Do you want to go out and enjoy nature for free?
For the kick -off of the annual week of the National Park, which for 2025 will be held from April 19 to 27, the Park Service offers free entry to all its parks and monuments on Saturday April 19.
This can save you entry fees of $ 50 or even more, but here is what you should know:
You might be shocked to learn this, but these Freebie days are really, really popular. For maximum pleasure, I suggest getting there at sunrise, before everyone is out of bed. No crowd, you can find a parking lot and sunrise is really beautiful, right? Come on. You can do it once.
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Agency Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu via Getty Images
Yosemite, CA – February 22: A View of El Capitan while snow laundered Yosemite National Park in California, United States on February 22, 2023. Warning of winter storm issued in the Yosemite valley until Saturday. (Photo of Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Agency Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu via Getty Images
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Yosemite, CA – February 22: A View of El Capitan while snow laundered Yosemite National Park in California, United States on February 22, 2023. Warning of winter storm issued in the Yosemite valley until Saturday. (Photo of Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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And here is when you can visit all the national parks for free in 2025.
And here is a tip on sunrise: in Yellowstone, the rivers send huge clouds of steam before dawn because of underlying hot sources. This is remarkable to see, but the steam begins to evaporate by the minute when the sun strikes them. To see this remarkable phenomenon, get on the road just before the sun rises. It’s worth it. In addition, all parking lots will be empty.
You don’t need to register or register. But check if you need reservations, because April 19 is in the middle of the Easter weekend. You will have to go to Recreation.Gov and search for the park you want and “timed input” to find the booking information. I did not find any reservation requirements for Yosemite.
Here are the nine national parks in California: the Channel Islands (the boat walk will not be free), Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Lassen, Pinnacles, Redwood, Sequoia and Kings Canyon and Yosemite. (Note that Yosemite will always be snowy, and probably Lassen and Kings Canyon too.)
Personally, I suggest to Joshua Tree, who is my favorite local place. We go at dawn and hike until the slow start to arrive, usually around 11 a.m. for lunch, then go home, or stop at hot springs of the desert for a soaking in a spring hotspot.
Note There are special events from the National Park all week, so take a look online to see what is available. And take advantage of it!
Learn more: nps.gov
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