What is National Public Lands Day and 5 Ways to Celebrate
National Public Lands Day 2025 is Saturday, September 27.
National Public Lands Day is a nationwide volunteer day and a fee-free day at many federal sites. Learn what it is, why it matters, and 5 fun ways to celebrate near you.
What is National Public Lands Day?
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands, held every year on the fourth Saturday in September. This year that’s Saturday, September 27, 2025. It’s coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) with support from agencies and partners across the country.
NPLD is also a fee-free day at all national parks and many other federally managed sites, meaning entrance fees are waived so everyone can get outside together.
A quick bit of history
The first National Public Lands Day was in 1994 and has grown into a coast-to-coast day of service that rallies individuals, families, nonprofits, and agencies around caring for the places we share.
Why it matters
Public lands—national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, BLM lands, and more—protect wildlife habitat, safeguard cultural resources, boost local economies, and give all of us places to move, breathe, and connect. NPLD channels that love into hands-on stewardship: trail work, habitat restoration, trash cleanups, and educational programs that keep these places healthy and welcoming.
5 ways to celebrate National Public Lands Day
Whether you’ve got an hour or a whole day, pick one (or a few!) and make it yours. Remember to always follow Leave No Trace.
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Join a local volunteer project - (trail work, invasive-plant pulls, native planting, cleanups). Search NEEF’s event map for opportunities near you or check with local state parks or volunteer groups.
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Visit a national park for free - join a ranger-led program, perfect for first-timers or inviting friends along.
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Lead a friends-and-neighbors cleanup - connect with your local hiking group or grab a group of friends and head to a trail (or even just walk your neighborhood) and pick up trash.
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Hike, bike or paddle a new to you park/trail - celebrate simply getting outside and enjoying your local green space.
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Support a park friends group with a donation or membership.
How to find an event near you
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Use NEEF’s NPLD Event Search to filter by location, distance, and activity type (volunteer, educational, health & wellness).
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Check agency pages for local listings from the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, or state parks sites.
- Check with your local hiking groups or volunteer organizations. Not sure where to look? Call a local outfitter or just ask on social media.
What to bring (quick checklist)
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Sturdy closed-toe shoes, sun protection, layers
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Full water bottle + snacks
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Work gloves if you have them (many sites provide tools)
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Reusable trash bag for a mini-cleanup
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A “leave it better” mindset and a camera for those after-shots!
Planning something bigger?
If you’re organizing a service project, register it with NEEF to be part of the national map and (where eligible) request fee-free coupons for your volunteers. Be sure to check deadlines.
Celebrate with ExploreMore
We’re big believers that local adventures add up. On NPLD, use the ExploreMore app to:
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Log a TrailBingo square for a cleanup or habitat-spotting walk
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Join a nearby guided event led by a certified ExploreMore Outdoor Leader
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Complete a Daily Quest focused on stewardship and gratitude for the places we share
See you outside—let’s leave it better than we found it. 🌿
