If anyone wants more detailed information about what may be allowed in National Parks, there is a document that was published on 19-OCT-07. The document focuses on geocaching, but keep reading and you'll get to the letterboxing section.

Here's an excerpt:

Letterboxing involves the placement of a cache containing a stamp and an inkpad that enables participants to document that they found the specific location. Participants find the location by following “clues.” Clues often involve map coordinates or compass bearings, but most letterboxes currently in existence do not require the use of a GPS device. Although letterboxing is intended to be environmentally friendly, if the “box” is buried or concealed by manipulated
vegetation or rocks, or will cause participants to create social trails or traverse sensitive or dangerous locations, the impacts will likely be unacceptable. However, it is entirely possible that some parks, particularly those with a vast expanse of backcountry, will have locations where a letterbox could be concealed and sought out without causing unacceptable impacts. In those cases, the superintendent has the option to designate locations where, or establish conditions under which, the cache could be left unattended—for example, in the same location as an NPSsponsored summit log.

Here's the link for the full document:

http://www.nps.gov/policy/GPSguidance.pdf

Wisconsin Hiker

---- drewclan@aol.com wrote:
> Once again, your busy volunteers at Letterboxing North America are getting
> grief from National Park Rangers. This time it is the scary sounding "law
> enforcement division" and they are using terms like "illegal boxes."
>
> So just a reminder to all in letterbox land: it is possible to plant
> letterboxes on NPS properties if you collaborate with your local rangers. There are
> several good examples of this on the letterboxing.org website.
>
> If you do not get permission to box in a national park, please do not expose
> us little helpers to threats and liabilities. While me may agree with the
> principles, we can't afford to take on the government. Please do not post
> National Parks letterbox clues on letterboxing.org. If your box is anywhere near a
> national park, please consider putting a big fat note on the clues stating
> "this box is not on national park property." Something even a gendarme would
> understand.
>
> Thanks and happy boxing to ya, Jay in CT
>
> Things the National Park rangers love to read on our website (sorry if the
> spacing is crazy, cutting and pasting into yahoogroups seems to cause havoc
> with formats):
> -----
> Once you enter the complex, enjoy the many displays that the Park Service
> has set up as
> you work your way toward the
> -----
> There
> are multiple routes to this spot and it is advisable that you surf
> to the National Park Service website at
> _http://www.nps.gov/_ (http://www.nps.gov/saan/home.htm) as they manage the
> site and have a
> delightful, but slightly inaccurate .pdf map that will assist in
> finding the site. Otherwise, just look for the brown National Park
> Service signs (like I did) to find your way through the maze of
> streets (Really, I just followed the signs
> and my common sense and found the way - it was really fun to go
> without the map.)
> -----
> The box is located near visitor's center,
> -----
> Please respect the ruins as they are an historic site &
> part of the the National Park
> -----
> There are numerous National Park signs along the trail identifying
> the natural environment. Enjoy the hike.
> -----
> pick up a free trail guide at the National Park visitors center
> -----
> Please respect the park rules.
> -----
> from the National Park Visitor Center walk north on
> -----
> a picturesque locale maintained by the National Park Service and filled with
> interesting hiking trails
> -----
> A note from the National Parks website…
> -----
> The National Park Visitor Center is not aware that this box is on their
> grounds.
> Please re-hide well.
> -----
> This box was planted in the dark after we enjoyed *** National Park
> -----
> The box is located inside *** National Park.
> -----
> this is one of the jewels of the *** National Park system
> -----
> Also, the National Park Service does not look kindly on letterboxes so be
> discreet.
> -----
> This letterbox is hidden at the *** Picnic Area, *** National Park
> -----
> Go to the *** Trailhead within *** National Park.
> -----
> Pick up a map/guide from the ranger upon entering the park...snip...Before
> you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer
> -----
>
>
>
> **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL
> Home.
> (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom00030000000001)
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

>OOOPs! Should have been.

> http://www.letterboxing.org/BoxView.php?boxnum=15585&boxname=Yosemite
>
Don