National Public Lands Day takes place on the fourth Saturday in September each year. 

It’s an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful public lands where we play, explore, connect with nature, and reconnect with ourselves. Plenty of people use Public Lands Day to rebuild trails at a local park, clean up trash, or do other awesome service projects.

In honor of this special day, we thought we’d show off a few of the public lands where we operate. Warning: these photos may make you drool a little.

Adirondack State Park

Viewing the fall foliage in Adirondack State Park. Photo by Lindsay Yost.

This is where we go to paddle and hike in the remote corners of the Northeastern U.S.

Olympic National Park

So many mountains to explore! Photo by Adam Williams.

This is where we test our endurance by exploring the old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest.

Dinosaur National Monument

Paddling through Yampa Canyon on a fall semester course. Photo by Anvesh Singh Thapa.

This is where we paddle through rapids and calm stretches of the Yampa and Green Rivers, finding lush shoreline in the middle of an arid plain.

Grand Teton National Park

Earning their turns in the stunning Tetons on a NOLS fall semester course. Photo by Brian Fabel.

This is where we go to embrace the cold and learn the ropes of backcountry skiing and snowboarding.

Gila National Forest

Sunrise in the Gila Wilderness. Photo by Kyle Duba.

This is where we reconnect with America’s first established wilderness, relishing its quiet and beauty.

What are you doing on your own local public lands? Tell us about it on Facebook and Instagram!

Related Posts

Wilderness: What National Parks Are For

I Belong in the Woods: New Zealand Gap Year

How NOLS Can Get You into College