Ranger Led Programs

Summer talks, guided tours, and fireside chats are available throughout the park.

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Ranger Led Programs Details

A variety of free, ranger-led programs are available in the South Unit of the park during the summer months, with a smaller number of programs offered in the North Unit. Check the visitor centers or park bulletin boards for the most current information on these tours and presentations. Guided hikes may take you through the Petrified Forest, or around the badlands during the day or -- if you visit during a full moon -- at night. On the darkest nights in the summer, a Night Prowl will challenge your senses as you go on a short walk through the dark for a true nocturnal experience. After each Night Prowl, enjoy stargazing using telescopes for close-ups of the Milky Way and constellations. A daily Geology Talk is offered at the Painted Canyon Overlook, offering insight into the extensive geology of the park. Educational films are shown daily, with the 17-minute "Refuge of the American Spirit" presented every half-hour at the South Unit Visitor Center and the 8-minute "Theodore Roosevelt National Park" running on-demand at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center. Several daily tours also are offered at the Maltese Cross Cabin, providing insight into Theodore Roosevelt's first experience in the badlands when he first arrived in 1883. End your day around a campfire at Cottonwood or Juniper Campgrounds to hear legends and stories and learn more about the park's namesake.

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Activities