C’mon admit it. You’ve driven by a few parks this year and thought you’d like to go, but didn’t want to pay an entrance fee.
Guess what? You’re in luck.
The National Park Service is holding free entrance days June 5-6, August 14-15, September 25 (Public Lands Day) and November 11 at all of its 392 parks (the fee waiver doesn’t include other fees like reservations, camping or concessions.)
That means you can finally sun your face in Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion.
And did you know nearly three million people visit Zion yearly? It’s also Utah’s most heavily used national park and oldest designated in 1919.
Climbers and nature photographers can enjoy Capitol Reef’s majestic sandstone cliffs and canyons while more adventurous types can whitewater raft at Canyonlands.
If you’re looking for something more awe inspiring, the famous Arches may be the way to go. The 73,000-acre region has over 2,000 natural sandstone arches.
Geologists will also love Bryce Canyon which features a natural amphitheater created by erosion. Families can even take advantage of free full moon hikes (for ticketholders.)
And then there’s the Grand Canyon, one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World. You have to see it before you die. Period. Which I still need to do.
Besides the Grand Canyon, other neighboring parks include Mesa Verde in Colorado, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal in Arizona, and Great Basin in Nevada.
Utah’s national monuments include Cedar Breaks, Dinosaur, Hovenweep and Natural Bridges.
History buffs can visit Golden Spike National Historic Site and the exact spot where Union and Central Pacific Railroads joined together in 1869 completing America’s first transcontinental railroad.
Or stroll across more than one million acres at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Look at that – I created a summer to-do list for you!
Just make sure to breathe in the clean air. And take lots of pictures.
For more information you can head to fiveutahparks.com, nps.gov/state/ut or utah.com/nationalparks.
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