Two of Colorado's national parks wind down their daily ranger-talk schedules this week, and Wednesday is the last day to catch one at Black Canyon of the Gunnison.1
At Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, both daily talks end their runs on Wednesday, Oct. 14. The 10 a.m. Geology Talk, offered daily since April, covers how the Black Canyon formed and what kinds of rocks make up its walls. The 2 p.m. Ranger's Choice Talk, daily since June, rotates through the park's human history, plants, and wildlife. Both meet at Pulpit Rock Overlook, run 20 to 30 minutes, and are free.1
At Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, the daily 11:15 a.m. ranger talk at the visitor center runs through Saturday, Oct. 17. After that, an afternoon talk at 1:45 p.m. continues on Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31. The 20-minute talks are free, though regular park entrance fees apply. Topics are posted on the visitor center lobby bulletin board, and programs meet on the visitor center's rear porch, front lobby, or auditorium.2
Programs at both parks depend on staff availability. Black Canyon also warns its talks may be cancelled because of bad weather, and that its meeting location can change.12
Colorado National Monument has two free ranger programs scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24: a "Geology of the Monument" talk at 9:30 a.m., and "Up Close and Personal," a hands-on drop-in program about the monument's animals, history, and geology, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Both meet at the visitor center's back porch.3