National Public Lands Day 2026 - Zion National Park

Celebrate National Public Lands Day by volunteering at Zion National Park!

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026

Time: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Meeting Location: Zion Nature Center parking lot, Zion National Park

Project Description:

Volunteers will assist in removing invasive tamarisk plants from the Wild and Scenic Virgin River. Tamarisk, also known as Salt Cedar, can alter water availability and riparian habitat for native plants, so it is an important target for removal. Tamarisk trees have notoriously long (15 ft) tap roots that can be nearly impossible to entirely remove from the ecosystem. 

Together with the Zion National Park De-Vegetation Crew, volunteers will be hand sawing and lopping the tamarisk trees and removing them from the river. The NPS staff will then apply herbicide to the stumps to stop new growth.

All project supplies (saws, loppers, gloves, and eye protection) will be provided by the park. 

Volunteers will not be directly handling herbicide but may be exposed to herbicide. Getting to the site and completing the project work will involve some bushwhacking. Removing the tamarisk will involve getting into and out of the Virgin River. Volunteers should wear long pants, long-sleeves, and sturdy shoes that can get wet. Volunteers may bring personal gloves and eye protection if they prefer to use their own. 

Youth volunteers are welcome to participate. All youth under 18 years old require onsite parental or legal guardian supervision. This project will involve river crossings and potential water levels too high for small children. Therefore, this project is recommended for youth 13+ years old. 

National Public Lands Day is a fee free entrance day into the park for U.S. citizens and residents. All participants will receive a one-time free entrance coupon to any federal public lands site that has an entrance fee. The coupon expires on National Public Lands Day 2027.

Zion National Park will be collaborating with a local organized volunteer group, Conserve Southwest Utah, to complete this project. Interested volunteers can learn more about Conserve Southwest Utah and register to participate here: https://www.conserveswu.org/events/volunteer-national-public-lands-day-at-zion-np.

Contact zion_vip_mailbox@nps.gov for any questions!