Little River Canyon National Preserve

05/31/2026

The Cooper’s Hawk (Astur cooperii) can be found year-round in most parts of the continental United States and is a frequent visitor to the Castillo de San Marcos! This bird of prey was likely looking for small critters scurrying around the moat in the early morning.

Image: Cooper’s Hawk peeking over the fort’s wall.

05/31/2026

On May 31, 1889, one of the deadliest disasters in U.S. history struck when the South Fork Dam failed above Johnstown, Pennsylvania, unleashing more than 4.8 billion gallons of water. The raging flood swept through the valley, destroying homes and communities and claiming more than 2,200 lives.

After days of relentless rainfall, the dam gave way, triggering widespread devastation across the region. In the aftermath, Clara Barton and volunteers with the American Red Cross led one of the nation’s first large-scale disaster relief efforts, providing critical aid to survivors.

Today, Johnstown Flood National Memorial preserves the remains of the dam and tells the story of the flood, its victims, and the recovery efforts that followed. Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/jofl

Image: A tree lodged in the Schultz house in the aftermath of the Johnstown Flood of 1889

05/31/2026

🍄✨ Cave surprise! ✨🍄

At first glance, caves may appear inhospitable to life, but look closer and you can find it thriving. This mushroom, of the genus Mycena, found a perfect home in the cool, humid, dim light of the cave. Most Mycena are saprotrophic, meaning they feed on dead matter or waste. In addition to a comfortable habitat, this individual also found a nutritious meal in the dead tree root it’s growing out of!

This delicate flush of fungi appears only briefly each year on the same piece of decomposing wood deep within Oregon Caves — a tiny seasonal reminder that even in the darkest places, ecosystems are hard at work. 👀🌿

Next time you visit the cave, remember: there’s a whole hidden world growing in the shadows.

Photo credit: NPS/ Sarah M

05/30/2026

Thermal features are so hot right now.

Well, most of the time. Yellowstone National Park preserves the most extraordinary collection of hot springs, geysers, mudpots, and fumaroles on Earth. More than 10,000 hydrothermal features are found here, of which more than 500 are geysers.

Boardwalks and trails protect you and delicate thermal formations. Do not touch thermal features or runoff. Water in hot springs can cause severe or fatal burns, and scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs.

Learn more tips on how to adventure through Yellowstone safely at: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/safety.htm

05/30/2026

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

“You must choose, but choose wisely…” -Grail Knight

Nobody wants slippy-sloppy. Or was it sloppy-slippy? Either way, taking the wrong footwear on the trail can quickly turn a fun hike into a painful one. Before heading out, research the route and terrain so you can choose the right gear for your adventure. Heels, open-toed shoes, and flip-flops are not ideal for hiking trails. For dirt or gravel trails, opt for sturdy hiking boots or trail shoes with good traction and ankle support. For paved or urban pathways, comfortable sneakers or tennis shoes are usually a better fit. Your feet will thank you later.

Now, to be fair, it's ! Flip-flops are great for beach parks, the pool, short walks, getting lost in the parking lot, or just embracing vacation mode. But rocky trails, waterfalls, uneven terrain, being chased by a herd of bison, mud, and steep inclines? That’s where things can get a little…well, slippy. Also sloppy.

Make good choices.

Image: A screenshot of a post from the National Park Service account on X that reads: “Always hike with proper supplies and equipment. Remember, flippy floppies may lead to slippy sloppies.”

05/26/2026

The mondayest Tuesday ever…

Dreading what feels like it could be a bear of a week? Feeling like you’re constantly playing catch-up? Bearly moving? Don’t worry…ease back into work instead of trying to tackle everything all at once. Start by tidying your workspace (or find your space if you’ve forgotten), reminding yourself what it is you do there, and planning your first break of the day. Sometimes the best way to get back into work mode is to give your brain a chance to catch up too.

Did somebody say break? It never hurts to take a much-needed “paws.” Regular breaks can help you recharge, refocus, and keep the day from turning completely grizzly. Step away for a few minutes to stretch, take a walk, catch something for lunch, or scroll through the park socials. This is your time.

Image: A bear cub takes a nap in a cottonwood trees Big Bend National Park. NPS/CA Hoyt

05/25/2026

Honoring all the members of our armed forces who gave what President Abraham Lincoln called "the last full measure of devotion," Memorial Day is one of the most important and solemn days on the National Mall. Across 250 years of American history, starting with those who fell while fighting alongside General George Washington in the Revolutionary War to recent conflicts, we will never forget our heroes. The military memorials on the National Mall are stunning tributes to hundreds of thousands of people who laid down their lives for freedom. Today we lay wreaths at these special places, but every day, walking past stone walls and metal statues, we recognize the loved and lost and offer the thanks of a grateful nation.

Photo by National Park Service.

05/14/2026

The BioBlitz begins at 6AM tomorrow!

At 10AM, if you are up for a long hike full of beautiful, rugged scenery, then sign up and join in on the DeSoto Scout Trail blitz hike. We will be blitzing along the west fork of the Little River, so make sure you have iNaturalist downloaded for uploading pics on the fly or later from the comfort of home. Come explore and discover with us! Registration ends today.

https://alapark.itinio.com/register/

https://www.facebook.com/events/2170244613776287

Send a message to learn more

05/11/2026

Calling all Citizen Scientists to this weekend's BioBlitz! Bio, huh? Blitz......a strategic event to document all species of life in a specified area and time.
➡️That time is Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17.
➡️The area.....the entire park.
➡️And how is with iNaturalist, a free app: just download the app, take lots of clear photos to upload to the app, and a world of "ologists" are there to help you identify your species.

So, if your specialty or love is birds, plants, snakes, fungi, butterflies, or anything nature has to give, then make sure you have the iNaturalist.org app on your phone and join us or venture on your own throughout the park to help us discover all the wonderful species in the Preserve.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2819359578401543
https://www.facebook.com/events/2170244613776287
https://www.facebook.com/events/1473274514534407
https://www.facebook.com/events/2239228206820152

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2026-little-river-canyon-np-bioblitz

https://help.inaturalist.org/en/support/solutions/folders/151000552105

05/06/2026

Have you ever visited Eberhart Point? The overlook has beautiful views of the canyon, and the trail goes down to the river. This trail is arduous and steep, and is three-quarters of a mile, one way to the river. You can look for ruins of Canyonland Park, which operated from 1970-1973 and again from 1982-1985, which offered a chairlift down into the canyon along this trail and benches in the woods near the river. When the river is low, hikers can connect with the Powell Trail by hiking downriver.

NPS Photos/ Volunteer Matt

05/04/2026

A big thank you to the 20 members of DeKalb County VFW 3128 and Auxiliary who participated in their annual day of service for cleaning up the park on Saturday. They picked up bags of trash from Little River Canyon Center, along the Bridge Trail, to the Little River Falls Overlook, to Little Falls Trail, and the Blue Hole area. Thank you for helping us keep the park clean!

Photo: Kevin VFW 3128

04/30/2026

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! We just want to take a moment to thank our amazing volunteers who give their time and effort to make this park a better place to visit! We want to recognize our volunteers who joined us this past year: Matt, John, Emily M., Emily L., Trevor, Mike, and Dave. Thank you to John, Emily M., and Emily L. for helping out at the front desk. Thanks to Matt for going above and beyond to take pictures for me for social media and other things. Not pictured are Trevor, Mike, and Dave who work outside. Thanks to Trevor for his help with roving and search and rescue. To Mike and Dave, who help clean up the park by picking up litter. Thank you for joining our team this year! We really appreciate your willingness to give your time to the park!

NPS Photo

04/29/2026

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! We want to take a moment to thank our amazing volunteers who give their time to make this park a better place to visit, especially Brian and Sarah for their dedication of more than a year of service! It has been great having you here on the team!

NPS Photo

04/28/2026

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month!
We just want to take a moment to thank our amazing volunteers who give their time to make this park a better place to visit! To our volunteers who have dedicated over 5 years of service: Deb, Paula, and Ron. Thank you so much to Deb for 8 years, Paula and Ron for 5 years of service with us!
NPS Photo

04/27/2026

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month!
We just want to take a moment to thank our amazing volunteers who give their time to make this park a better place to visit! To our volunteers who have dedicated over 10 years of service: Bill F., Shelia, Connie, and Bill K. Thank you so much to Bill F. for 16 years, Shelia for 13 years, and Connie and Bill K. for 11 years of service with us!

NPS Photo

04/27/2026

A big thank you to all who helped us with the litter pick-up on Saturday despite the less-than-ideal weather. They picked up a total of 15 pounds of litter at the Little River Falls Overlook, the parking lot, and Bridge Trail! We will have more litter pick-up events in the future! A special thanks to our Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) intern, Steph, for organizing this event and her efforts in growing our volunteer program at the park this year. If you're interested in volunteering, feel free to reach out to Steph at [email protected] or visit https://www.volunteer.gov for more details. We'd love to have you on board!

NPS Photo

04/25/2026

Happening today at 10 am!

This Saturday, April 25 for our Earth Day clean up! We will meet at the Little River Canyon Center at 10:00 am and go clean up the Little River Falls parking lot, picnic area, and trail area. Bring a water bottle, wear sturdy footwear, and snacks if needed. All ages welcome! All supplies will be provided! Come be a volunteer for a few hours and help us beautify the park!

04/22/2026

🌍 Happy Earth Day, everyone! Let's celebrate this Saturday by picking up litter and appreciating nature’s wonders at Little River Canyon! 🌿 Together, we can make a difference! 🌱🌸

NPS Photos: some photos are not current