CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Sept. 1, 2026 – The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources is joining the annual National Public Lands Day tradition and invites communities across Wyoming to celebrate, care for, and give back to public lands through volunteer opportunities throughout September. The month-long effort leads up to National Public Lands Day and Wyoming Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 26. 

Wyoming State Parks Volunteer Opportunities 

Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites will host volunteer projects throughout September, including cleanup efforts, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, habitat improvements, and preservation projects. In recognition of National Public Lands Day, day-use and entrance fees will also be waived at all Wyoming state parks and historic sites on Sept. 26.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Bear River State Park – Sept. 1–30, Noxious Weed Identification
• Boysen State Park – Sept. 26, Puncturevine Weed Pull
• Buffalo Bill State Park – Sept. 26, Tree Planting
• Curt Gowdy State Park – Sept. 26, Bird Box Cleaning and Winterization
• Edness K.Wilkins State Park – Sept. 26, Russian Olive Removal
• Fort Bridger State Historic Site – Sept. 26, Historic Building Whitewash
• Hawk Springs State Recreation Area – Sept. 26, Beach & Campground Cleanup
• Hot Springs State Park – Sept. 26, Trash Cleanup
• Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site – Sept. 26, Trash Cleanup
• Seminoe State Park – Sept. 26, Trash Cleanup
• Sinks Canyon State Park – Sept. 26, Trail Maintenance & Weed Pull
• Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site – Sept. 26, Sunflower Garden Winterization & More

Outdoor Recreation Collaborative Volunteer Opportunities 

Across Wyoming, community-led Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives, facilitated by the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, are also bringing together volunteers, local organizations, and land managers to support stewardship projects on public lands. Projects range from trail construction and maintenance to fence repair, habitat restoration, and cleanup efforts.

Collaborative-supported opportunities include:

• Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (BBORC) | Lovell – Sept. 19, Rainbow Canyon Trail Build
• Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (BBORC) | Ten Sleep - Sept. 12, Salt Lick Trailhead Volunteer Project
• Cloud Peak Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (CPORC) | Sheridan – Sept. 26, Black Mountain Nordic Trail Work Day (Registration Required)
• High Plains Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (HPORC) | Esterbrook – Sept. 26, Esterbrook Campground Cleanup
• Lincoln Uinta Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (LUORC) | Mountain View – Sept. 26, Leavitt Creek Beaver Dam Restoration
• Mountain Man Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (MMORC) | Pinedale – Sept. 26, NPLD Celebration (Registration Required)
• Park County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (PCORC) | Cody – Sept. 26, Absaroka Fence Initiative (Registration Required)
• Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SWORC) | Laramie – Sept. 26, Roger Canyon Trash Cleanup (Registration Required)
• Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SWORC) | Laramie – Sept. 26, Upper UW Trail Maintenance (Registration Required)
• Sweetwater County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SCORC) | Rock Springs – Sept. 12, Tri-State Marker Fence Repair and Trash Cleanup
• Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (WRORC) | Atlantic City – Sept. 26, Strawberry Meadow Zeedyk Build Day (RSVP Encouraged)
• Teton County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (TCORC) | Jackson - Sept. 26, Salt River Cleanup 

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. Each year, volunteers across the country come together to care for public lands, improve recreation areas, and celebrate the places that connect communities to the outdoors. NPLD is also a fee-free day at participating federally managed public lands.

Event details, including volunteer times, meeting locations, and project information, are available on the social media accounts of participating Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives. Additional information can also be found on the NPLD map provided by the National Environment Education Foundation.

Wyoming State Parks and the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation are both part of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR), which provides recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities and experiences across the state. Learn more about SPCR at wyospcr.wyo.gov.

Figure 1: Russian olive removal at Edness K. Wilkins State Park during 2025 National Public Lands Day. Figure 2: Campground cleanup at Keyhole State Park during 2025 National Public Lands Day.

Contact: 

Jamie Hansen, Outreach Coordinator, Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation

(307) 460-8794 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.