Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, Trails and Outdoor Recreation will host 16 National Public Lands Day events from trail improvement projects, nature walks, park cleanups and more on September 28.
Day use and entrance fees will be waived at all Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites on the 28th in honor of this celebration.
Participating locations for the Fremont County area and Thermopolis are as follows:
- Boysen State Park – Sept. 1–28, Park Cleanup & Virtual Stewardship Challenge. Post a picture of you picking up litter in the park and tag Boysen State Park on Facebook. For more information, please contact 307-876-2796.
- Hot Springs State Park – Sept. 28, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. Bison Walk and Cleanup, meet at Big Spring Parking Lot/Smoking Waters. Volunteers will start off by taking a walk around the Bison Pasture and then pick up litter and debris along the roadside. For more information, please contact 307-331-3094.
- Sinks Canyon State Park – Sept. 28, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Park Improvement Projects, meet at Visitor Center. Volunteers will be assigned a variety of tasks based on interests and skill level. For more information, please contact 307-332-6333.
- Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation – Sept. 28, 10 a.m. Boat Ramp Cleanup, meet at 8th St. Boat Ramp in Thermopolis. Volunteers and local partners will help clean up the boat ramp area followed by a float on the proposed Bighorn River Blueway Trail to Hot Springs State Park. For more information, please contact 307-388-8748.
- Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation – Sept. 28, 9 a.m. -2 p.m. Roger’s Canyon Cleanup, meet at Roger’s Canyon north of Laramie. Volunteers and local partners will help remove litter and debris from the recreation area. For more information, please contact 307-701-5011.
- Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation – Sept. 28, 9 a.m. Sunnyside Trail Construction, meet at Sinks Canyon State Park Visitor Center. Volunteers and local partners will assist in new trail construction. Onsite training will be available; all ages welcome. For more information, please contact 307-274-6637.
The announcement release from WYO Parks and Wyoming Outdoor Recreation states that “Participants are encouraged to “know before you go” and to prepare for weather conditions,” and that “Supplies will be provided at most locations; however, participants are also encouraged to bring their own gloves, wear appropriate clothing and shoes for outdoor work and activities, and to bring water and snacks.”
“Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is a nationwide initiative led by the National Environmental Education Foundation. This annual celebration brings out hundreds of thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country. NPLD is also a “fee-free day,” one of only five days a year when entrance fees are waived at national parks and other public lands.“
You can learn more about each National Public Lands Day event on the official Facebook event page, or by viewing individual parks and sites on social media.