National Public Lands Day is fee free on national forests this Saturday | News
CALIFORNIA & OREGON, U.S.A — The U.S. Forest Service says National Public Lands Day brings a fee-free day this weekend.
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) says Saturday, September 28, will be “Fee Free” on national forests. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service will waive standard amenity fees for all visitors to national forest and grassland day-use areas to celebrates National Public Lands Day (NPLD) and volunteering on national forests.
USDA says NPLD is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands. For more than three decades, National Public Lands Day has inspired hundreds of thousands of volunteers to support the nation’s public lands, connecting volunteers and communities for the shared goal of improving local public lands.
USDA says, “September 28th is an opportunity to connect with new communities, an event that creates kinship among those working together for a common goal, and an opportunity to use America’s public lands for education, recreation, and overall physical and mental health.”
It says the theme for this year’s celebration is “National Public Lands Day: Together for Tomorrow.”
USFS says that on these special days, standard amenity fees charged for day-use sites — such as picnic areas, developed trailheads and destination visitor centers — are waived. It says waivers don’t apply to special recreation permits, cabin rentals, campground reservations, amenity fees on certain highly developed sites and service fees by independent concessionaires on national forest land. For more about interagency passes, visit the Forest Service’s Passes and Permits page.
USFS invites people to join a NPLD event Saturday, September 28, or search the National Environmental Education Foundation’s event search to find a place to volunteer, such as:
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest: All volunteers receive a free, one-day National Park Pass.
- Ski Island on Shasta Lake: Campground and trail maintenance. Gloves provided.
- Ah Di Na Campground: Invasive weed removal and interpretive trail maintenance.
- Post Mountain Trinity Pines: General cleanup day.
USFS says about 95% of national forest land can be enjoyed fee-free, year-round. According to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, where fees are assessed, at least 80% of these funds are reinvested at the site where collected for maintenance, services or future improvements.
To find a nearby national forest or grassland, check the Forest Service website.
Jerry Howard is the director of community outreach at NewsWatch 12. You can reach Jerry at [email protected].
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