National Parks Week – Spring Break In The Great Outdoors

Jake S

National Parks Week is set to run from April 15 – 23, 2017. But wait, what is National Parks Week and why are we interested? The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation are working together to offer a week of free admission to all national parks.

While fees for entering national parks are nominal to begin with (about $30.00 per week for a non-commercial carload full of humans in Yosemite), having the cost waived will hopefully serve as motivation for people to learn more about what the national park system has to offer and tempt them to explore.

Some participating parks in California include Cabrillo National Monument, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Muir Woods National Monument, Pinnacles National Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, and Yosemite National Park.

For National Parks in Hawaii check out this link.  To view other National Parks throughout the United States take a look at this map and click on your desired destination.

Our recommendation for those in the greater Bay Area is to hit Muir Woods National Monument. Join the masses, who will undoubtedly descend on this spot, and enjoy a free walk through towering redwoods in the hills just beyond the reach of the Pacific Ocean.

Another one to check out for free if you’re near San Diego during National Parks Week is the Cabrillo National Monument. This park includes access to a collection of tidepools, marine plants, and sea-life worth viewing.

Or, go for broke, and head inland to Yosemite National Park. Explore the wilds of this all-time outdoor spectacle. Why not let the National Park Foundation pick up the tab as you hike through and revel in some of the most epic scenery our nation has to offer?

sources and links:

https://www.nps.gov/findapark/national-park-week.htm

featured image of Channel Islands National Park from National Park Service website (note: like many national parks not listed here, this park does not charge an entrance fee)