National Park After Dark

When the Pilgrim family ventured to the remote Alaska town of McCarthy, they were in search of a simple life free from the constraints of the modern world. However, it wasn’t long after their arrival that they began to clash with the National Park Service. What seemed to be a loving family would soon reveal some very dark secrets.*Content Warning: This episode contains domestic and sexual abuse.*F...

Today’s stories include cursed stories, near death experiences, whistles in the forest, haunted babies and dead uncles. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @nationalparkafterdarkTwitter/X: @npadpodcastTikTok: @nationalparkafterdarkSuppo...

In August of 1976, twin brother Jim and Jack Weiner and their friends Chuck Rak and Charlie Flotz embarked on a two-week camping and canoeing trip to the Northwoods of Maine. Several days into their trip they experienced something they couldn’t explain– and it would be over a decade until the truth of that night truly came to light. Remembered as “The Allagash Four” the quartet has gone down in uf...

Dan and Lyndze Cummins, hosts of Scared to Death join us today to share some creepy tales. First, we chat about their personal thoughts on and experiences with the other side before they bring us to California and Idaho for some very strange stories filled with legends, curses and the unknown. Catch them and their podcasts Scared to Death and Timesuck  on your favorite listening platforms! For the...

Today’s stories include ranger reprimands, haunted objects, yellow roses, misplaced eyes, freaky lights, close encounters and NPAD love. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re...

On October 22, 2024 a legacy ended when Grizzly 399 was hit by a car and killed. She was the most beloved bear in the world and the oldest known grizzly to produce cubs in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. She gained popularity when she strategically raised her cubs by the roadways and tolerated human interaction. In this episode we share her story, the legacy and impact she left on the conservat...

What began as an afternoon high school field trip to observe plants became one of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most enduring and puzzling missing persons cases when 16-year-old Trenny Gibson vanished from a trail amongst 40 other students. Her story has stumped investigators and broken hearts for decades, but there is still hope that someone, somewhere knows something that can bring a...

Today’s stories include confession notes, quicksand escapes, mama grizzlies, spider pets, finding kittens, frog watching,  trail tales within trail tales and proof that all dogs go to heaven. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:Instagram: @‌nation...

When two dangerous convicts escaped from a Florida prison they kidnapped a woman and fled to Mississippi. During the ensuing manhunt for the prison escapees, Florida park ranger Robert McGhee was tragically murdered while on duty. In the years that followed, devastated and angered by the events leading to her husband's death, his wife petitioned and lobbied for change within the prison system. For...

One of Australia’s most haunted locations sits in the same harbor as one of the country’s most visited landmarks. Across the bay from the Opera House lies the remnants of the oldest and longest running Quarantine station in Oz’s history. Over 500 people lost their lives here, and it's long been said several of them have never left. For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodesFor...

Today’s stories include disembodied voices (and fingers ?), questionable aliens, conjuring spirits and peaks beyond the veil. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening t...

Today we go to the national park unit that preserves the bloodiest day in American History. During the civil war, 23,000 people were killed or wounded in a single day. Today, this area may contain the spirits of those who lost their lives. For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodesFor the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com an...

A universal desire to have more time to convey our love to those who we have lost has been in existence for as long as humans have. For most of history, those wishing to connect with the deceased relied on mediums, until two of history’s most brilliant minds added science to the equation in hopes of inventing a direct line to the other side. For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/ep...

Some histories are lost with time, but remnants of their existence remain. Off an unmarked trail within Rocky Mountain National Park sits an abandoned cabin that in its heyday was a popular place for tourists to visit. It was once filled with people from around the world who had ventured to see Anna Wolfrom’s famous Tea Room for themselves. Anna managed to operate a hugely successful business in a...

Today’s stories include life changing treks, Kentucky Bigfoots, dog rescues, evidence destruction, flying deer, bad feelings, heart shaped rocks and good girls in pink bandanas. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to...

What started off as a 1990’s National Park roadtrip across the West turned into a successful series of books. Randi Minetor joins us to speak about her journey with death in the US National Parks and highlights the importance on mindful recreation. An author of over 90 books, Randi is renowned for her “Death in” works that focus on the stories of visitors who perished in the parks. You can find Ra...

In August of 1982, three generations of one family went on a two week vacation into the mountains of British Columbia. Over a year later, David Shearing was arrested and went to trial for all six of their murders. But as time went on the details of what happened that night and in the days that followed emerged and were more horrific than anyone could have anticipated. For a full list of our source...

Today’s stories include survival(ish) stories, good guy redemptions, unpredictable rescuers, invisible protectors and someone being naked - and someone being afraid. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and su...

In August of 1982, three generations of one family went on a two week vacation into the mountains of British Columbia. When they failed to return, the community rallied to find them. What began as a missing persons case turned into the grisly discovery of human remains. Exactly what happened to the Bentley and Johnson families was a mystery for months until someone began to reveal the truth. For a...

When a fire broke out in Helena National Forest, the newly established Smokejumpers crew were sent to manage it. The fire proved to be larger and more dangerous than anyone could have predicted and when the winds changed, the men found themselves fighting for their lives. Many lives were lost and to this day it remains as one of the worst tragedies in wild land history. For a full list of our sour...

Today’s stories include park spirits, strange encounters, Alaskan adventures, embarrassing moments and cocaine heroes. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD!...

For generations the stories of ghost lights in the Appalachian forests of North Carolina have captured the attention of locals and piqued the curiosity of travelers. These orbs of light have been witnessed by hundreds over the years, so no one is questioning their existence, but they are questioning their origins. Are they spirits? UFOs? Bioluminescent bugs? Automobile headlights? ETs? Today we di...

Today’s episode is all about bears as Kevin Grange returns for his second appearance on the show to discuss his newest book Grizzly Confidential: An Astounding Journey Into the Secret Life of North America’s Most Fearsome Predator. We discuss why people love and fear bears, how we can co-exist in a changing world and most importantly - why bears belong. Purchase Grizzly Confidential HERE and learn...

Today’s stories include woodsy weirdness, prophetic dreams, police run ins, paranormal protection, mountain mishaps and an avalanche survival. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever y...

When rumors spread through New York City of horrendous conditions of a nearby asylum, Nellie Bly investigates. She goes undercover as a patient to report back on the conditions of the facility. What she endures horrifies the public and forces reform of mental health institutions. Today she is remembered in history for her book detailing that experience, Ten Days in a Madhouse. For a full list of o...