Events calendar

Fort Open to Plaza Access

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Oct 16 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...

Oct 16 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...

Forked Lightning Pueblo Tour

Pecos National Historical Park

Oct 16 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Join a ranger for an off-trail journey to one of Pecos National Historical Park’s less-visited sites. Hike two miles round trip, cross a stream, and view the site of Forked Lightning Pueblo. We will also stop by the site of a 100-year-old archaeology...

Solar Viewing at the Visitor Center

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Oct 16 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...

Oct 16 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...

Visit the Show Barn and meet a Hereford

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

Oct 16 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Meet a park ranger at the Show Barn and get up close and personal with members of the historic Hereford cattle herd. Learn about Lyndon Johnson's ranching history and enjoy the view from the highest point on the LBJ Ranch driving tour route.

Oct 16 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm

Learn about the Petroglyphs inscribed in the rocks around Saguaro National Park!

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Oct 16 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Join our guided walks led by a National Park Ranger at Mission San José.Daily 10:00 am, 11:00 am and 2:30 pm (weather permitting).Each tour is limited to 50 people. First come, first served daily.San José guided walks begin at the Visitor Center at...

Explore the Night (East District)

Saguaro National Park

Oct 16 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Half of the park is after dark! Join a ranger in the evening hours as night-prowling creatures begin to emerge. This program meets at the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center. After a short ranger presentation, you'll hop into your car and follow the...

Stars Over The Gila

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Oct 16 8:30 pm – 9:30 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.

Garden Walk (East District)

Saguaro National Park

Oct 17 8:15 am – 8:45 am

Join us for a casual walk and talk through our ethnobotanical garden to learn some sharp facts about the Sonoran Desert! From the mighty saguaro cactus to the smallest flower, come let your curiosity blossom. This is an accessible program.

Grand Palace Tour

Great Basin National Park

Oct 17 8:30 am – 10:00 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.

Visitor Center Planting

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Oct 17 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Join park staff to beautify the Lake Mead Visitor Center by raking and cleaning up the area. Volunteers will also help with planting native plants to assist with creating a pollinator garden. Individuals, families and small groups are welcome. Space...

Oct 17 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Montezuma Pass ride with a ranger and hiker shuttle begins October 1st.This free shuttle from the Coronado National Memorial Visitor Center to the stunning Montezuma Pass Overlook includes a guided ranger program on the ride up. Come with questions...

Fort Open to Plaza Access

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Oct 17 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...

Oct 17 9:00 am – 9:30 am

Fall 2026, the hiker transport will operate Saturdays and Sundays. Hikers may ride from Faraway Ranch to the top to hike back down. Departure Times & Locations: 9:00 AM – Faraway Ranch Parking Lot 9:10 AM – Restrooms at Bonita Canyon Campground...

Community Event: KEDT Kids Festival

Padre Island National Seashore

Oct 17 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Come see us at the KEDT Kids Festival hosted by KEDT Public Broadcast Station. Padre Island National Seashore will have a booth at the event. Stop by an learn about the park or just say hi. From the event organizers: Join us for a fantastic, family...

Guided Hike: Rinconada Canyon

Petroglyph National Monument

Oct 17 9:00 am – 10:30 am

These weekly hikes will focus on the history, geology, and petroglyphs along the 2.2 mile loop trail at Rinconada Canyon. Binoculars are encouraged but not necessary. Bring plenty of water and good hiking shoes. Hikes will be led by park volunteer...

Garden Walk (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Oct 17 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.

Pleistocene Palooza - National Fossil Day

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

Oct 17 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Discover what remains of Ice Age Las Vegas! This free annual outdoor event is for fossil enthusiasts of all ages. Together with our community partners, we celebrate the science behind what we know about the past and present. The Pleistocene (Ply-sto...

Antelope Creek Village Tour

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

Oct 17 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Antelope Creek Village Tour Celebrate Archaeology Month with a guided journey into the past. Each Saturday in October, meet at Alibates Ranch along Cas Johnson Road at 9:15 AM and caravan with a ranger to an ancient village site featuring remarkable...

Lodge Room Tour

Great Basin National Park

Oct 17 9:30 am – 10:30 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.

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Oct 17 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

Oct 17 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...

Ice Age Life Within Drop-in Program

White Sands National Park

Oct 17 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Stop by any time between 10 and 11 to learn more about the ancient fossilized footprints found at White Sands National Park.

Silent Sentinels

Fort Union National Monument

Oct 17 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Starting at the visitor center, this staff-led program goes ½ mile to both the second and third forts. 45 to 60-minutes. All programs are subject to change or cancellation due to weather or limited staffing.

Guided Hikes on the Islands

Channel Islands National Park

Oct 17 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...

Chamizal: Diplomacy on the Landscape

Chamizal National Memorial

Oct 17 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

Join us for a one‑hour stroll that brings the landscape to life—from international bridge views to historic fence posts, delve into the Chamizal story with a park ranger. Bring water and comfy shoes.

Ranger Talk

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Oct 17 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.

Stories Carved in Stone

El Morro National Monument

Oct 17 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Discover the many layers of history caputured in stone carvings along the Inscription Loop Trail. Join a ranger for this easy, half-mile guided walk. Bring water, a hat, and sun protection.

Prewett Point Guided Hike

Pinnacles National Park

Oct 17 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Join a ranger on a hike and learn some of Pinnacles' fascinating resources that are protected in the park.

Tours of President Johnson's Boyhood Home

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

Oct 17 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.

Guided Tour

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Oct 17 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...

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Oct 17 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...

Accessible Gothic Palace Tour

Great Basin National Park

Oct 17 11:00 am – 11:30 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...

Gran Quivira Ranger-Guided Hikes

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Oct 17 11:00 am – 11:45 am

Join our park rangers for a guided hike at Gran Quivira every Saturday 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...

AM Visitor Center Ranger Talk

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Oct 17 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)

Living with Giants (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Oct 17 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...

Sea Chantey Sing at Mare Island

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Oct 17 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Join us for a Mare Island Chantey Sing on Saturday from 12-4 PM. There will be two gathering places for singing - on C.A. Thayer in the below deck hold and in the historic Coal Sheds. Instruments are encouraged in the Coal Shed location, amateurs...

Oct 17 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...

Oct 17 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.

Ranger's Choice

Pinnacles National Park

Oct 17 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Learn about Pinnacles' amazing resources with a ranger as they discuss topics varying from wildlife to geology, to history.

Aquí Estamos: We Are Here Gallery Opening

Chamizal National Memorial

Oct 17 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

In the Franklin G. Smith Gallery, Aquí Estamos: We Are Here highlights artists celebrating the culture and creativity of our border region.

Oct 17 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Experience this exciting exhibitions. Taking place in the park Cultural Center, Mitsumasa “Mitsu” Overstreet’s River Spirit reflects on family, relocation, and belonging within the El Paso–Ciudad Juárez community.

Oct 17 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

Oct 17 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)

Spanish Broom Flamenco Performance

Petroglyph National Monument

Oct 17 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Experience a live traditional Spanish flamenco performance at the Visitor Information Center's amphitheater on Saturday, October 17th at 2:00 PM. Bring a seat cushion for comfort.

Visit the Junction School with a Ranger

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

Oct 17 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...

Oct 17 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm

Why are there two parts to Saguaro National Park and who did a lot of the buildings in the Park? Join a volunteer interpretive ranger in the theater who will answer those questions and more! Wheelchair accessible.

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Oct 17 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Join our guided walks led by a National Park Ranger at Mission San José.Daily 10:00 am, 11:00 am and 2:30 pm (weather permitting).Each tour is limited to 50 people. First come, first served daily.San José guided walks begin at the Visitor Center at...