The Series

The National Parks: America's Best Idea is a six-episode series directed by Ken Burns and written and co-produced by Dayton Duncan. It was filmed over the course of more than six years in some of nature's most spectacular locales — from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska. This is the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence and just as radical: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone.

Share Your Story

The National Park Service manages more than just national parks. It helps communities across America preserve important local heritage and provide close-to-home recreational opportunities. To accomplish this mission, the National Park System includes national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House. Learn more about the different National Park Designations.

Each national park site has a story to tell through its landscape, its wildlife, its history, and its people. You can help tell the ongoing story of our national parks by sharing stories and memories about your local, state, and national park adventures!

Idaho Sites/IdahoPTV Stories

Idaho has nine national park units, many of which have been featured on Idaho Public Television. Below you will find links to the websites for each unit, as well as video clips of the stories Idaho Public Television has told about these unique places.

Check out these other great resources on the web!

Visit the National Park Service site to start planning your next adventure. Be sure to visit the kids and teachers section which has more than 50 games for students to learn about National Parks and great curriculum resources for the classroom.

Idaho State Parks
In addition to the national park sites in Idaho, Idaho’s 30 state parks are the perfect locations for creating family memories. Idaho Parks and Recreation Website provides information about individual parks and recreation opportunities.

The Idaho Children and Nature Network has a great list of things you can do outside or can help find something fun to do in your area!

And you will want to bookmark The National Parks: America's Best Idea national website which will include educator resources, history of the parks, widgets and an in-depth look at the folks who fought to preserve America's rich natural treasures for all of us.