In honor of National Public Lands Day, Colorado National Monument is offering free entrance to all visitors on Sept. 29, 2012. The 19th annual fee free day event encourages everyone to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Allentrance fees, including commercial tour entrance fees and transportation entrance fees will be waived for the day. Normally, a seven-day pass to Colorado National Monument is $10 for a private, non-commercial vehicle.
"National Public Lands Day reminds all of us of the vast and diverse nature of America's open spaces, from small neighborhood parks to large national parks, and the importance of each one," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "We are fortunate that more than 600 million acres of public land, including national parks, provide all of us with cherished places where we can go to unwind, recreate, or learn."
Over fifty local community members will lend a helping hand and spend National Public Lands Day volunteering on a variety of work projects in Colorado National Monument.
During the fee-free day, Colorado National Monument will also offer several ranger-led programs throughout the day:
9:00 a.m. Rock and Stroll
Take a stroll with a ranger along the Canyon Rim Trail or the Alcove Nature Trail. Topics range from plants and geology to wildlife and history. Meet at Visitor Center. Bring water and wear sturdy walking shoes. About 1 hour. 1-mile roundtrip.
11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Ranger's Choice
Join a Ranger on the back patio of the visitor center! Talks will include everything from wildlife to geology and history. 20 minutes. Visitor Center back porch
1 p.m. Monumental People
Explore the history of the people and places that put Colorado National Monument on the map! 20 minutes. Visitor Center back porch
3 p.m. Why So Dry?
Join climate specialist Joe Ramey from NOAA for a presentation about the climate history of this region and also a look at upcoming winter and spring. 60 minutes. Visitor Center Auditorium
6:30 p.m. Rangers of the Lost Dark
Are you afraid of the dark? After this program you may be more afraid of the light! Explore what National Parks are doing to protect dark skies. Meet at the Book Cliffs View overlook, near the Saddlehorn Campground. 45 minutes. Bring a flashlight.
During the fee-free day, visitors can also take advantage of a 10% discount on all items in the Colorado National Monument Association bookstore located at the Visitor Center.
To learn more about fee-free days in all 397 national park units around the country, go to https://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
