Celebrate National Public Lands Day
Here in the US, our public lands are playgrounds for hikers, campers, climbers, and outdoor lovers of all types. These valuable spaces ensure nature lovers have room to play and explore.
This year, we’re celebrating National Public Lands Day with the National Park Service on September 27. This special day is one of the nation’s biggest outdoor volunteer opportunities for urban and rural areas, as well as a free-entry day to national parks across the country.
How to Celebrate National Public Lands Day
Whether you’re a hardcore hiker or a casual camper, there are plenty of ways to join in the National Public Lands Day celebration. We’ve collected a few simple resources to help you plan your day.
Volunteer
According to the National Park Service’s website, National Public Lands Day is one of the nation’s largest single-day volunteer efforts, boasting events with over 7,600 volunteers and 41,500 hours of service.
Originally organized by National Parks Service, NEEF (National Environmental Education Foundation), and other federal agencies, National Public Lands Day has sparked volunteer efforts across the country.
Whether you’re near a sprawling national park or urban green spaces, you can find local efforts in your backyard.
Find Volunteer Opportunities Near You
Visit a National Park for Free
In celebration of National Public Lands Day, the National Park Service is offering free entry to all national parks on September 27. If you live within driving distance of a national park, this is a fantastic opportunity to visit! The good news is the NPS offers several free days every year. After September, Veteran’s Day on November 11 will also be a free entry day.
Click here to see the free-entrance day calendar.
If you don’t live within driving distance of a national park, BLM (Bureau of Land Management) areas are also public lands open to recreation, camping, hiking, biking, boating, climbing, and more.
Learn and Share
The National Park Service has tons of resources to help you plan future trips, learn about public lands history, or share your own past adventures online.
Spend some time learning about the Leave No Trace movement for your next hike or read a little about the #RecreateResponsibly movement. You can also tag the National Park Service, NEEF, or LOWA Boots on Instagram and share a story or pictures from your last public lands experience using the tag #NLPD.
The more we care for, share, and enjoy our public lands, the longer they’ll be around for future generations. We hope you get a chance to get outside and enjoy these beautiful natural places on Saturday, September 27 as a volunteer or doing your favorite outdoor activity.