FREE ENTRANCE AT ALL NATIONAL PARKS
National Parks Service sites waive entrance fees on January 16, 2023, in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.! This is the first fee-free day of all National Park Services where hundreds of volunteers participate in service projects at parks across the country.
Find volunteer opportunities inspired by a day of service or attend a ranger program to learn more about the history of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the pursuit of civil rights in America.
If heading to a national park, please remember to recreate responsibly and check the park’s website for hours of operations and other trip planning information.
Los Angeles Area National Parks Include:
Santa Monica Mountains
Thousand Oaks- Driving Time: 1/2 hour
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultural sites, from old movie ranches to Native American centers. What will you and your family discover?
Joshua Tree
Twentynine Palms- Driving Time: 2.5 hours
Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. Come explore for yourself.
Channel Islands
Ventura- Driving Time: 1 hour + boat travel time
Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.
Death Valley
Death Valley- Driving Time: 4.5 hours
In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbor tiny fish and refuge for wildlife and humans. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life survives in Death Valley.
Devils Postpile
The Sierra Nevada near Mammoth Lakes- Driving Time: 5.5 hours
Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery. The formation is a rare sight in the geologic world and ranks as one of the world’s finest examples of columnar basalt. Its’ columns tower up to 60 feet and display a striking symmetry.
Mojave
Southern California between I-15 and I-40- Driving Time: 4 hours
Singing sand dunes, cinder cone volcanoes, a large Joshua tree forest, and carpets of spring wildflowers are all found within this 1.6-million-acre park. A visit to its canyons, mountains, and mesas will reveal long-abandoned mines, homesteads, and rock-walled military outposts. Located between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Mojave provides serenity and solitude from major metropolitan areas.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon
The Sierra Nevada- in Tulare and Fresno counties- Driving Time: 4.5 hours
Huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees exemplify the diversity of landscapes, life, and beauty here. Explore these pages to learn about the plants and animals here and the threats they face. Our ancient giant sequoias may seem invincible, but they, too are vulnerable.
Yosemite
The Sierra Nevada- Driving Time: 4.5 hours
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.
Recreate Responsibly
National parks across the country provide endless opportunities for recreational activities for everyone from the casual sightseer to the experienced adventurer. With your help, we can enjoy these special places while preserving them for future generations to enjoy.
Protecting You: More than 300 million people visit national parks each year, as well as the communities living in or around them.
Protecting Us: Tens of thousands of NPS employees, plus volunteers, partners, and others provide services for the safety and enjoyment of parks, including emergency assistance, facilities such as restrooms and visitor centers, transportation, and sales.
Protecting America’s Treasures: National parks are home to some of the nation’s most treasured and irreplaceable resources, including wildlife, scenery, and historic places.
Tips to Recreate Responsibly in National Parks
Whether seeking wide-open spaces or exploring a historic urban neighborhood, remember to #RecreateResponsibly! We encourage you to follow the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and follow Leave No Trace principles when you visit.
- Know before you go. Check the status of the place you want to visit for closures, fire restrictions, and weather.
- Plan and prepare. Reservations and permits may be required. Make sure you have the gear you need and a backup plan.
- Build an inclusive outdoors. Be an active part of making the outdoors safe and welcoming for all identities and abilities.
- Respect others. There is space for everyone and countless outdoor activities. Be kind to all who use the outdoors and nature differently.
- Leave no trace. Respect the land, water, wildlife, and Native communities. Follow the seven Leave No Trace principles.
- Make it better. We all have a responsibility to sustain the places we love.
Social Media (#RecreateResponsibly)
Stay connected with parks, programs, and partners on social media for up-to-date safety guidance and tips on how to #RecreateResponsibly. Do your part on social media! Use #RecreateResponsibly in your posts to show us how you enjoy public lands in a safe and responsible way and can inspire others to practice these principles.
For additional information, visit the website @
https://www.nps.gov/index.htm
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