National Parks 2012 admission free dates

[Iceaxe]

To encourage Americans to explore America's natural beauty, rich history and culture, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the National Park Service will waive admission fees on 17 days in 2012.

Salazar emphasized that our national parks and public lands serve as an economic engine for many local communities, supports jobs and driving tourism. Recreation in national parks, refuges, and other public lands fueled nearly $55 billion in economic activity and supported 440,000 jobs in 2009. The fee free dates for 2012 are:

* January 14 to 16 (Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend)

* April 21 to 29 (National Park Week)

* June 9 (Get Outdoors Day)

* September 29 (National Public Lands Day)

* November 10 to 12 (Veterans Day weekend).

[zzyzx]

THX, for this good news.

[Dr. Nebz]

Thanks for the heads up. I wont be making any NP trips on those dates. Crowds are gonna suck.

[Iceaxe]

Thanks for the heads up. I wont be making any NP trips on those dates. Crowds are gonna suck.

I've been on the free days several times in both Arches and Zion and never noticed any difference in the crowds. I wouldn't let the worry about larger crowds deter you.

[Dr. Nebz]

Oh we went to arches a few years back on free access day. Holy shiz, it was packed. We went elsewhere because the parking was redonkulous.

[jman]

Oh we went to arches a few years back on free access day. Holy shiz, it was packed. We went elsewhere because the parking was redonkulous.

I went to Zion in August on a free day and it seemed like normal to me. Go figure?

[Candace66]

I don't know how much effect these free days might have on the Utah NP's, but they sure had an effect on Yosemite!!