This upcoming weekend is a great weekend to get outdoors and visit your favorite Colorado National Park - for reasons besides the weather.

According to the National Park Service (NPS), all national parks will waive their admission fees this Saturday, April 16 in honor of the first day of National Park Week.

It's important to note, however, that camping and all other administrative fees will still be in effect.

This Saturday's "entrance fee-free day" is one of five such days planned for national park-goers in 2022; as per the National Park Service, the next planned date on which national park admission will be waived is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 4, in honor of the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act.

NPS said its five free admission days "are designed to encourage discovery and visitation of the country’s variety of national parks."

National Park Week in 2022 runs from Saturday, April 16 to Sunday, April 24. Visitors are encouraged to begin their trip with a stop at NPS.gov or the NPS app.

"Whether on an entrance fee-free day or throughout the year, we encourage everyone to discover their national parks and the benefits that come from spending time outdoors," said NPS Director Chuck Sams, according to 9News.

"National parks are for everyone and we are committed to increasing access and providing opportunities for all to experience the sense of wonder, awe, and refreshment that comes with a visit to these treasured landscapes and sites."

The five entrance fee-free days for 2022 are as follows:

  • Monday, Jan. 17 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  (already happened)
  • Saturday, April 16 – First Day of  National Park Week 
  • Thursday, Aug. 4 – Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act 
  • Saturday, Sept. 24 – National Public Lands Day 
  • Friday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day

To learn more about Colorado's national parks, their admission fees, and more, visit nps.gov. 

Horsetooth Rock

 

Red Rocks

 

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