West Virginia’s public lands offer something for everyone. With 35 state parks, 116,090 acres of wilderness areas, and hundreds of miles of trails, the public lands surrounding us offer everyone the chance to connect with the natural environment. 

This year, National Public Lands Day falls on September 23. It’s the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort organized and led by the National Environmental Education Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service and other federal agencies. Nearly 40% of the United States is public land, supported by taxpayers and managed by federal, state or local governments. 

National Public Lands Day aims to celebrate the connection between people and their community’s natural spaces and encourage the use of those spaces for education, recreationand health. The theme for this year—30 Years of Care and Community—celebrates the 30th year of National Public Lands Day. You can get involved in many ways; on September 23, entry to all National Parks will be free. If you haven’t visited New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, it will be a great day to visit! 

The National Environmental Education Foundation encourages you to share your park story on your social media channels with the hashtag #NPLD, #NPSVolunteer, and #MyParkStory.To find a volunteer opportunity and learn more about how to be involved with National Public Lands Day, visit neefusa.org

Get outdoors and have fun. We’ll see you on the trails!