Gear up and get outside with these admission-free days to our stunning state and national parks.
There are more than 400 national parks across the U.S., with four of them right here in Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, and Black Canyon of Gunnison. In addition, more than a third of Colorado is designated as state parks. You can check out any of these parks for the right price ... free ... on special days throughout the year.
Free Entrance Days in the National Parks, 2019
- January 21: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- April 20: First day of National Park Week
- August 25: National Park Service Birthday
- September 28: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
"National parks are America’s best idea, and the fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the national parks that normally charge an entrance fee," says the National Park Service.
In addition, there are also free and discounted passes for senior citizens, current members of the military, families of fourth-grade students, and disabled citizens. Check out more information about the variety of passes available.
Free Entrance Days in Colorado State Parks, 2019
*No dates have been officially announced for 2019, but these are some of the general dates in 2018 that allowed free state park entry. Please visit the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website to stay up to date on this year's dates.*
- August 3: Free Admission for Colorado Day.
- Friday after Thanksgiving: Free admission for Fresh Air Friday.
- Check Out State Parks Program: Libraries across the state offer "Check Out State Parks" passes, which each come with a backpack filled with binoculars, brochures, and other educational materials. You can use it to enter any Colorado State Park for up to seven days; it only offers free admission. Fees for other activities still are required.
“Hike or bike the multi-use trails, find wildlife in their natural surroundings, visit a nature center or bring a picnic. With a license or camping reservation, you can try fishing or camp out overnight,” said CPW about the library program.
What do you think? Will you be visiting any of Colorado's state parks this year? Let us know in the comments below.
