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Join Park Rangers for a ranger led hike at Quarai every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 am . Hikes are open to the public and no reservation is required. Bring plenty of water and snacks and wear comfortable shoes and proper clothing. For more details on upcoming events please consult the park calendar: https://www.nps.gov/sapu/planyourvisit/calendar.htm Located nine miles north of Mountainair, NM, Q…
4 parks and sites (NPS)
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Join Park Rangers for a ranger led hike at Quarai every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 am . Hikes are open to the public and no reservation is required. Bring plenty of water and snacks and wear comfortable shoes and proper clothing. For more details on upcoming events please consult the park calendar: https://www.nps.gov/sapu/planyourvisit/calendar.htm
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Located nine miles north of Mountainair, NM, Quarai is tucked at the base of the Manzano Mountains. A natural spring attracted people to the area for centuries and attracted the ancestral Pueblo people to settle for longer periods of time and introduce agriculture to the area. With the earliest masonry pueblos being at Quarai around the 13th century, people connected with the land, utilized what it offered, and impacted the culture of central New Mexico. Consistent with most Pueblo groups around the region, the Tiwa speakers at Quarai were primarily farmers. They traded throughout the greater region, constructed hardy tools and weapons, elaborately weave, and made superb pieces of pottery. They cultivated, collected, and purposed every opportunity nature granted. The Tiwa speakers of Quarai occupied the land alone until 1626 with the establishment of the Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Quarai. Today, you will see the tall, impact ruins of the church illuminated to an unforgettable fiery red in the sunshine. Featuring the locally quarried red sandstone, the church is an architectural marvel even by today's standards. Quarai was an active mission and pueblo until all the people retreated north in 1677. On site you can: Walk the half-mile, paved interpretive loop trail Hike on the one mile primitive Spanish Corral Trail Go bird watching Stop inside the visitor center and museum to learn more about the story of the park Take pictures of the breathtaking structures and scenery Relax and marvel at the large groves of cottonwood trees surrounding the spring source Have a picnic in the picnic area Check out the event calendar for ranger programs and other special events
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
Join a Park Ranger and explore the Blackstone River Valley. During the months of June, July, and August, park staff offer specialty tours at varying locations across the Blackstone River Watershed. These programs begin at 6:30 PM and are 60-minutes long. Please wear comfortable footwear and bring water. Most tours are outside and often include walking on uneven surfaces on varying types of terrain with no access to bathroom facilities. Bug spray and sunscreen are also highly suggested. Please Note: There will be no Walkabout on July 2. June 4: From Forge to Fortune in Northbridge Location: 50 Douglas Rd, Whitinsville, MA How did the Revolutionary generation in Northridge set the stage for the future of American industry? Learn how a small forge along the Mumford River gave rise to a textile giant and a blueprint for American innovation. Tour will begin near the historic forge building, located within the Open Sky complex. June 11: Seeds of Success in Slatersville Location: 101 Green St, North Smithfield, RI Why was this location, along the Branch River, chosen for a mill village? How did financiers, workers, ministers, and farmers make this a thriving industrial community? This walk will take us through the well-preserved core of the country’s first planned mill village. Tour begins at Heritage Hall—parking is available in a small adjacent lot and by the Town Hall. June 18: "Owning Our History" with Peter Laarman Location: One Benevolent Street, Providence, RI Gather at the First Unitarian Church to explore the historic church and neighborhood and learn how slavery built dynastic wealth in Rhode Island. This tour will begin at the First Unitarian Church (corner of Benevolent and Benefit streets). June 25: Stepping Out to Skull Rock Lock Location: 300 Quaker Hwy, Uxbridge, MA Discover the history of Skull Rock Lock and take a walk with a ranger from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Meet in the parking lot of Uxbridge High School in Uxbridge, MA. Meet the rangers at Uxbridge High School. July 9: The Transportation Revolution in the Valley Location: Plummer's Landing Parking Area, Northbridge, MA Explore Plummer’s Landing and learn about the enterprising people of the Blackstone Valley who built the infrastructure for a transportation revolution. Meet at the Plummer’s Landing parking area (bit.ly/plummerslanding). Expect to wal…
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
The park store is operated by Western National Parks (WNP), an official non-profit partner of the National Park Service dedicated to supporting the educational mission of Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. The park store has a wide range of books, maps, travel guides, media, educational games, posters, and other items available for retail sale. These products complement the interpretive themes you experience when visiting the park. The park store is located in the Information center located at the visitor parking area. You may also visit the online park store . Y The Park Store at Bent's Old Fort offers many of the same trade goods that were exchanged for bison robes and other peltries at the fort in 1846. A visit to the store links you to the past when Bent's Fort was part of a thriving commercial trading empire. You can purchase replicas of the same goods offered by the Bent brothers and carried along the Santa Fe Trail. In addition to trade goods, books relating to the Fort, Native Americans, the Sand Creek Massacre, Westward Expansion, historical cooking, and the Santa Fe Trail are available for every age and level of study. Your purchases directly support educational and scientific research programs at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site.
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
Hike the Anza Trail through Moreno Valley in Riverside County, CA. This segment is located on the ancestral lands of the Luiseno, Tongva, and Cahuilla people, and it falls between historic Anza expedition campsites #58 and #59. This 8-mile certified trail starts at Towngate Memorial Park and ends at Lake Perris State Recreation Area . The multi-use paved path is flat and good for walking, jogging, and biking. It has lighting in some areas and would take roughly 2-4 hours to complete by foot. At the trailhead, Towngate Memorial Park offers parking, multi-use athletic fields, ADA-accessible parking, picnic tables, ADA-accessible restrooms, a softball/baseball field, ADA-accessible playground, and a picnic shelter. Cross Perris Blvd. and follow wayfinding signs to Santiago Drive to the existing trail west of Perris. The trail follows public sidewalks along Santiago and Perris and connects to the existing trail east and west of Perris. The trail does not cross the unimproved parcel. Follow wayfinding signs to continue along the trail. At the end of the trail, Lake Perris offers hiking, bicycling, fishing, swimming, picnicking, camping, rock climbing, horse-back riding, and the Ya'i Heki' Regional Indian Museum . There is a fee for entrance to the lake. Note that the trail is not developed at 15795 Perris Blvd., Moreno Valley.
Upcoming programs and events at parks in this collection (from the NPS Events API).
Come and experience an immersive simulation of the Valles Caldera eruption! Every hour on the half-hour, the Volcano Discovery Center "erupts" with a multisensory exhibit experience that showcases the past 1.2 million years of geologic history at Valles Caldera. Feel the rumble and quaking of the earth. Hear the explosive volcanic forces that created the 14-mile-wide caldera. Watch the lakes and lava domes appear. At the end of the show, bask in a newfound understanding of this unique landscape, and continue to learn and discover more by interacting with the immersive Valles Caldera exhibit. WARNING: This show includes loud explosion sound effects and flashing lights. For individuals with sensory sensitivities, we recommend visiting the Volcano Discovery Center after the show has concluded (at :35 past the hour). Ask a park ranger about how to experience a sensory-friendly version of the eruption show!
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 structures, the Anza expedition, and three Voyages of Discovery (La Perouse, Malaspina and Vancouver) that visited Monterey relatively soon after the settlers arrived. Reproductions of 22 drawings created by voyage artists provide a visual sense of place and time. An NPS Anza Trail poster will be displayed, and brochures and travel guides will be made available to visitors.
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 reconstructed fort is limited to the central plaza, except on guided tours. For your safety, respect all closures and restrictions. Guided tours provide access into additional areas. Access to the reconstructed fort is restricted due to safety issues stemming from nearly 50 years of use and deficiencies in the 1970s design and construction of the Fort. Park staff conducted stabilization work in the spring of 2025 and continue to monitor the condition of the structure for further change. A water fountain and public restrooms are located at the visitor parking area. The reconstructed fort does not have these services available currently due to safety restrictions.
Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled if the heat index is at or above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. A shortened 10 minute Ranger talk will be offered at the normal tour times. Visitors will have a brief period of access to the main part of the mill. For the latest weather information, call 401-725-8638.
Join a park ranger for plant meditation in Valle Grande! Go on a short hike and use specialized equipment to listen to the electrical signals plants give off set to music and learn about bio-sonification. The hike will be ~1 mile and include a 20-minute meditation.
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 reconstruction of the fort in the 1970s. A water fountain and public restrooms are located at the visitor parking area. The reconstructed fort does not have these services available currently due to safety restrictions.
Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled if the heat index is at or above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. A shortened 10 minute Ranger talk will be offered at the normal tour times. Visitors will have a brief period of access to the main part of the mill. For the latest weather information, call 401-725-8638.
For at least 12,000 years, travelers have been captivated by the beauty and abundance of Valles Caldera. This volcanic landscape in the Jemez Mountains holds an undeniable allure that can be witnessed only by peering in from the edge. Featuring original artwork by Valles Caldera National Preserve's former artists in residence, Caldera Reverie: Artistic Visions from a Volcanic Landscape celebrates the universal connection between humans and the natural world. This traveling art exhibit will be on display at Jemez Fine Art in Jemez Springs from October 16-29. Free entry; gallery hours are 11 am to 4 pm, Wednesday thru Monday (closed Tuesdays).
Learn about Pawtucket's colonial settlers and the community's early ironworks during a free walking tour this fall. The 1670 Jenks Settlement Walking Tours are hosted by Old Slater Mill Association. Over the course of 1 mile, participants will walk for approximately one hour on paved surfaces, with some small hills and steps. Meet in front of the yellow mill at 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI. Free parking onsite.
A hike with a focus on wildlife photography principles and techniques covering the frontcountry of Valles Caldera National Preserve and the Jemez Mountains. The hiking portion will be between 1-4 miles depending on location for the day. All camera types are welcome (SLR, DSLR, Mirrorless, Mobile). The program will begin outside the Volcano Discovery Center at 9am and will carvan to trail location at 9:15am, with no exceptions.
A hike with a focus on wildlife photography principles and techniques covering the frontcountry of Valles Caldera National Preserve and the Jemez Mountains. The hiking portion will be between 1-4 miles depending on location for the day. All camera types are welcome (SLR, DSLR, Mirrorless, Mobile). The program will begin outside the Volcano Discovery Center at 10:00 am.
Join a park ranger for a hike with a focus on wildlife photography principles and techniques covering the frontcountry of Valles Caldera National Preserve and the Jemez Mountains. The hiking portion will be between 1-4 miles depending on location for the day. All camera types are welcome (SLR, DSLR, Mirrorless, Mobile). The program will begin outside the Volcano Discovery Center at 10:00 am and will carvan to trail location at 10:15 am, with no exceptions.
In the 1840s the Arkansas River was the border between territory claimed by the United States and Mexico. Located along the river, Bent's Fort was an adobe trading post on the Santa Fe Trail, where traders, trappers, travelers, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes came together in peaceful terms for trade. Today, a reconstructed fort allows visitors to explore the front line of Westward Expansion.
The Blackstone River powered America's entry into the Age of Industry. The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked and where they lived. Learn how this revolution transformed the landscape of the Blackstone Valley and the United States. The Visitor Center at Old Slater Mill is closed for the winter season.
The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail covers over 1200 miles through the homelands of 70+ Tribal communities. It follows the historic route of the 1775-76 Spanish colonizing expedition from Sonora, Mexico to San Francisco, CA. Whether urban or rural, the trail offers adventure, diverse cultural perspectives, and an opportunity to experience history.
About 1.2 million years ago, a spectacular volcanic eruption created a 14-mile-wide circular depression in the earth now known as Valles Caldera. The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows, abundant wildlife, and meandering streams. The area also preserves the homeland of ancestral native peoples and embraces a rich ranching history.