National Public Lands Day - Poker Run at Samoa Dunes Recreation Area

ARCATA, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management is partnering with Emerald Triangle Off Road to host a free family-friendly Poker Run event to celebrate National Public Lands Day and organize volunteer activities. The event is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Samoa Dunes Recreation Area.

The day begins at 10 a.m. at the 4x4 Rock Crawl Area, where volunteers will help improve the recreation area with projects including painting crosswalks and speed humps, picking up litter, and installing boundary signs on the beach. After volunteering, participants can take part in a Poker Run, earning playing cards by testing their skills on 4x4 off-road challenges and visiting educational booths to learn about the area's unique natural resources.

No registration is required for this free event. Music and light refreshments will be provided, and participants with the best poker hands will win prizes. Attendees are encouraged to bring water, snacks, sun protection, gloves, and required OHV safety gear.

The Samoa Dunes Recreation Area spans more than 300 acres and offers opportunities for off-highway vehicle riding, hiking, surfing, fishing, sightseeing, beachcombing, birdwatching, picnicking, and kayaking. The recreation area is open during daylight hours only, and visitors are reminded to familiarize themselves with OHV riding zones, respect the rights of other users, and use extra caution when on foot near riding areas.

For more information, please contact BLM Arcata Field Office at 707-825-2300.