Visitors to Shenandoah National Park enjoy a summer sunset view along the Appalachian Trail by Loft Mountain Campground, Sunday, July 12, 2020: Glynn Wilson

Staff Report

The National Park Service will provide free admission to all national parks on September 26 for National Public Lands Day — one of the nation’s largest annual celebrations of the great American outdoors.

Established by the National Environmental Education Foundation in 1994, National Public Lands Day encourages environmental stewardship and access to public lands for education, recreation, inspiration and general health and wellness.

“National Public Lands Day is one of my favorite annual recognitions, as across the country I witness people sharing my passion for the outdoors. This year the importance of our parks and open spaces is even more pronounced as they are recognized as safe spaces to recreate, relax and rejuvenate,” said Margaret Everson, Counselor to the Secretary of the Interior, exercising the delegated authority of the National Park Service Director.

“National parks and other public lands provide all of us with places to enjoy the great outdoors,” she said.

This year, many of the day’s events will go virtual and provide opportunities for people to connect with public lands from home.

A highlight will be a virtual concert at 10 a.m. EDT featuring musical artists and guest speakers broadcasting from some of America’s most scenic public lands, including Joshua Tree National Park and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

Following the concert, the sites will host virtual environmental education and conservation events about topics such as health and wellness, career opportunities in conservation and diversity and inclusion in the outdoors. More information about the concert and corresponding events is available online here.

Some parks will host organized in-person volunteer activities that will incorporate physical distancing and other safety guidelines. Volunteers will build trails, clean waterways, remove non-native species and restore native landscapes at sites including Arches National Park, Buffalo National River, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Pipestone National Monument and Sitka National Historical Park.

All national parks will waive entrance fees on September 26 to provide additional opportunities for people to spend some time outdoors.

“Even a small dose of nature can provide a mood boost and support overall physical and mental well-being,” the Park Service says.

Begin a trip to a national park with a visit to NPS.gov to obtain updates regarding park operating status and tips about how to #RecreateResponsibly.

NPLD is coordinated by NEEF in cooperation with the Department of the Interior, Department of the Army, and Department of Agriculture. Participating federal agencies include the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.