Free entry to national parks Saturday
Nationwide celebration features special events
As spring starts to lure people outdoors, it may be the perfect time to go to a national park – for free.
Park fees are waived Saturday, the first day of National Park Week, at sites that charge an entrance fee. You’ll still have to pay fees for camping, transportation, activities and tours.
The celebration runs through Sunday, April 25, and parks across the country will host a variety of special programs, events and digital experiences, according to the National Park Service.
Other fee-free days at national parks include:
• Aug. 4: One-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act.
• Aug. 25: National Park Service birthday.
• Sept. 25: National Public Lands Day. h Nov. 11: Veterans Day.
The National Park Service offers free or discounted passes for seniors; members of the military, veterans and Gold Star families; families of fourth and fifth grade students; and people with disabilities.
The National Park Service requires visitors to wear masks in accordance with an executive order issued by President Joe Biden mandating masks in federal buildings and on federal lands controlled by the executive branch, which includes national park sites under the supervision of the Department of Interior.
The National Park Service requires all visitors and employees to don masks inside buildings and facilities and on NPS-managed lands “when physical distancing cannot be maintained,” according to the Interior Department. For example, a mask will be required when a trail is too narrow or is busy, on overlooks or in historic homes.