Parks & Points publishes personal essays and poetry about national parks and other public lands, along with timely budget travel tips and short guides to select sites. “In the summer 2026, we will host an online poetry series in honor of our tenth anniversary as a publication! We invite poetry submissions that reflect upon nature, outdoor exploration, and accompanying moments of adventurousness or self-reflection.”

They invite poetry submissions that reflect upon nature, outdoor exploration, and accompanying moments of adventurousness or self-reflection, inspired by parks, public lands, or designated outdoor space.

Read more below in my interview editor and founder Amy Beth Wright a few questions to find out. See my interview with Wright and a link to submission guidelines below.

HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about Parks & Points.

WRIGHT: Derek and I launched Parks & Points in 2016, based on our appreciation for public lands and domestic travel, as well as our literary interests in creative nonfiction and poetry. This platform seemed a way to integrate many things we value, while supporting and promoting public lands as unique, historic, and transformative places to visit.

We’ve been on hiatus for the past few years due to creative projects, but are excited to return to poems that transport us to local, state, and national public lands around the world this summer. Parks & Points truly is a love letter to public lands and creative modalities like writing and photography—we hope you will continue with us on this journey, as we enter our second decade as a publication!

HOPKINSON: Who is your target reader audience?

WRIGHT: This is varied, as we have outdoor enthusiasts, public lands advocates, and writers amongst our readers.

HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for?

WRIGHT: We are looking for poems that celebrate a connection to the natural world and/or to a particular site on shared public land.

HOPKINSON: What do you wish you’d see submitted, but rarely comes in?

WRIGHT: We always enjoy poems that are directly inspired by a specific national park or site.

HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?

WRIGHT: Catapult, Longreads, Guernica, Granta, Gulf Coast... and more!

HOPKINSON: Where can folks send submissions?

WRIGHT: amy@parksandpoints.com. It is fine to paste poems and a bio into the body of the email.

HOPKINSON: If someone has a question, how can they contact you?

WRIGHT: amy@parksandpoints.com

Click here to read submission guidelines.

• SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 19, 2026
• THEME(S): Poetry submissions that reflect upon nature, outdoor exploration, and accompanying moments of adventurousness or self-reflection page.
• FORMAT: Online
• SUBMISSION FEE: None.
• PAYMENT: $20 honorarium per poem
• SUBMISSION METHOD: Email.
• FORMS: Poetry
• SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter)

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