This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Long-term vacation planners might want to consider upcoming "fee-free" days.
Federal land agencies released a list of upcoming free entry days Monday. The 2015 fee-free days for the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mean visitors do not have to pay entrance fees to enjoy areas traditionally associated with a payment.
Affected federal lands include national parks, wildlife refuges and recreation areas such as Flaming Gorge, Mirror Lake and American Fork Canyon.
Many lands are open to public use without any fee every day, and the entry fee at national parks is the largest benefit from the program.
"Every day is a great day in a national park, and these entrance fee-free days offer an extra incentive to visit one of these amazing places," National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said in a news release. "As we prepare to celebrate the National Park Service's centennial in 2016, we are inviting all Americans to discover the beauty and history that lives in our national parks."
Entrance fees are waived, but others, including camping, boat launching and transportation fees, still will be charged Jan. 19, Feb. 14-16, April 18-19, Aug. 25, Sept. 26 and Nov. 11.
The National Park Service says 133 of the 401 parks across the nation have entrance fees ranging from $3 to $25.
U.S. Forest Service officials say no fees are required on 98 percent of national forests and grasslands in Utah, but those that do require entry will be free on five days in 2015 — Jan. 19, Feb. 16, June 13, Sept. 26 and Nov. 11.
"These fee-free days are our way of thanking our millions of visitors, but also to encourage more people to visit these great public lands," U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said in a release. "These lands belong to all Americans, and we encourage everyone to open the door to the great outdoors."
The Bureau of Land Management also rarely charges people to visits lands it manages, but any day-use fees will be waived four times in 2015 — Jan. 19, Feb. 14-16, Sept. 26 and Nov. 11.
"We want everyone to enjoy the incredible recreation opportunities available on BLM-managed public lands," BLM Director Neil Kornze said in a release. "Waiving fees is also a way of reaching out to those of you who may not yet know that we offer more recreational opportunities than any other land management agency — from hunting and fishing to mountain biking and hiking."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also participates in the free entry days, although many refuges do not require an entrance fee. The Fish and Wildlife Service is opening the gates on the following dates: Jan. 19, Feb. 14-16, Sept. 26, Oct. 11 and Nov. 11.
Twitter: @BrettPrettyman —
Fee-free days in 2015
Jan. 19 • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb. 14-16 • Presidents Day weekend
April 18-19 • National Park Week's opening weekend
Aug. 25 • National Park Service's 99th birthday
Sept. 26 • National Public Lands Day
Nov. 11 • Veterans Day
Forest Service
Jan. 19
Feb. 16
June 13 • National Get Outdoors Day
Sept. 26
Nov. 11
Jan. 19
Feb. 14-16
Sept. 26
Nov. 11
Jan. 19
February 14-16
Sept. 26
Oct. 11 • First Sunday of National Wildlife Refuge Week
Nov. 11