OLYMPIA — Visits to state and federal parks will be free Monday.
Entrance fees will be waived for Olympic National Park, and a Discover Pass will not be needed to visit state parks that day in honor of the 98th anniversary of the establishment of the National Park Service, which was established Aug. 25, 1916.
The national park will waive its usual $15 entrance fee, while day-use visitors will not need a Discover Pass to visit state parks.
“Birthdays are a time to celebrate, and we invite our neighbors and visitors to join the party,” said Sarah Creachbaum, Olympic National Park superintendent.
“National parks belong to all Americans and offer something for everyone, so we welcome people to visit Olympic and enjoy its many facets, from its mountain scenery, to a walk through the rain forest or simply watching the waves from a Pacific Ocean beach.”
Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties will remain in effect in the national park.
An annual pass to the national park costs $30 and is good at any entrance station for one year from the month of purchase.
State parks
State parks on the Peninsula are Bogachiel near Forks, Dosewallips near Brinnon, Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island, Fort Townsend and Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Anderson Lake State Park near Chimacum and Sequim Bay near Sequim.
The Discover Pass is a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on lands managed by State Parks and the state departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife.
The Discover Pass still will be required to access lands managed by DNR and Fish and Wildlife.
Free days apply only to day use, not overnight stays or rented facilities.
Federal and state parks will have two more free days this year: Sept. 27, in recognition of National Public Lands Day, and Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day.
For more information about Olympic National Park, visit nps.gov/olym.
For more on state parks, visit www.parks.wa.gov. The Discover Pass website is discoverpass.wa.gov.
