[azdesertfather]

National parks plan 3 free summer weekends

Jun. 2, 2009 08:00 AM
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service will allow visitors free entry during three weekends this summer to encourage Americans to visit national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Rocky Mountain National Park.

The fee waivers - one each month in June, July and August - will apply to all 391 national parks across the country, from Alaska to Florida.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the free weekends should help American families struggling with the recession afford a memorable vacation.

All 147 Park Service sites that charge fees for entry will waive entrance fees from June 20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16, Salazar said.

Entry fees being waived range from $3 to $25. That does not apply to fees charged for camping, reservations, tours or concessions.

[big_load]

If the CA state parks get closed as planned and the National Parks are free, it will be absolute mayhem in Yosemite.

[fairweather8588]

Just read about this on azcentral, too bad the first weekend is when my brother is getting married (think he'd mind if I snuck away for the weekend?) so it looks like I'll be headin up to utah in july

[writelots]

This seems odd, however - being as the real expense for visiting the parks is actually getting there and securing lodging and buying food while you visit. Although, it's always amazing how much money people will spend to get something for free...

[joe bartels]

Very true

At the very least it's good to see America being promoted again.

For myself there's no way I can plan a multi day hike months in advance. I'd venture to guess this is more and more true in the world we live in. It's pretty easy to see that most that can take advantage of the current back country system are either retired, self-employed or work a set schedule. I can understand for the South Rim. However for the North Rim I think they should ease up a bit. I wonder what percentage don't even bother with permits.

[Jim Lyding]

Yosemite is pretty much mayhem during the summer months as it is. I remember going there the first week of August about a decade ago. The hike up to the falls was very reminiscent of the National Trail Trek that annually graces our beautiful South Mountain here in Phoenix: just a line of ants

[hikeaz]

2012 Free entry dates announced.....

National park entrance fees will be waived 17 of the following days in 2012.

January 14-16 (Martin Luther King Jr. weekend); April 21-29 (National Park Week); June 9 (Get Outdoors Day); Sept. 29 (National Public Lands Day) and Nov. 10-12 (Veterans Day weekend).

There are still a few free days left for 2011 as well. All of the national parks will once again allow entry to travelers without paying on Veterans Day weekend, which is Nov. 10-12.