To commemorate the anniversary of the signage of the Great American Outdoors Act, the National Park Service is offering free admission to its parks on August 4.
According to a report, five times throughout this year, national parks will offer free entry to anyone who wants to experience the great outdoors.
Earlier this year, parks opened their doors to the public during Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and National Park Week.
The third date this year will be on Thursday, in celebration of the anniversary of the signage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).
Signed in 2020, which authorized additional funding for the maintenance of national parks and established August 4 as an annual entrance fee-free day called Great American Outdoors Day.
As per its website, the Great American Outdoors Act gave the USDA Forest Service new opportunities to deliver benefits to the American public through major investments in recreation infrastructure, public lands access, and land and water conservation.
GAOA provides permanent full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) that will advance the Administration’s 30 x 30 conservation goals and establishes a new National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) to address the deferred maintenance backlog for the Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior in fiscal years 21-25.
A lot of national parks are free to enter throughout the year. However, other parks require an entrance fee. Those parks will admit guests for free on August 4 to enjoy hiking, stargazing, biking, and more.
While admission fees are waived, tours, transportation, and overnight camping fees remain in place.
This story originally appeared on Thrillist.
Ready for an exciting adventure this Thursday? The National Park Service is celebrating the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act by offering complimentary admission. It’s a wonderful opportunity to explore breathtaking landscapes and learn about conservation efforts. Don’t let it pass!