MLK Day marks year’s first fee-free day for National Park Service sites

SALT LAKE CITY — Entrance fees at all National Park Service sites will be waived Monday in honor of the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.

Monday is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities, and the NPS says many parks traditionally host a variety of service projects that people can sign up for as volunteers.

The entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation or special tours, officials said.

Outside of Utah’s “Mighty 5” parks, the Beehive State is home to several national monuments and historic trails, a national historic park (Golden Spike) and a national recreation area (Glenn Canyon).

Additional NPS fee-free days

• April 16: First day of National Park Week
• Aug. 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
• Sept. 24: National Public Lands Day
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day

Permits needed at some parks this summer

NPS officials previously announced permits will be needed at two of Utah’s most popular parks this summer.

Those wanting to hike Angels Landing at Zion National Park between April 1 and May 31 have to apply for a permit by 11:59 p.m. Thursday.

Signing up for the lottery will cost $6 and hikers who actually get a permit will pay an additional $3 fee. 

Today is the day! If you’re planning to hike to Angels Landing between April 1 and May 31, apply to our Seasonal Lottery for a permit. You can apply any time before 11:59p.m. MT on January 20. https://t.co/WejDXBUiqA

— Zion National Park (@ZionNPS) January 3, 2022

 

If hikers do not get a permit in the seasonal lottery, they can apply again in a different lottery the day before their planned hike.

From April 3 to Oct. 3, Arches National Park will implement a temporary timed-entry system.

Ticketed entry will run from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

See more about Arches’ pilot program here.