Events calendar

Fort Open to Plaza Access

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Feb 14 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...

Trash Clean-Up: US 96 Boat Launch (Lumberton)

Big Thicket National Preserve

Feb 14 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Show Big Thicket some love on Valentine's Day! No one likes to see trash when arrive to the park—help us keep the preserve a beautiful place! Meet a ranger at a popular boat launch on Village Creek to help clean up trash. All supplies are provided...

Park Ranger Pop-Up at Aliante Parkway Kiosk

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

Feb 14 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Meet a Tule Springs Fossil Beds Park Ranger at the trailhead to learn more about our topic of the day. Get up close with fossils, swear your dog in as a B.A.R.K. Ranger, get your Junior Ranger book, and more!

Great Backyard Bird Count Guided Walk

El Malpais National Monument

Feb 14 9:00 am – 11:00 am

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a citizen science project that inspires millions of non-professional birdwatchers to contribute data every February. Count birds in your backyard or expand to other areas of your neighborhood such as a city or...

The GIANT Cactus (East District)

Saguaro National Park

Feb 14 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...

Tours of President Johnson's Boyhood Home

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

Feb 14 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

Feb 14 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...

Crackling Embers

Fort Union National Monument

Feb 14 10:00 am – 10:45 am

The tradition of storytelling around the campfire continues with your National Park Service! Experience this half-hour program of fire making along with historic tales, an intriguing story, or a spooky yarn along with a park ranger. Seating available...

Ranger Talk

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Feb 14 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.

Lake Lucero Tour

White Sands National Park

Feb 14 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Have you ever wondered how the white sands formed and why Lake Lucero is often referred to as the birthplace of the dunes? Take a tour to Lake Lucero with a ranger and learn about the formation of the sands.

Ancestral Sites Trail Guided Walk

Pecos National Historical Park

Feb 14 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

Feb 14 10:00 am – 10:30 am

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

Feb 14 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Rendition Arts is owned by Brian and Holly Bystedt and specializes in metal artwork representing petroglyphs from the American Southwest. Brian photographs these ancient rock carvings on site and uses the image to create a variety of metalwork...

Guided Hike: Rinconada Canyon

Petroglyph National Monument

Feb 14 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

This volunteer-led hike will take you on the 2.2 mile loop-trail into Rinconada Canyon, where you will learn about the history of the area - from the geology that shaped it to the Ancestral Puebloans and Spaniards that left their marks behind to the...

Cowboys and Caracaras

Padre Island National Seashore

Feb 14 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Step back in time and explore the rich ranching history of Padre Island while keeping an eye out for the striking crested caracara and other birdlife along the way. This casual, ranger-led walk takes place at the historic Novillo Line Camp—the last...

Valentine's Day Card Making

John Muir National Historic Site

Feb 14 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Join a ranger to make greeting cards using dried leaves from the orchards. Meet at the back patio of the visitor center.

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Feb 14 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...

Pueblo Loop Trail Guided Walk

Bandelier National Monument

Feb 14 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join a ranger for a guided walk along a portion of the Pueblo Loop Trail. This easy hike is among the most popular trails at Bandelier. Ancestral Pueblo archeological sites, Natural Resource history, and ties from the past to the present, this walk...

Living with Giants (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Feb 14 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...

Feb 14 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...

Patio Talk

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Feb 14 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

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

The Anza Expedition: A 250th Commemoration Exhibit

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Feb 14 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Almost 250 years ago, as the Declaration of Independence was signed on the East Coast, the Anza expedition arrived at its destination on the West Coast. Both of these events would dramatically shape the cultural and political landscapes of the United...

Feb 14 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

Feb 14 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.

Ranger Talks

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

Feb 14 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Palo Alto Battlefield offers a variety of Ranger talks to encourage visitors of all ages to learn more about the park and its stories. Programs typically last approximately 30-45 minutes and are held at or near the Visitor Center. Program topics are...

Guided Hike: Piedras Marcadas Canyon

Petroglyph National Monument

Feb 14 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Join us for a hike at Piedras Marcadas Canyon! These weekly hikes focus on the history, the geology, and the petroglyphs along this 1.9 mile hike. Binoculars are recommended. Bring water, sunscreen, warm layers, and comfortable shoes for a flat...

Feb 14 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm

Join a park ranger at the Red Hills Visitor Center for a walk to explore nature, our giant saguaros, and other Sonoran Desert plants. The topics vary weekly depending on what we find blooming and growing, but each talk will include what we have...

Ranger Program

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Feb 14 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

Feb 14 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

Feb 14 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...

Bird Walk, part of the Great Backyard Bird Count

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Feb 14 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Join a Ranger for some bird trivia and a bird walk to celebrate Valentine's Day and participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Test your knowledge about pairs and courtship in the bird realm and earn some Valentine's Day candy. Meet at the Visitor...

Sunset Walk/Talk

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Feb 14 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

Feb 14 5:30 pm – 6:15 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

Feb 14 5:30 pm – 6:30 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

Feb 14 7:00 pm – 8:00 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.