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, a lightning rod for conservationists and environmentalists and long portrayed by his critics as being in the pocket of the energy industry, will leave the administration by year's end, President Trump said Saturday.

President Trump Issues Proclamation To Shrink National Monuments, Tees Off Legal Battle

A handful of hours after President Trump on Monday issued a proclamation to chop 1 million acres off the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah a lawsuit was filed to prevent that from happening. Other groups were expected to file a similar lawsuit over the president's move to reduce Bears Ears National Monument, also in Utah, by 1 million acres.

Tackling The National Park Service's Maintenance Backlog

Visitor and employee safety, transportation, access, and even historic structures all are being jeopardized by the nearly $12 billion backlog in maintenance work that reaches into nearly every corner, forest, and beach of the National Park System. During the past six months, National Parks Traveler's editors and writers have examined the issue of deferred maintenance and its impact on not just on how parks are enjoyed, but how their resources are being impacted. Accompanying this package of stories was coverage of efforts in Congress to pass legislation to provide up to $6.5 billion to address the backlog.

Grand Canyon National Park's often leaking Transcanyon Water Line is one of the emblematic images of the National Park System's roughly $12 billion maintenance backlog/NPS

Here's a look at that coverage:

Closing The National Park System's Maintenance Backlog

Some Friends Groups Asked To Provide "Margin Of Survival"

Maintenance Woes Blocking Access To Parts Of National Park System

Antiquated Wastewater, Sewer Facilities Go Wanting In National Parks

Backlog Of Maintenance Needs Creates Park Risks

Maintenance Backlog Crippling To National Park Roads And Bridges

Private Philanthropy Fills The Gaps Of Deferred Maintenance

NPS Is Running $670 Million Behind On Caring For Maintained Landscapes

Optimism Growing That Congress Will Fund National Park Maintenance

Lack Of Dollars Crippling National Park Facilities For Staff And Visitors

No Movement On National Park Issues As Government Heads Toward Shutdown

Trump Administration Proposals Could Adversely Affect Wildlife In National Parks

The Trump administration proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act and National Park Service predator control rules that posed harm to wildlife in the National Park System.

Proposed Changes To Endangered Species Act Would Impact National Parks And Their Wild Kingdoms

Time Running Out To Comment On Plan To Liberalize Predator Hunting Regs In Alaska Preserves

Interior Secretary Orders Bureaus To Defer Wildlife/Fisheries Issues To States

Crowding Continued To Be A Problem In Some Parts Of The National Park System

Heavy crowds to some units of the National Park System frayed tempers, impacting resources, and challenged park staff trying to figure out how best to manage with limited resources.

Traveler's View: Trying Times For The Parks, The Park Service, And Park Visitors

National Parks Working To Figure Out How Best To Manage Crowding

The NPS following video, shot in 2017 at Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, shows constant crowds on the boardwalk and cars, trucks, and buses zooming by on the loop road in the background. The scene repeated itself in 2018.

Partial Government Shutdown Leaves Parks Open Without Essential Staff

Yet another budget impasse between Congress and the White House (the year opened with one) left national parks in limbo at year's end, as most parks remained open but without the normal staffing levels. Without maintenance crews, roads were being closed under snowdrifts and garbage was piling up, creating unsanitary conditions and serving as chum for wildlife. Some states and national park friends groups stepped up to try to make ends meet, but most parks were on their own.

During the government shutdown garbage piled up at Big Bend National Park and other units in the National Park System as there were no maintenance crews on hand to remove it/NPS

Crowds, Lack Of Maintenance Crews, Creating Problems In National Parks

Some National Parks Beginning To Struggle With Garbage, Snow During Shutdown

Without Snowplows, Some Rocky Mountain National Park Roads Closing To Vehicles

Crowds Flocking To Death Valley National Park Despite Government Shutdown

Shuttles Running In Zion National Park During Shutdown

National Park System Open To A Large Degree, But Be Careful Out There

Great Smoky Mountains Association Ready To Keep Great Smoky Visitor Facilities Open

Grand Teton Superintendent Nominated, But Not Confirmed,To Be National Park Service Director

Two years into his administration, President Trump nominated Grand Teton National Park Superintendent David Vela to head the National Park Service, but the Senate never got around to confirming him.

David Vela Sails Through Senate Confirmation Hearing To Become National Park Service Director

A Handful Of Units Of The National Park System Were Ravaged By Wildlfires

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Ravaged By Wildfire

Plants Are Sprouting In Burned Areas Of The Santa Monica Mountains - That’s Good And Bad

Santa Monica Mountains Mountain Lion Possible Victim Of Woolsey Fire

More Areas Of Whiskeytown NRA Reopening To The Public

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Reopening After Deadly Carr Fire

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Closed Due To Carr Fire

Nearly 90 percent of Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area's 23,595 acres burned in the Woolsey Fire/NPS

Structures Lost, More Than 150 Evacuated From Rooms, Campgrounds In Glacier National Park

Wildfire Forces Evacuation Of Lake McDonald Complex At Glacier National Park

Costs Of Battling Howe Ridge Fire At Glacier National Park: Nearly $12 Million, 13 Homes

Yosemite Valley Could Reopen Tuesday

Ferguson Fire Burns Into Yosemite National Park

Residents, Employees Told To Evacuate Yosemite Valley Due To Firefighting Efforts

Wolves Are Being Relocated To Isle Royale National Park

In an effort to rebuild a population of predators on Isle Royale National Park that could keep the moose population under control, the National Park Service began to relocate wolves to the island park. But the effort was not without its setbacks, as one wolf died before it could be set free and another died in the park shortly after arriving.

How Isle Royale National Park Biologists Chose Wolves For Their Recovery Operation

Male Wolf Relocated To Isle Royale National Park Found Dead

National Park Service Hopes To Import Wolves From Canada For Isle Royale

Two More Wolves Relocated To Isle Royale National Park

Wolves Moved To Isle Royale National Park Exploring The Park

Wolf Captured For Relocation To Isle Royale National Park Dies

National Park Service To Begin Wolf Transplants To Isle Royale This Fall

Wolves Could Return To Isle Royale National Park This Fall

A wolf recovery program for Isle Royale National Park got underway in 2018/NPS, Jim Peaco

Harassment Continued To Be A Problem In The National Park Service

In an odd and unexplained twist, the National Park Service removed the superintendent brought to Grand Canyon National Park specifically to deal with a long, sordid history of sexual harassment in the park.

OIG Opens Investigation Into Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent

OIG Finds That Sexual Harassment Continues At Grand Canyon National Park

Deaths In The National Parks

There were many deaths in the National Park System in 2018, from visitors getting lost and dying in the backcountry to climbers falling to their deaths and rivers claiming victims.

No Clues In Disappearance Of Man At Rocky Mountain National Park

Body Of Missing Hiker Believed To Be Found At Rocky Mountain National Park

Albert SAR At Rocky Mountain National Park Put On Hold Due To Winter

Mystery Of How Ohio Woman Got Lost In Great Smoky Mountains National Park May Never Be Solved

Rangers Kill Black Bear That Might Have Killed Man Poaching Ginseng In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

California Man Missing On Colorado River In Grand Canyon National Park

Final Body From Boat Accident Recovered At Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Idaho Teen Swept To His Death In 100-Foot Fall At Glacier National Park

Body Of Washington Climber Recovered At Mount Rainier National Park

Human Remains Found in Remote Area of Olympic National Park

Bodies, Plane That Crashed In Denali National Park Will Not Be Recovered

Two Backcountry Deaths Lead Mount Rainier National Park To Caution Hikers

Memorial Set For National Park Service Firefighter Killed In Ferguson Fire

Man Who Went Missing In Rocky Mountain National Park Apparently Died Instantly From Fall

U.S. Attorney Declines To Prosecute National Park Service Rangers Who Shot And Killed Camper

Grand Teton National Park Claims Another Climber

Man Overboard For 9 Hours Before Being Reported Missing At Glacier Bay National Park

Illinois Man Identified As Victim Of Fall At Grand Canyon National Park

Missouri Couple On "Trip Of A Lifetime" Die In Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

New York Man Drowns As Swimmers Get Caught In Currents At Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Sequoia National Park Visitor Drowns Trying To Save 5-Year-Old

California Man Missing After Raft Flips In Katmai National Park

Los Angeles Man Dies In Sequoia National Park River

Two Killed In Glider Crash In Grand Teton National Park

Man Falls To His Death While Climbing In Grand Teton National Park

Two More Swimmers Die At Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Climbers Fall To Deaths From El Capitan At Yosemite National Park

Man Falls To Death From Half Dome In Yosemite National Park

Accidents Claim Two Lives In Sequoia National Park

Woman Falls To Her Death In Zion National Park

Indiana Man Killed By Rockfall At Haleakala National Park

Gunplay On Blue Ridge Parkway Leaves One Dead

There was, of course, much more news flowing out of the parks and the National Park Service, from park expansions, new facilities and trails, and the prospect of new units being added to the park system to higher fees, vandalism, poached wildlife, and just the simple wonders of the parks.

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