Natural and cultural sounds awaken a sense of awe that connects us to the splendor of national parks, and have a powerful effect on our emotions, attitudes and memories. From the mysterious calls of bugling elk in the Rocky Mountains to the patriotic, bugling trumpets heard across a historic battlefield, these sounds are part of a web of natural and cultural resources that the National Parks protects under the Organic Act. The sounds heard in each national park are uniquely special to that place. NPS invites you to experience our parks through this world of sound.
A Symphony of Trees, Grasses, Birds and Streams
Students Advance Acoustic Research
Undergraduates work with acoustical data collected in national parks to analyze a spectrum of natural and human-caused sounds.
Listening to Biodiversity
NPS scientists use audio recordings to assess biodiversity in forest areas impacted by fire within Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.
Keeping the Peace and Quiet
A new study shows that noise now intrudes into remote areas, including some national parks.
Last updated: June 21, 2017