Reconnecting in Rocky with Peterson Space Force Base
In September 2025, National Park Trust partnered with Peterson Space Force Base and the Cabela’s-Bass Pro Shop Outdoor Fund to bring active duty airmen and their families to Rocky Mountain National Park for an overnight campout featuring hiking, horseback riding, and fly fishing. This amazing and in-depth experience was made possible through a partnership with National Park Trust, the Outdoor Fund, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Outdoor Recreation. Together, this partnership provides active duty U.S. airmen and their families with engaging outdoor outings and experiences at national parks near them. Through shared experiences in nature with NPS rangers and outdoor staff, active duty service members and their families are introduced to outdoor spaces and places in their local community that they can recreate on their own in the future.
The weekend began at Glacier Creek Stables, where participants spent the afternoon on a two-hour horseback ride with experienced guides. Participants, young and old, had their first experiences engaging in this outdoor activity, and had an amazing time wandering through the forest environment of Rocky Mountain National Park on special trails.
The next morning, participants spent the early hours with NPS Rangers, engaging in ranger programming and a guided hike to Sprague Lake. Once they arrived, volunteers from Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing put on a casting and fly-tieing clinic for participants, teaching proper techniques for introductory fishing. After an hour spent with instructors, participants hit the lake to practice their newly learned methods on the water, with the beautiful mountain scenery providing an incredible backdrop for the day’s events.
After a long weekend spent engaging in the park’s many recreational activities, participants headed back to Peterson Space Force on Sunday having gone hiking, horseback riding, fly fishing, and camping. The Rocky Mountain National Park trip with Peterson Space Force Base marked the eighth of over ten planned engagement events with the U.S. Air Force and their bases across the country. Through these experiences and programs, the National Park Trust offers active duty airmen and their families the opportunity to engage deeply in our national public parks, lands, and waters.
