Celebrate National Park Week with FREE Admission and Special Events

The National Park Service, in partnership with the National Park Foundation, will be celebrating National Park Week, April 22 through April 30, with free admission and special events nationwide. With more than 400 national parks hosting a mix of special programs, activities and digital experiences, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation invite all to explore and enjoy national parks during this annual event. The week begins this Saturday, April 22, with free entrance to all national parks to kick off the celebration.

“Since Yellowstone National Park was established 150 years ago, over 400 extraordinary places have been added to the National Park System,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “Throughout the country, these sites are sources of inspiration, recreation, and education—each one preserving and sharing a part of our national story. I hope National Park Week provides a spark to visit a nearby national park and make some memories.”

With at least one in every state, national parks provide close-to-home opportunities to engage the senses and experience something different during each visit. Every park has remarkable features and lesser-known gems, so consider adding some new places to your bucket list and explore a path less taken! The best place to start any national park trip is with a stop at NPS.gov or the official NPS app. You can search for parks by state, activity, or topic and get the latest updates and details about each park. Involve the kids in planning your next park visit by using the new online Junior Ranger Park Explorer program “Ready, Set, Go” where they can complete activities and print a badge.

“National Park Week is a great time to explore a lesser-known site,” said National Park Foundation President and CEO Will Shafroth. “In 2021, most park visits occurred in just 25 parks. This National Park Week, try something new. There is so much beauty and cultural heritage to experience in your own backyard.”

The overall theme for this year’s National Park Week is “Your Park Story.” Throughout the week individual theme days highlight various ties that can help ensure the enjoyment of national parks for current and future visitors. You can follow NPS stories on social media using #YourParkStory, while sharing your own stories using #MyParkStory. For more information on the individual themes for each day, as well as events scheduled across the country, please click here.

As part of National Park Week I also wanted to let you know that my new book on the history of hiking, Ramble On: How Hiking Became One of the Most Popular Outdoor Activities in the World, will be on sale throughout the entire week. Beginning Saturday, and continuing through April 30th, both the paperback and eBook versions of Ramble On will be on sale at 50% off the regular price!

Also, throughout the week, I will be posting several hiking and national parks related anecdotes associated with each day’s theme on Twitter. You can follow me at @GlacierHiker1



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Did You Know…National Park Week is April 20-28

The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation invite everyone to get to know their national parks during National Park Week. This year’s dates are April 20 – 28, with free admission to all national parks April 22 – 26.

“This year’s theme, ‘Did you know…’ provides a fun way to discover the wonders of America’s national parks,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “For example, did you know that there are national parks in 49 of 50 states? Did you know that national parks include seashores, battlefields, and historic homes? Did you know that the country’s highest peak, lowest point, tallest tree, deepest lake and longest cave are in national parks? Did you know that you probably live within an hour or two of a national park? National Park Week is a great time for all Americans to visit a nearby national park to camp and hike, watch wildlife, stroll a Civil War battlefield, and connect with our heritage and each other.”

National Park Week is also a good time to explore local parks, trails, and architectural gems sustained through National Park Service programs such as the Rivers Trails Conservation Assistance program and the National Register of Historic Places.

The annual celebration includes special events such as Junior Ranger Day on April 20 and Earth Day on April 22. Find a list of ranger-led programs and plan your adventures at nationalparkweek.org. You can also use the website to share your park experiences and photos and help support parks.

“National Park Week is a perfect time to celebrate America’s best idea – our national parks,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “We are proud to stand with our partners at the National Park Service in presenting this annual event and hope everyone takes advantage of this opportunity to enjoy and support these outstanding places.”

We think some of the best parks to visit - anytime of year - are Rocky Mountain National Park, Glacier National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But hey, that's just our opinion!


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Experience National Park Week at Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park offers free admission and more during National Park Week from April 21-29. Several fun-filled activities and events are planned for the whole family and these are also free of charge. Visitors and local residents are encouraged to plan a getaway to experience the natural wonder of Grand Teton during National Park Week. As this year's theme "Picture Yourself in a Park" suggests, it's a perfect time to make memories and capture photographs to share online at http://www.nps.gov/npweek/.

To celebrate National Park Week and the arrival of spring, ranger naturalists will lead early-morning tours to observe strutting sage grouse as they perform their annual courtship dance on an historic lek (mating arena) located just off the Antelope Flats Road near Mormon Row. Tours will take place April 21-22 and April 28-29 and begin from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 5:30 a.m. Reservations are required; call 307.739.3399 to make a reservation and get advice on what to wear and bring along.

The Teton Park Road is free of snow, but vehicles are not allowed to drive it until May 1st. Consequently, National Park Week presents an wonderful opportunity to enjoy a hike, bike ride or rollerblade outing on the road before summer traffic begins. Spring weather can be changeable and inclement, so be prepared with layered clothing and/or a windproof jacket, and carry water and energy snacks.

In recognition of National Park Week, The Murie Center staff will offer guided tours of the historic Murie Ranch at 4 p.m. on Saturday April 21 and Saturday April 28. Explore the Teton home of the Murie family that served as a base camp and center for the American conservation movement in the 1950s and 60s.

Several activities are scheduled for National Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 28 at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose. Festivities include:

•10 a.m. -a living history demonstration on mountain men

•11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - an inspection of vehicles and equipment regularly used in park operations; these will include an ambulance, fire engine, patrol car and snowplow

•11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - a live bird demonstration by Teton Raptor Center bird biologists

•11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - a ranger boot camp and obstacle course where children compete in physical activities that mimic park ranger jobs; an animal Olympics game where youngsters can test their skills against the abilities of various wildlife species; a story corner for listening to tales about Grand Teton; a touch table with animal furs, feathers and bones to feel; a cultural history station that showcases objects from the David T. Vernon Collection of Indian Arts; and a station where children can dress up in an genuine ranger uniform.

•2 p.m. - a second mountain man demonstration.

Children who participate in at least three of the activities will earn either a Junior Ranger patch or badge. Grand Teton Association will offer a 15-percent discount in the Discovery Center bookstore on Junior Ranger Day. Numerous educational and informational books and other interesting items (videos, posters, ornaments, plush animals, toys, etc.) may be purchased using the special Junior Ranger Day discount.

During National Park Week, all 397 national park areas offer free admission all week long. A seven-day pass to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks is normally $25 for a private vehicle.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com

National Park Week, April 21-29, Features Free Admission and Nationwide Events

The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, invite people everywhere to enjoy, explore, learn, share, and give back to America’s nearly 400 national parks during National Park Week 2012.

Celebrating the theme, “Picture Yourself in a National Park,” National Park Week will run from Saturday, April 21 through Sunday, April 29. Throughout the country, visitors can enjoy the beauty and wonder of 84 million acres of the world’s most spectacular scenery, historic places and cultural treasures for FREE!

National parks will mark the annual celebration with special events and activities including Volunteer Day on April 21, Earth Day on April 22, and Junior Ranger Day on April 28. From ranger-led hikes and kayak trips to camping and exploring, park visitors can plan their National Park Week at www.nationalparkweek.org. Discover information about events, special activities for visitors of all ages, how to share your park adventure with other travelers, and how to support the parks.

“America’s national parks have something for everyone,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Take a break and experience something new, enjoy some fresh air, get some exercise, and see where history happened. And, since admission is free to all 397 parks, all week long, National Park Week is a great time to get up, get out, and explore a park.”

“This is our annual celebration of America’s best idea – our national parks,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “We are proud to stand with our partners at the National Park Service and encourage people everywhere to enjoy, learn from and support our nation’s greatest treasures.”


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com