This Holiday is Rich With Arizonans’ Appreciation for Public Lands

On April 6th of this year, Arizonans across the state will be celebrating an important holiday: Arizona Public Lands Day! 

We celebrate Arizona Public Lands Day on the first Saturday of April each year. The bill creating the holiday was drafted in 2019 by a team of conservationists led by Brad Powell, the immediate Past President of the Arizona Wildlife Federation.

Arizona is home to over 30 million acres of public land, which accounts for nearly 50% of all Arizona land. These lands are open to the American public for outdoor recreation while also providing natural areas for our wildlife and native plant species. Arizonans regularly hike, hunt, fish, kayak, and bike through these lands — their importance for our connection to the great outdoors cannot be overstated.

Public lands are areas of land and water that are owned collectively by citizens and managed by government agencies. These lands include everything from city, state, and national parks to forest lands, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, National Monuments, and everything in between. 

This Saturday, we invite you to take part in the celebration of this important holiday — many free public events are happening that you can join! The Arizona Wildlife Federation is hosting its next All Afield Monthly Hike at South Mountain Park and Preserve and partnering with the Arizona Trail Association for the event. Chispa Arizona, the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, and the Respect Great Bend coalition are hosting a public hike and picnic at the South Mountain Environmental Education Center. If you want the opportunity to give back to our public lands, Natural Restorations is teaming up with Pinal County Parks & Trails for a Peralta Road Cleanup.

Remember — these lands are your lands!