Tezels on the Road
Our Road, Our Story
Mark & Alicia Tezel — retired explorers sharing travel stories, trail adventures, national park wisdom, and the places that shape us.
▶ Just Released · Ranger PamPaw Podcast · April 29, 2026
S1E6 — Stories They Don’t Put on the Signs
Funny moments, quiet moments, and meaningful encounters from a ranger’s career — the stories that never made it onto a sign, a plaque, or a brochure.
Explore What We Do
Stories, trails, podcasts, and park encounters — all in one place.
🗺️
Travel Blog
Trip stories, photos, and reflections from cruises, road trips, and adventures near and far.
🎙️
Ranger PamPaw
Park stories, behind-the-scenes insight, and ranger wisdom from 35 years in the National Park Service.
🌄
Tuesdays on the Trail
A video series exploring scenic hiking trails across national parks and historic landscapes, one trail at a time.
🏛️
First Encounters
Exploring the National Park System — one first visit at a time. Stories from parks seen through fresh eyes.
Now Exploring
🌍 2026 Travels
Follow along as we explore the world in 2026 — a Southern Caribbean Cruise, Big Bend, Chicago, and more adventures on the way.
Ranger PamPaw’s Park Guides
Practical guides and trail resources for exploring America’s public lands — drawn from a lifetime in the National Park System.
📍
Ranger PamPaw’s Guide
In-depth park guides covering history, planning, and what to expect — written from a lifetime of National Park experience.
🥾
Trail Guides
Step-by-step trail guides with distance, difficulty, highlights, and practical tips for hikes across the National Park System.
Latest from the Road
Our most recent stories, episodes, and trail adventures.
-
► A Note from Ranger PamPaw In July 2012, we folded Cedar Breaks into a family swing through southern Utah that had taken us to Bryce Canyon the day before. I’ll be honest — I wasn’t sure Cedar Breaks could hold its own right after Bryce. It held its own. The amphitheater hits you the…
-
Grapevine Hills Trail Big Bend National Park Ranger PamPaw’s Trail Guide A Wonderland of Rocks in the Heart of the Chihuahuan Desert The Grapevine Hills Trail puts you inside the landscape rather than looking at it from a distance. The route follows a sandy desert wash through a tight valley enclosed by towering laccolith spires…
-
▶ NOTE FROM RANGER PAMPAW Some places earn their significance through dramatic scenery or sheer scale. West Branch earns it through honesty. I have walked a lot of ground in the national parks. I have stood at the rim of the Grand Canyon and looked across terrain so vast it stops the mind. I have…
-
Ranger PamPaw’s complete guide to Sitka National Historical Park — Alaska’s oldest federally designated park. Totem poles, the Battle of Sitka, the Russian Bishop’s House, and everything you need to plan your visit.
Mark & Alicia Tezel — lifelong explorers, national park advocates, and storytellers. Meet the Tezels →
