Events calendar

Daily Cave Tours

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Aug 29 8:15 am – 3:30 pm

Round trip, with hike time this tour is 3.5 hours. You are in the cave system for for 55-minutes and it walks through Hansen, Middle, and Timpanogos Caves. The caves are connected by two man made tunnels. This tour has Please make sure to read all of...

Fort Open to Plaza Access

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Aug 29 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

The public is invited inside the reconstruction of Bent’s Old Fort, entering through the zaguan gate and into the plaza. Park Rangers will be present to explain the features of the fort and its 20 th century reconstruction. Entry into the...

Aug 29 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

As we look ahead to the 75th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decisions in 2029, this exhibit reflects on how these annual milestones have been commemorated over time, and asks: Where Next? Featuring items from past...

Alpine Ranger Rove

Great Basin National Park

Aug 29 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Exploring the Alpine Lakes Loop or Bristlecone trails? From 9am to 3pm, keep your eye out for a friendly ranger ready to chat about Great Basin's spectacular high country. Occurs daily, staff and weather permitting.

Junior Ranger Day 2026

Great Basin National Park

Aug 29 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

During National Park Week 2026 (August 22-30), Great Basin National Park will celebrate National Junior Ranger Day in 2026 on Saturday, August 29. Explore, learn, and help protect Great Basin’s cultural and natural heritage through hands-on...

Become a Junior Archeologist

Aztec Ruins National Monument

Aug 29 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Hey kids, did you know that the film character Indiana Jones was based on Earl Morris, the real-life archeologist who excavated the Aztec West great house? You can follow in their footsteps and become a Junior Archeologist any day during National...

Cultural Demonstration by Johnny Cruz

Bandelier National Monument

Aug 29 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Stop in to visit and learn about Johnny Cruz of San Ildefonso Pueblo’s work of pottery at the Visitor Center throughout the day.

Introduction to Caving Tour

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Aug 29 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

The ranger-led tour spends 1.5 hours in the cave and introduces visitors to low-impact caving skills, safety and etiquette. With a helmet and headlamp you are ready to experience Hansen Cave in its natural state. You will scramble over boulders and...

Aug 29 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is excited to participate in this year’s Sunflower Festival in the Town of Mountainair on Saturday, August 29th! Park staff will have a community table where visitors can explore the deep cultural history of...

Aug 29 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The exhibit commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Anza expedition by exploring both the expedition itself and the environment the settlers found when they arrived in Monterey. Panels discuss the founding of Monterey, early buildings and...

Aug 29 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Wagons and cowboys and Hollywood, oh my! On this ranger-guided tour, learn about the Santa Fe Trail and area ranching, with stops at the Trading Post and historic Forked Lightning Ranch House . This tour requires limited walking , but extended...

Aug 29 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Wagons and cowboys and Hollywood, oh my! On this ranger-guided tour, learn about the Santa Fe Trail and area ranching, with stops at the Trading Post and historic Forked Lightning Ranch House . This tour requires limited walking , but extended...

PM Visitor Center Ranger Talk

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Aug 29 1:45 pm – 2:15 pm

Explore a variety of topics about Great Sand Dunes. Topics posted at visitor center lobby bulletin board. (20 minutes)

Visit the Junction School with a Ranger

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

Aug 29 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Meet a park ranger at the Junction School to talk about what learning was like for four-year-old Lyndon when he started his education in 1912. On April 11, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson returned to his first school to sign the Elementary and...

Lehman Caves Visitor Center Porch Talk

Great Basin National Park

Aug 29 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Join a ranger for a 30-minute program outside the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. Topics vary by ranger. Program occurs as staffing permits.

Life in the Gila

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Aug 29 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Join a ranger and discover how water, geology, plants, and people shaped this remarkable landscape. Explore the story of the Mogollon and the canyon they called home.

Pueblo Bonito Tour

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Aug 29 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Join us on a guided walk through the largest great house in Chaco Culture NHP and learn about the people that called this canyon home. Tour will last approximately one hour.

Great Basin Visitor Center Porch Talk

Great Basin National Park

Aug 29 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Join a ranger outside the Great Basin Visitor Center for a 30-minute ranger chat. Chats are scheduled at 9:30 am and 2:30 pm as staffing permits. Topics will vary by ranger.

Mission Espada Looming Demonstration Program

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Aug 29 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm

Join our free, daily looming demonstration at Mission Espada.

Of Things Natural

Wupatki National Monument

Aug 29 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Song Cycle by Tom Cleman (World Premiere)Christine Graham, sopranoAimee Fincher, pianoArt installation by Shawn SkabelundWupatki National Monument Visitor CenterPerformance begins at 5:30Reception to follow

Family Fishing (Evening Program)

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Aug 29 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Join us at the Mile Rock Picnic Area to learn the basics of fishing with our Rangers and have the opportunity to earn a Junior Ranger Angler badge! Fishing licenses are required for those 12 and up.

Evening Ranger Program

Bandelier National Monument

Aug 29 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Join a ranger for an evening program and presentation at the Juniper Family Campground Ampitheater. Program topics will vary slightly, call the Visitor Center for the program of the day.

Evening with a Ranger

Great Basin National Park

Aug 29 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Join a park ranger under the stars for an engaging and enjoyable story about Great Basin National Park. Mountain lions, wildfires, natural sounds, and bats are just a few of the many topics explored. Stick around and check our astronomy program, too...

Night Hike

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Aug 29 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm

This is a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) round trip hike along an unimproved trail, marked only by stick posts and rock piles in low-light conditions. Sharp-pointed plants with thorns are very common along the trail with a slight but rocky slope.

Astronomy Program

Great Basin National Park

Aug 29 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Enjoy a double feature under the stars! Rangers will present 30-minute evening programs exploring the Great Basin and the cosmos, followed by roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes of telescope viewing (weather permitting). Programs will be hosted in the...

8:30 pm Amphitheater Evening Program

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Aug 29 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Join a park ranger for a talk on some of the fascinating aspects of our park and its surroundings.

Lantern Cave Tours

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Aug 30 7:00 am – 10:45 am

Step back in time and experience Timpanogos Cave lit only by the flicker of lanterns on this ranger-guided tour to celebrate 100 years as a national monument! Discover what early explorers experienced as they traveled through the dark passages of the...

Dunes Discovery Morning Hike

White Sands National Park

Aug 30 7:30 am – 8:30 am

The Dunes Discovery Morning Hike is a one-mile, ranger-guided hike at Dune Life Nature Trail. This is a great way to start your day in the park.

Daily Cave Tours

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Aug 30 8:15 am – 3:30 pm

Round trip, with hike time this tour is 3.5 hours. You are in the cave system for for 55-minutes and it walks through Hansen, Middle, and Timpanogos Caves. The caves are connected by two man made tunnels. This tour has Please make sure to read all of...

Garden Walk (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Aug 30 8:15 am – 8:45 am

Join us for a guided walk through the Cactus Garden where you’ll explore the fascinating natural history of the Sonoran Desert! Wheelchair accessible.

Lodge Room Tour

Great Basin National Park

Aug 30 8:30 am – 9:30 am

The Lodge Room Tour is a 60-minute ranger-guided adventure through the Gothic Palace, Rose Trellis Room, Music Room, and Lodge Room of Lehman Caves.

National Park Week: Junior Ranger Day

Chiricahua National Monument

Aug 30 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Embark on a learning adventure as you complete your junior ranger book and discover Chiricahua National Monument's story. Visitors of every age can enjoy and learn from the Junior Ranger program at Chiricahua!

Junior Ranger Scavenger Hunt

Bandelier National Monument

Aug 30 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

Join park rangers for a relaxed, come-and-go, color-based scavenger hunt that will invite Junior Rangers to appreciate the natural scenery of Bandelier! All ages are welcome and supplies will be provided.

Fort Open to Plaza Access

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Aug 30 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

The public is invited inside the reconstruction of Bent’s Old Fort, entering through the zaguan gate and into the plaza. Park Rangers will be present to explain the features of the fort and its 20 th century reconstruction. Entry into the...

Alpine Ranger Rove

Great Basin National Park

Aug 30 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Exploring the Alpine Lakes Loop or Bristlecone trails? From 9am to 3pm, keep your eye out for a friendly ranger ready to chat about Great Basin's spectacular high country. Occurs daily, staff and weather permitting.

Gila Bird and Nature Walk

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Aug 30 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Grab your binoculars (if you have them) and join us on a walk through the wild Gila on a search for birds, wildlife and flowers. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring water. We will be walking around on trails and sometimes on pavement.

Ranger Guided Hike to Alcove House

Bandelier National Monument

Aug 30 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Hike with a ranger up the ladders to Alcove House! A 2-mile roundtrip leaving from the Visitor Center will take you to a very special ancestral home set in a natural alcove 140 feet up from the canyon floor. Learn about how the Pueblo people lived...

Become a Junior Archeologist

Aztec Ruins National Monument

Aug 30 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Hey kids, did you know that the film character Indiana Jones was based on Earl Morris, the real-life archeologist who excavated the Aztec West great house? You can follow in their footsteps and become a Junior Archeologist any day during National...

National Junior Ranger Day

Petroglyph National Monument

Aug 30 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Help us celebrate National Junior Ranger Day! Come to the Petroglyph National Monument Information Center on Sunday, August 30th to become a Junior Ranger! There will be several Junior Ranger booklets to choose from, each with their own badges or...

Woodpeckers! (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Aug 30 9:15 am – 9:30 am

Come learn about the birds that build inside Saguaros! Wheelchair accessible.

Grand Palace Tour

Great Basin National Park

Aug 30 9:45 am – 11:15 am

The Grand Palace Tour allows visitors to experience the entire developed area of Lehman Caves on a 90-minute ranger-guided adventure through more than half a mile of lighted cave paths.

Guided Hikes on the Islands

Channel Islands National Park

Aug 30 10:00 am – 11:00 am

On days that the concessionaire boats run to the islands, guided hikes may be offered by national park rangers, volunteers, or concessionaire naturalists. If they are not available to lead hikes, self-guided interpretive trail booklets are available...

Ranger Talk

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Aug 30 10:00 am – 11:00 am

The Sand Creek ranger talk explores the events of the mid 1800's and describes some of the social, economic, and political factors that contributed to the Sand Creek Massacre. Please not that this program is a stationary talk, not a walking tour.

Ancestral Sites Trail Guided Walk

Pecos National Historical Park

Aug 30 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Pecos Pueblo sits at the site of a unique ecological and cultural crossroads. Join a park ranger on this tour to lear n a bout the Ancestral Pueblo , Spanish Colonial history, and the importance of this site to communities today . The tour begins at...

Ranger Talk

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Aug 30 10:00 am – 10:30 am

Learn about Montezuma Castle with a Ranger talk.

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Aug 30 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Join our guided walks led by a National Park Ranger at Mission San José.Daily 10:00 am and 11:00 am (weather permitting).Each tour is limited to 50 people. First come, first served daily.San José guided walks begin at the Visitor Center at Mission...

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission Concepción

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Aug 30 10:00 am – 10:45 am

Join our free, daily park ranger tours at Mission Concepción.

Ranger Program at Mission San Juan

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Aug 30 10:00 am – 10:45 am

Join our free, daily park ranger tours at Mission San Juan.

Introduction to Caving Tour

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Aug 30 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

The ranger-led tour spends 1.5 hours in the cave and introduces visitors to low-impact caving skills, safety and etiquette. With a helmet and headlamp you are ready to experience Hansen Cave in its natural state. You will scramble over boulders and...

Geology Talk

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Aug 30 10:00 am – 10:30 am

How did the Black Canyon form? What kinds of rocks are these? Discover answers to these and other questions about this dizzying chasm. Meet at Pulpit Rock Overlook at 10:00 am. 20-30 minutes. Location subject to change. May be cancelled due to...

Ranger Guided Hike- Pueblo Loop Trail

Bandelier National Monument

Aug 30 10:00 am – 10:45 am

Join a ranger for a 45 minute introductory program on the first 0.25 miles of the Pueblo Loop Trail! The walk will begin on the back porch of the visitor center and finishes at the Tyuonyi Pueblo Archeological Site along the trail. From this point...

Aug 30 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Take a guided hike with a ranger and discover the hidden life, diversity, and resilience thriving on the Twin Craters lava flow. The first part of the hike is through grassland along a dirt trail. Eventually, the trail turns into a cairn-marked route...

Ancestral Sites Trail Guided Walk

Pecos National Historical Park

Aug 30 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Pecos Pueblo sits at the site of a unique ecological and cultural crossroads. Join a park ranger on this tour to lear n a bout the Ancestral Pueblo , Spanish Colonial history, and the importance of this site to communities today . The tour begins at...

Natural Dyes Workshop

Aztec Ruins National Monument

Aug 30 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Join volunteer Jeanne for a talk and demonstration of wool dying using natural plant dyes. Learn which plants produce which colors of dye, how plants are processed to make dyes, and how the wool dying process works. See what beautiful colors the...

Junior Ranger Day Reading Ranger Program

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Aug 30 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Join us at Mission San José at 10 AM for Reading Ranger as we read a family friendly book and pick up your Junior Ranger Activity Book to earn your badge!

Geology Talk

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Aug 30 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Meet a ranger at the Fajada Butte Overlook to learn about the various rocks and minerals of Chaco. Learn why people have called this home for over 1000 years because of the unique geology found within the park. Program is free; no reservations are...

Aug 30 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join children’s author Gary D. Robson for a fun, interactive presentation and Q&A from 10–11 AM. Gary will share the fascinating world of animal scat through his book, Who Pooped in the Sonoran Desert, followed by a book signing. Afterward, kids can...

Junior Ranger Day

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Aug 30 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

We're excited to invite you to Junior Ranger Day! Meet us on Sunday, August 30th from 10am-12pm at Montezuma Castle for a fun-filled morning. A ranger will help you discover how the Sinagua traded goods. Junior rangers can trade stones and beads to...

Junior Ranger Day

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Aug 30 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

National Park Week is coming to a close, but we are saving the best day for last! Join us tomorrow for Junior Ranger Day! From 10:00am - 2:00pm in the visitor center we will have crafts, activities, storytelling with a ranger, and a photo opportunity...

Aug 30 10:15 am – 10:45 am

Discover the ancient petroglyphs at Signal Hill and their creators. Wheelchair accessible.

Tours of President Johnson's Boyhood Home

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

Aug 30 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Daily tours of the Boyhood Home explore Lyndon Johnson's childhood growing up in the rural, 1920s town of Johnson City, Texas. Tours start at the National Park Visitor Center in Johnson City at 100 Ladybird Lane.

Accessible Gothic Palace Tour

Great Basin National Park

Aug 30 10:30 am – 11:00 am

The 30-minute Accessible Tour of Lehman Caves visits the Gothic Palace, the first highly-decorated room of the cave and can accommodate a wheelchair, with assistance. This tour is intended for persons with limited mobility, unable to negotiate stairs...

Lehman Caves Visitor Center Porch Talk

Great Basin National Park

Aug 30 10:30 am – 11:00 am

Join a park ranger on the Lehman Caves Visitor Center porch for a fun and interactive program on a wide variety of Great Basin topics - wildfire, wildlife, wild caves, and more. Check the information board or at the visitor center information desk...

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Aug 30 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join our guided walks led by a National Park Ranger at Mission San José.Daily 10:00 am and 11:00 am (weather permitting).Each tour is limited to 50 people. First come, first served daily.San José guided walks begin at the Visitor Center at Mission...

Guided Tour

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Aug 30 11:00 am – 11:45 am

Take a tour with a Park Ranger to learn more about Bent's Old Fort. Each tour lasts approximately forty-five minutes and begins in the plaza. Tours are limited to fifteen participants and will explore the historic use of the site and the...

Abó Ranger-Guided Hikes

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Aug 30 11:00 am – 11:45 am

Join our park rangers for a guided hike at Abó every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. These 45‑minute walks are open to everyone — no reservation needed. Bring plenty of water, pack a snack, wear sturdy shoes, and dress for the weather. Along the way, rangers...

Bristlecone Ranger Chat

Great Basin National Park

Aug 30 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Curious about Great Basin's alpine country? Anytime from 11am to noon each day, find a ranger in the Wheeler Peak Bristlecone Grove for an informal chat where you can ask about the trees, the animals, and other aspects of the higher elevations of the...

Guided Walk of Dwellings

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Aug 30 11:00 am – 11:45 am

Allow at least 30 minutes to hike up to the cliff dwellings. The trail leading to the dwellings is about 1/2 mile over rocky and uneven terrain with 180-foot elevation gain. Join a ranger on a 45-minute guided walk of the cliff dwellings to learn...

Pueblo Dance Group

Bandelier National Monument

Aug 30 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join us on the back patio of the Visitor Center to hear songs and dances shared from the community of Picuris Pueblo.

What is a Javelina? (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Aug 30 11:15 am – 11:45 am

You may have seen one, you may have seen a picture of one and you may have even smelled one - STINKY! Join an Interpretive Volunteer in the theater for a short program that will answer all the questions you have about Javelina and why IT DOES NOT...

AM Visitor Center Ranger Talk

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Aug 30 11:15 am – 11:45 am

Explore a variety of topics about Great Sand Dunes. Topics posted at visitor center lobby bulletin board. (20 minutes)

Aug 30 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The exhibit commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Anza expedition by exploring both the expedition itself and the environment the settlers found when they arrived in Monterey. Panels discuss the founding of Monterey, early buildings and...

Arizona's Wildcats! (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Aug 30 12:45 pm – 1:15 pm

This is not about the University of Arizona’s teams nor is it about your mom’s house cat! Join an Interpretive Ranger in the theater to learn about the four types of wild cats that roam not only Arizona’s mountains and deserts, but in some cases –...

National Park Week: Junior Ranger Day

Coronado National Memorial

Aug 30 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Join a ranger for a learning adventure as you complete your junior ranger book and discover the clever ways desert animals survive in this wild, sun‑baked landscape!

Battle of Glorieta Pass Talk

Pecos National Historical Park

Aug 30 1:30 pm – 2:15 pm

The Battle of Glorieta Pass was one of the most influential western battles of the Civil War. Join a park ranger for a talk in the historic Trading Post building and see how it played a role in this pivotal battle . Talks meet at the visitor center...

Battle of Glorieta Pass Talk

Pecos National Historical Park

Aug 30 1:30 pm – 2:15 pm

The Battle of Glorieta Pass was one of the most influential western battles of the Civil War. Join a park ranger for a talk in the historic Trading Post building and see how it played a role in this pivotal battle . Talks meet at the visitor center...