Animals

Explore, Learn, Protect Do you care about exploring, learning about, and protecting the Natchez Trace? If yes, become a Junior Ranger! There are many ways to be a Junior Ranger badge at Natchez Trace Parkway, and this fun activity book is a great place to start. This booklet includes activities like mazes, coloring, drawings, and more to help you learn about the Natchez Trace. Discover all the park has to offer, from ecosystems to wildlife to American Indian culture to the southeast United States. Become a Junior Ranger Download both parts of the book or see below for other ways to get your book. Download Natchez Trace Parkway Junior Ranger Booklet Part 1 Download Natchez Trace Parkway Junior Ranger Booklet Part 2 We have Junior Ranger activity books waiting for you at our four visitors centers on the Natchez Trace Parkway. You can also receive a digital copy by contacting the park ahead of time via email or by calling 1-800-305-7417. To earn a badge with a Junior Ranger book, complete the fun-filled activities and return your completed book to a ranger at a visitor center desk, take the Junior Ranger pledge, and earn your badge! Don't have enough time to finish the book while you are in the park? No problem! Send your book back to the park when you complete it. A ranger will check your work and mail the book back to you with a badge and signed certificate. Mailing Address: Natchez Trace Parkway Attn: Junior Ranger Program 2680 Natchez Trace Parkway Tupelo, MS 38804

To ride horses at Valles Caldera National Preserve, owners/riders must have an equestrian permit issued by the park. How To Get A Permit : Digitally fill out the Special Use Permit application on our Horseback Riding webpage . Please allow 7-10 days for us to process the application. If you do not hear back from us by then, please inquire about the status of your application by calling Brenda or emailing VALL_Permits@nps.gov . Once the application has been processed, we will send you a permit to sign. Please sign and return the signed copy to VALL_Permits@nps.gov . After the signed permit is returned, we will issue you the special use permit. Using Your Permit: When you receive your permit, it will also contain a vehicle dash permit and a wallet permit card. Print the permit, the vehicle dash permit, and the wallet permit card. Sign the wallet permit card and carry it with you while you’re riding. Place the vehicle dash permit on your vehicle's dash while you are riding. Read and keep your actual permit in the glovebox of your vehicle. Riders will have to bring their own horses as the park does not have an equestrian concessionaire in operation. Conducting commercial activities requires a Commercial Use Authorization . Rules of the Trail Each individual riding a horse is required to have a separate permit. A group of riders may not exceed four (4) persons/horses in any one party under this permit. Groups of five (5) or more must apply for a separate group special use permit by contacting the park's Special Park Use Coordinator. A permit only applies to one (1) vehicle and horse trailer. Riders are required to stay on trails specifically designated for equestrian use. Permittees are prohibited from establishing new trails, including by the short-cutting of trails and switchbacks. Clearing of vegetation and riding off-trail is prohibited. A backcountry vehicle pass is required if you wish to drive your vehicle and trailer into the backcountry before beginning your horseback ride. Permits are limited and available seasonally as conditions allow. Environmental and safety conditions (snowpack, erosion, flooding) can close certain trails to all public use. Maximum stock per party is one animal per person, plus one pack animal, not to exceed 8 animals in any one party. All animals must be under physical control at all times, must remain on roadways, trails, or permitted areas, and are prohibited from feeding/grazing on plant life within the park. Loose herding is not permitted. Riding of stock at a speed greater than a trot is not permitted. Any excrement from around trailers and haul homes must be removed from the park. Animals may not be stabled or corralled on park property and must be removed from the park at the end of the day (unless you are a hunter seeking permission for overnight stays). In places where horses and pack animals are tethered, manure must be scattered at least 300 feet from water sources. The use of USDA certified weed-free pelleted feed is required while in the park. You're helping to prevent the spread of noxious weeds and keep Valles Caldera worth riding in. All animals must be fed weed-free feed for 48 hours in advance of entering the park. Travel in single file. Horses and pack animals must be tethered at least 300 feet from water sources and in a manner to prevent damage to live trees or shrubs and away from vegetation, alcoves, and archaeological sites to prevent damage. Tying stock directly to trees or other sensitive park resources is prohibited. Riders shall not ride double except for an adult/child combination. Youth riders (16 years and under) are required to wear helmets. Riders must be prepared to cross paths with other recreational users or vehicles. The park does allow livestock grazing through a permit process, and chances are likely that in some areas you will encounter wranglers working livestock. Much of the park is over 8,000 feet in elevation. Acclimation of stock is advisable. Remember, you are the best safety for your animals and yourself!

A good way to view the rocks without driving up the road, this mostly-level trail takes you to Rhyolite Canyon, a canyon lined with rock pinnacles. Walk 1.5 miles / 2.4 km until you reach the junction between Upper Rhyolite Canyon and Sarah Deming trails. Return the same way.

Fall 2023 Free Campfire programs Come and enjoy a Free campfire program under the stars of Greenbelt Park! Saturday September 9 7:00 p.m. The birth and origins of Greenbelt Park Built in conjunction with the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, which bisects the park, Greenbelt offers a natural suburban oasis just ten miles from downtown D.C. Developed during the N.P.S. "Mission '66" initiative, Greenbelt Park has welcomed visitors seeking a green refuge for hiking, picnicking, and camping buffered from the bustle its urban surroundings. Saturday September 16 7:00 p.m."Stories From the Road & Live Music" with Bob Reilly and Joe Goulait Come to the Campfire to hear a storyteller-musician sing songs of travel and the experience of the open road. Guitarist Bob Reilly and Joe Goulait will offer their folklore of travelling and the songs that make the trip an enjoyable experience. Saturday September 23 7:00 p.m. The History and Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon Where did the birds go? Ranger John explores the history of the Passenger Pigeon. Saturday September 30 7:00 p.m Drum Circle with Katy Gaughan Join local musician and folklorist Katy Gaughan of Greenbelt for a Fall celebration of rhythmic drumming. Feel your inner natural rhythm and beat it out on the drum to resound through the forest expressing your connection to nature and the vitality of Fall! Saturday October 7 6:30 p.m. All about Owls- live owl program Have you ever met a live owl? You can at Greenbelt Park on October 7th. Secret Garden Birds and Bees will be there with our Wildlife Ambassador to tell you all about the wild owls that live in the park and probably right in your own backyard too! You’ll learn what they look like and how they sound, where they nest, what they eat, how they raise their young, and why they are very good neighbors. We’ll even give you some hints on how to find them and what we can all do to create a healthy environment where they can thrive. Saturday October 14 6:30 p.m College Park Museum of Aviation - Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines- Did you know there are many aviation firsts close by at the College Park Airport? The College Park Aviation Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting aviation innovations at College Park Airport and in Prince George's County while fostering research, inventiveness, and lifelong curiosity about the history and science of flight. Saturday October 21 6:30 p.m. Cold War Defenses of Washington How did Washington D.C. defend the nation's capital during the Cold War? Saturday October 28 6:30 p.m Goatman Legends and Lore As Hallowe’en approaches, shiver with the frost on the pumpkin (or with fear of the Goatman?), and warm yourself before a fire, as a park ranger describes the myth (or is it?!) of the “Goatman,” a bizarre creature sighted frequently in this vicinity. Beware, because the Goatman may be in the Greenbelt woods, and may be glimpsed in the firelight! The Goatman lives!

After descending from the high rim of the Upper Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the trail follows Curecanti Creek as it descends toward Morrow Point Reservoir. The Curecanti Needle, a 700 ft (213 m) granite spire, towers above at the trail's end. The first half of the trail begins in the sun on a southwest facing slope and the second half is partially shaded by fir and spruce trees. Good shoes or boots are recommended. Carry at least 2 quarts of water per person. Distance (one-way): 2 mi (3.2 km) Difficulty: Strenuous

Be sure to always check the Calendar or stop by the Visitor Center to find the programs that will be available during your visit. Typically offered year-round at sunset as weather permits. Those planning to join a ranger-led full moon hike at Bryce Canyon National Park can make reservations online via Recreation.gov . Tickets for each month’s hike are released in two phases, 14 and 5 days in advance. This is a "ranger's choice" hike and can range from an easy hike along the rim of the plateau to a more strenuous hike that descends down into the canyon along steep and rocky trails. More information will be given on the day of the event. Hikes are typically 1 to 2 miles. For more information on full moon hikes, including schedules and how to participate, please visit our Full Moon Hikes page. Due to the nature of this special activity all participants must agree to the following rules: Children 7 and younger are not permitted. Hiking boots or hiking shoes (lug soles) in good condition are required for your safety and the safety of Park Staff and other Participant(s). White light flashlights, headlamps are not allowed to be used during the hike (you may bring them for later use). Red light flashlights and headlamps are permitted as necessary. Flash photography may be permitted under key restrictions. Bring drinking water and a jacket - night time temperatures can be cold. Due to steep and rocky trails this activity is not wheelchair accessible.

Be sure to always check the Calendar or stop by the Visitor Center to find the programs that will be available during your visit. Evening programs, typically offered from Memorial Day through Labor Day, offer topics that go beyond the rim! Check the calendar for daily times and locations. This is a Ranger’s Choice program offering an exploration into compelling stories, interesting themes, and unique resources that make Bryce Canyon special. A schedule of daily topics is available in the Visitor Center.

Castor canadensis The North American beaver is the second largest rodent in the world behind the Capybara of South America. Found throughout the U.S. and Canada, these semiaquatic ecosystem engineers construct dams and lodges that affect the hydrology and ecology of their surroundings. As a keystone species, their presence in riparian habitats affects many neighboring animal and plant species.

The Yosemite Exploration Center features interactive displays and exhibits highlighting Yosemite's many stories and resources. Bring the family and learn more about Yosemite's history, the people who originally called this place home, as well as more about meadows, animals, and sequoias! The Yosemite Exploration Center is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

This moderate trail to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain is 1.8 miles/2.8 kilometers roundtrip. Rising above the surrounding canyons, the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain at 7,310ft/2,228m is one of the highest points in the monument. The dark rock is dacite, evidence of a lava flow. Lightning activity is monitored from the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed fire lookout during the summer. Return the same way. Access is from the Sugarloaf parking lot.