April brings more than showers and blooming flowers. It allows us to show Mother Earth some love during Earth Day and National Park Week. The National Park Service (NPS) holds many volunteer and recreational events during the celebration, including a free entrance day. Let’s look at the events to see how you can celebrate.
When is Earth Day?
Earth Day is April 22, 2025. The international holiday honors the need to protect Mother Earth for a healthy, sustainable environment now and in the future.
When is National Park Week?
National Park Week is April 19 – 27, 2025. This American holiday celebrates the beauty of our national parks and promotes responsible visitation and conservation.
Free Park Admission
We often hear mention of America’s 63 national parks. The NPS manages over 400 sites nationwide. Many sites charge an entrance fee, typically $5 to $35.
On April 19, the first day of National Park Week, guests can enter any national park site for free. However, standard fees for activities like camping still apply.
Ways To Celebrate National Park Week
How can you honor our parks during the celebration?
Follow Along on Social Media
Follow the events on social media using #NationalParkWeek. Join conversations with our parks and share your posts to show love for the parks and inspire others.
Visit a Park
Find a national park and visit during National Park Week. Remember, admission is free on the celebration’s first day.
Bring the Whole Family
Kids can celebrate, too. National Junior Ranger Day is April 19, 2025. Many national park sites nationwide offer special programs for children to learn about and connect with our parks.
Act Locally
Look around your community for NPS programs and collaborations. You can celebrate or volunteer at national historic and natural landmarks near you.
Volunteer
National Volunteer Week, April 20 – 26, 2025, is part of the overall celebration for those who want to help clean our parks or assist with projects. Visit the NPS volunteer site to learn about opportunities.
Events During National Park Week
The NPS is holding many events across the country during National Park Week, some of which occur on Earth Day. Here are some specific ways you can honor our parks and Mother Earth.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona and Nevada
Lake Mead is holding its first Love Lake Mead Days celebration, which includes daily clean-up events from April 19 – 26. Earth Day features a native plant nursery project. Visit the Love Lake Mead Days page to learn more.
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Petrified Forest National Park offers cultural demonstrations at the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark between 10 am and 3 pm each day of the celebration. The demonstrations range from storytelling and beading to painting and dancing.
Sequoia National Park, California
Sequoia National Park offers a 1.5-hour guided nature walk on a section of the Paradise Creek Trail on April 19 and 26 at 2 pm, where you can learn about springtime in the region’s foothills. Participants will meet at the Hospital Rock Picnic Area.
Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
Indiana Dunes National Park offers Trash Trekkers, a voluntary drop-in litter clean-up program. To participate, stop by the park’s visitor center, pick up trash bags, and choose from a list of hiking trails and beach areas to collect trash.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park regularly offers unique activities, including bicycling along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, train rides, and visiting its renowned Cuyahoga Valley Farmers Market.
During National Park Week, you can shop for local food and goods at The Winter Market at Old Trail School on April 19 and 26, from 9 am to noon.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
The South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park offers events for kids and adults during National Park Week. Junior Ranger Day at Peaceful Valley Ranch is a day of learning and fun on April 19 from 11 am to 12:30 pm.
Join a special 4-mile round-trip guided hike to the park’s only sandstone arch on April 20, 10 am to 12:30 pm. Guests will meet at the Halliday Well Trailhead at Mile 7 of Scenic Drive.
Spring Clean-Up Day is April 26, from 8 am to 1 pm. Volunteers will meet at the visitor center in Medora to help spruce up the park and clear debris. Gloves and trash bags are provided.
Celebrate National Park Week and Earth Day
The listed events are a small sampling of how you can celebrate our national parks. Whether or not you are a fan of the parks, Earth Day reminds us to honor our planet by recreating responsibly and protecting our environment for future generations.
Featured image credit: sarayut via DepositPhotos
