Grand Canyon National Park is one of the planet’s Seven Natural Wonders, with 4.4 million visitors each year. Who keeps them safe, fed, and happy? When the wind blows at White Sands National Monument, legend says the centuries-old ghost of a Mexican maiden appears in the shifting sands. In Yosemite National Park, there’s a guy who tracks road kill with a clipboard and a shovel to pry flattened victims from the blacktop.

This colorful collection goes behind the scenery at America’s most popular national parks. It also visits lesser-known parks with thought-provoking tales to tell.