Events calendar

Apr 12 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...

Fort Open to Plaza Access

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Apr 12 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...

Garden Walk (East District)

Saguaro National Park

Apr 12 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.

Guided Hikes on the Islands

Channel Islands National Park

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 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 Talk

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 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...

Nature Walk: Carnivorous Plants

Big Thicket National Preserve

Apr 12 10:00 am – 11:00 am

It's a trap! Big Thicket's carnivorous plants use deception to trick and trap insects in order to get the nutrients they need. Explore a natural garden of carnivorous plants with a ranger. This 1-mile, hour-long walk on the Pitcher Plant Trail will...

Critter Chat

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Apr 12 10:00 am – 10:30 am

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

Critter Chat

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 10:00 am – 10:45 am

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

Apr 12 10:15 am – 11:00 am

Join a Volunteer Interpretive Ranger to learn about the people who it is believed made petroglyphs here in Saguaro National Park. Who were they, where did they come from, and where are they now?

Discover Chiricahua National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument

Apr 12 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...

Ranger Talk

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Apr 12 11:00 am – 11:30 am

Learn about Montezuma Castle with a ranger daily at 11 am and 1 pm. Topics of discussion vary.

Ranger Guided Tour of Mission San José

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 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.

Guided Tour

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Apr 12 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...

Don't Get Rattled (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Apr 12 11:45 am – 12:30 pm

Join an Interpretive Ranger in the theater to learn about many of the snakes that are in Saguaro National Park and why they are important to our environment and learn a little bit about their social life. Wheelchair accessible.

What is a Javelina? (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Apr 12 11:45 am – 12:30 pm

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...

Apr 12 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...

Apr 12 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.

Patio Talk

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 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...

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 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.

Solar Viewing at the Visitor Center

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Apr 12 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...

Battle of Glorieta Pass Talk

Pecos National Historical Park

Apr 12 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...

Why Turn Left at Albuquerque?

Petroglyph National Monument

Apr 12 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Abraham Santillanes will be presenting, "Why Turn Left at Albuquerque? Albuquerque, Route 66, and the many roads that came before." He will discuss Coronado's expedition, Onate's El Camino Real, and Becknell's Santa Fe Trail. All these routes...

Arizona's Wildcats! (West District)

Saguaro National Park

Apr 12 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 –...

Ranger Program

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 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...

Mission Espada Ranger Program

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Apr 12 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm

Join our free, daily ranger program at Mission Espada.

Pueblo del Arroyo Tour

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 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 Hike (East District)

Saguaro National Park

Apr 12 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

Apr 12 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.

Bat Flight Program

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Apr 12 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Please join us for the free Bat Flight Program (April through October), an evening ranger talk about bats prior to their flight. No reservations are required for this program that occurs every evening from April through October. The program takes...

Stars Over The Gila

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Apr 12 9:00 pm – 10:00 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.