Events calendar

Fort Open to Plaza Access

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Jan 19 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...

Volunteer Brush Clearing

Big Thicket National Preserve

Jan 19 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Big Thicket National Preserve needs your help to clear brush out of pine savannah so that longleaf pines can grow! Volunteers will be clearing small trees and brush. Hand saws, pruning loppers, hand-held power tools, gloves, and other personal...

Park Open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

Jan 19 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the park will be open on Monday, January 19, from 9 am to 5 pm. Regular exhibits and programming will be available in the visitor center.

Garden Walk (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Jan 19 9:15 am – 10:00 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.

The GIANT Cactus (East District)

Saguaro National Park

Jan 19 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Saguaro National Park is famous for its gigantic saguaros. Still, you have to know where to look to find the real giants among giants. Join a ranger for a special off-trail walk to view some amazing examples of our saguaros. This program meets at the...

Guided Hikes on the Islands

Channel Islands National Park

Jan 19 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...

Tours of President Johnson's Boyhood Home

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

Jan 19 10:00 am – 10:30 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.

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Jan 19 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...

Ancestral Sites Trail Guided Walk

Pecos National Historical Park

Jan 19 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...

Critter Chat

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Jan 19 10:00 am – 10:30 am

Join a ranger for a talk about the unique animals that call this deserrt home!

Jan 19 10:15 am – 11:00 am

Join us for a 30-minute theater presentation on the Saguaro cactus, the iconic symbol of the Southwest. Learn about its unique adaptations, ecological significance, and the cultural importance it holds in the region. Discover how this remarkable...

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Jan 19 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...

Living with Giants (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Jan 19 11:15 am – 12:00 pm

The saguaro celebrates events and faces challenges throughout its life. A biologist explains how it provides shelter and substance for wildlife; when it flowers; its growth patterns; and how it fights for survival against drought, lightning, frost...

Jan 19 12:45 pm – 1:30 pm

Join us in the Red Hills Visitor Center to discover various plant species native to the Sonoran Desert and learn how indigenous peoples traditionally used them for food and medicine. Wheelchair accessible.

Jan 19 12:45 pm – 1:30 pm

Join us in the Red Hills Visitor Center to discover various plant species native to the Sonoran Desert and learn how indigenous peoples traditionally used them for food and medicine. Wheelchair accessible.

Arizona's Wildcats! (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Jan 19 12:45 pm – 1:30 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 –...

Patio Talk

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Jan 19 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

An interpretive talk that changes daily. Subjects vary broadly, from ethnobotany, mining history, regional culture, and beyond.

Jan 19 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...

Garden Walk (East District)

Saguaro National Park

Jan 19 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Join a ranger for a short stroll through the cactus garden located outside of the visitor center to learn about the saguaro cactus and other plants of the Sonoran Desert.

Arizona's Wildcats! (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Jan 19 2:15 pm – 3:00 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 –...

Arizona's Wildcats! (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Jan 19 2:15 pm – 3:00 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 –...

Jan 19 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm

Join us in the Red Hills Visitor Center to discover various plant species native to the Sonoran Desert and learn how indigenous peoples traditionally used them for food and medicine. Wheelchair accessible.

Ranger Program

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Jan 19 2:30 pm – 3:15 pm

Visit the Visitor Center at Mission San José to explore a mission topic with a park ranger.

All About the Organ Pipe Cactus

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Jan 19 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

How big can organ pipe cactus grow? Can you eat their fruit? What role do they play in the Sonoran Desert ecosystem? Have you or someone you know every asked a question like this about the organ pipe cactus? If the answer is yes, then this is the...

Ranger Talk (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Jan 19 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm

Join a park ranger at the Red Hills Visitor Center for a theater presentation about Saguaro National Park’s unique cultural, historical and natural resources. Presentations vary daily depending on the Ranger hosting, but a few popular ones go over...

Sunset Walk/Talk

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Jan 19 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

A relaxed sunset program, designed for all ages, exploring the plants, wildlife, and people of the Sonoran Desert. Talks change daily; inquire at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center for details.

Sunset Hike (East District)

Saguaro National Park

Jan 19 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm

Hike up the Tanque Verde Ridge trail to get fantastic views of the sunset in the park. This hike is 0.5 miles round-trip on rugged terrain. Water, hiking shoes, and trekking poles are recommended.

Sunset Walk/Talk

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Jan 19 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

A relaxed sunset program, designed for all ages, exploring the plants, wildlife, and people of the Sonoran Desert. Talks change daily; inquire at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center for details.

Evening Program

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Jan 19 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

A formal interpretive talk on the history, ecology, and/or culture of the Sonoran Desert. Talks change daily; inquire at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center for details.