Events calendar

Fort Open to Plaza Access

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Mar 21 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...

Fort Open to Plaza Access

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Mar 21 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...

Mar 21 9:00 am – 9:30 am

When available, the hikers' transport will drive day visitors from Faraway Ranch to Massai Point or Echo Canyon once daily. Hikers can choose one of two routes to hike 5.7 or 9 miles back to their car. Most hiker's prefer loops and out and back hikes...

Gila Bird and Nature Walk

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Mar 21 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.

Beneath our Feet: Artifacts from Recent Excavations

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

Mar 21 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park is pleased to present Beneath Our Feet: Artifcats from Recent Excavations, a new exhibit showcasing artifacts uncovered during archeological investigations at the park over the past 25 years...

Desert Photography Class

Tonto National Monument

Mar 21 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Hone your photography skills wih park volunteer Peni. She will cover the basics of: composition, 3rd rule, white balance, & histograms. You will need to bring your: Digital SLR camera, a tripod, polarizer, and a basic understanding of your camera...

Guided Hike: Rinconada Canyon

Petroglyph National Monument

Mar 21 9:00 am – 11:00 am

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...

Garden Walk (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Mar 21 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.

Volcano Festival

El Malpais National Monument

Mar 21 9:30 am – 3:00 pm

El Malpais National Monument welcomes you to join us for a Volcano Festival at the El Malpais Visitor Center on Saturday, March 21, from 9:30 am – 3:00 pm. At 10:00 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:00 pm, guest speaker Matt Zimmerer, from the New Mexico Bureau of...

Garden Walk (East District)

Saguaro National Park

Mar 21 9:30 am – 10:00 am

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.

Mar 21 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Lend your eyes to a search for wildflowers along an easy park trail. A park guide will help with identifying what is found.

CaveSim Experience

Great Basin National Park

Mar 21 9:30 am – 11:00 am

Explore Great Basin National Park's CaveSim, a simulated wild caving experience. Gear up with provided helmet and gloves, then explore 140 feet of simulated cave passages - but be careful not to "damage" the cave's formations.

Guided Hikes on the Islands

Channel Islands National Park

Mar 21 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

Mar 21 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.

Civil War: New Mexico Territory, 1862

Fort Union National Monument

Mar 21 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Learn of the second fort's construction, the Battle of Glorieta Pass and more with this 90-minute program. Seating provided.

Ranger Talk

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Mar 21 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.

Civil War: New Mexico Territory, 1862

Fort Union National Monument

Mar 21 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Learn of the 2nd fort’s construction, the Battle of Glorieta Pass and more. 60-minute program. Seating provided.

Critter Chat

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Mar 21 10:00 am – 10:30 am

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

Wetlands Art Day at Clark County Wetlands Park

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

Mar 21 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Join the Clark County Wetlands Park for Wetlands Art Day. Engage in art, painting, poetry, music, and more in our partner urban park. Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument will have paleo-art on display depicting the Ice Age wetlands of Las...

Critter Chat

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Mar 21 10:00 am – 10:30 am

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

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Mar 21 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...

Pueblo Loop Trail - Ranger Guided Walk

Bandelier National Monument

Mar 21 10:30 am – 11:30 am

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 Puebloan archeological sites, Natural Resource history, and ties from the past to the present, this walk...

Mt. Wanda History Hike

John Muir National Historic Site

Mar 21 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Join a ranger for a hike up Mt. Wanda while learning about some of the rich history the hill has witnessed. The 90‑minute hike, with rest breaks, will depart from the Mt. Wanda parking lot at the corner of Alhambra Avenue and Franklin Canyon Road at...

Guided Tour

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Mar 21 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...

Discover Chiricahua National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument

Mar 21 11:00 am – 11:15 am

Stop by the visitor center at 11 am to get a brief talk about what's rockin' at Chiricahua National Monument. Rotating daily topics may include orientation, geology, bio-diversity, and history. Talks will be held by the map in the museum area of the...

Mar 21 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Enjoy an outdoor live musical performance of sonic fusion played by Dr. Costa, an internationally acclaimed Brazilian guitarist whose performances transcend genre. Blending the lyricism of classical guitar, the passion of Spanish and Latin traditions, and the spontaneity of improvisation, Dr. Costa crafts original musical journeys drawn from his own life and influences. This event is part of the Oro Valley Concert Series. No registration required. Free.

Teddy Roosevelt Living Historian

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Mar 21 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join Us for a First-Person Historian Experience! Step back in time with an engaging presentation by Kurt Skinner as President Theodore Roosevelt. Hear Roosevelt himself speak about his enduring influence on America’s parks and monuments, with special...

Ranger Talk

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Mar 21 11:00 am – 11:30 am

Learn about Montezuma Castle with a Ranger Talk daily at 11 am and 1 pm.

Guided Walk of Dwellings

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Mar 21 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...

Faraway Ranch Open House

Chiricahua National Monument

Mar 21 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

The historic Faraway Ranch House will be open for visitors to walk through from 11 am to 2 pm. Join a park ranger to explore this historic building while also learning about the Erickson family, the history of the ranch, and what life was like in...

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Mar 21 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...

Porch Talk

Fort Bowie National Historic Site

Mar 21 11:00 am – 11:15 am

Join us on the front porch for a short talk about Fort Bowie. Daily topics may include military history, the Apache Wars, the Butterfield Stagecoach, the fort cemetery, nature, and water in the desert.

Pictograph Workshop

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Mar 21 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join us at the visitor center to learn about the pictographs in Chaco and how to create your own during this creative workshop.

Living with Giants (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Mar 21 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...

Johnson Settlement Walk

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

Mar 21 11:30 am – 12:15 pm

Are you looking to learn more about our history in an outdoor setting this spring? On the Saturdays of March 7, 14, and 21 join us for a free, 45-minute walk through the Johnson Settlement, the 1860s home of President Lyndon Johnson’s grandparents...

Mar 21 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...

Read with a Ranger

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Mar 21 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Join Ranger Jenna for "Read with a Ranger", sponsored by the WNP Jr. Ranger Book Club. Beginning at 12:00pm, Ranger Jenna will read "The Girl Who Loved Horses" by Paul Goble. Following the story, participants are invited to plant native flower seeds...

Mar 21 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm

Join a ranger in our Cactus Garden, right in front of the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center, for a 20-30 minute accessible program on our native plants of the park! This program will feature some of our colorful wildflowers currently blooming.

Patio Talk

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Mar 21 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

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

Guided Walk of Dwellings

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Mar 21 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

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...

Solar Viewing at the Visitor Center

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Mar 21 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Join us for a safe and fascinating look at the sun! Stop by the Visitor Center anytime between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to view the sun through a specially equipped telescope and learn more about our closest star. All ages welcome. No registration...

The Anza Expedition: A 250th Commemoration Exhibit

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Mar 21 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...

Mar 21 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...

Pueblo Bonito Tour

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Mar 21 1:00 pm – 2:00 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.

Mar 21 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Embrace the season with warmth and mindfulness! Join us for a rejuvenating Winter Wellness Yoga Series designed to help you stay grounded, energized, and balanced during the colder months. Each session combines gentle movement, breathwork, and...

Mar 21 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Celebrate Women's History Month in Nicodemus! Nicodemus offered the opportunity for not just Black men, but Black women to establish new lives for themselves. Women paid attention to the needs of Nicodemus and established businesses such as hotels...

Mar 21 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

Mar 21 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

Mar 21 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

Mar 21 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...

Pueblo del Arroyo Tour

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Mar 21 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

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

Sunset Walk/Talk

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Mar 21 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 Walk/Talk

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Mar 21 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.

Sunset Walk/Talk

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Mar 21 6:00 pm – 7:00 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

Mar 21 6:00 pm – 6:45 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.

Evening Program

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Mar 21 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.

Stargazing Stroll

Big Thicket National Preserve

Mar 21 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Experience the park after dark! Join a ranger to walk the Longleaf Pine Trail at sunset and observe the wonders of the night sky through a telescope as the sky gets dark. If conditions allow, we'll look at the Moon, Jupiter, and distant objects in...

Evening Program

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Mar 21 7:30 pm – 8:30 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.

Night Skies Over the LBJ Ranch

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

Mar 21 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

View the wonders of the night sky on Saturday, March 21. Beginning at 7:30 pm at the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall, the National Park Service will host programs highlighting the marvels of the night sky and the importance of preserving dark skies. Are you...

Stars Over The Gila

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Mar 21 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Join us at the Gila Cliff Dwelling's National Monument Visitor Center parking lot to view the stars and other celisteral objects. Bring a red headlamp.