Waking up in the middle of the night in the backcountry of a national park can often be an interesting, or even unnerving, experience. What was it that caused you to wakeup? Fourteen years ago, deep in the interior of Yellowstone National Park it was the howling of a wolf that woke me, and when I think about it, it still seems like it was just yesterday. The melodic howl hung in the air, seesawing up and down as the wolf sang his song.

We go into national parks to view spectacular scenery, hike, and see wildlife. But have you ever just stopped to listen?

As much as a national park's scenery catches you, the sounds you can pick up during your park visits are just as memorable. And, in the case of a howling wolf, bellowing grizzly, or bugling elk, I would suggest that they're more memorable.

This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at the National Parks Traveler. This week, we're doing away with talking and focusing on listening.

NPT Ep 174 Spot List - Run Time - 35:31

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction :12 Episode Intro with Kurt Repanshek 1:06 Beyond the Reef - Tim Heintz & Grant Geissman - Seascapes: A Musical Journey 1:16 Interior Federal Credit Union 1:35 Yosemite Conservancy 1:55 Eastern National Passport 2:38 Great Smoky Mountains Association 2:58 Friends of Acadia 3:25 Listening to the Parks - Yellowstone 15:27 Listening to the Parks - Rocky Mountain 21:15 Listening to the Parks - Everglades 24:35 Listening to the Parks - Hawaii 31:23 Episode Closing 32:04 Wonder Lake - Various Artists - The Spirit of Alaska 32:12 Orange Tree Productions 32:44 Wild Tribute 33:08 Grand Teton National Park Foundation 33:36 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation 33:56 Washington's National Park Fund 34:28 Everglades Foundation 34:39 Potrero Group 35:05 Splitbeard Productions 35:15 National Parks Traveler footer