OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — While RainFest offers activities in the town of Forks, parks beckon out of town — and are made even more attractive by free entry.
Olympic National Park will waive entry fees for a week beginning Saturday in recognition of National Park Week.
Junior Ranger Day will kick off the week with free activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 3002 Mount Angeles Road in Port Angeles.
Children must be accompanied by adults.
Participants in the year-round Junior Ranger program can complete activity booklets, attend ranger programs and explore park nature trails to earn Junior Ranger badges and certificates.
They can participate in the Ocean Stewards program and complete hands-on activity booklets to earn Ocean Stewards patches.
Saturday’s Junior Ranger Day activities will include ranger-guided walks, craft projects and outdoor games.
Microscopes inside the center will offer children up-close looks at insects while the Children’s Discovery Room will be open for play.
Children can explore a mock wilderness campsite as well as search and rescue equipment and emergency service vehicles.
Volunteers with the Back Country Horsemen of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula Chapter will bring their animals and offer demonstrations throughout the day.
“Sanctuary Sam” from the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary will welcome children to a simulated tidepool where they can learn more about how the park and sanctuary work together to protect the North Olympic Peninsula’s Pacific coast.
Fee-free days
The entry fee will be waived at all national park entrances through April 24.
Entry to the park is usually $25 per vehicle for a seven-day pass. An annual pass is available for $50.
A lifetime senior pass is available for $10 for park users 62 and older, and an active-duty military member or dependent pass is available for free.
On fee-free days, other park fees, including wilderness camping and campground fees, will remain in effect.
Other national park free days for the year will be:
■ Aug. 25-28, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.
■ Sept. 24 for National Public Lands Day.
■ Nov. 11 for Veterans Day.
State parks
Next Friday, April 22, entry into state parks will be free.
In honor of Earth Day, state park visitors will not need to display Discover Passes for day-use visits.
State parks on the North Olympic 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 recreation lands managed by State Parks, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the state Department of Natural Resources.
The free days apply only at state parks found at www.parks.wa.gov; the Discover Pass is still required on Fish and Wildlife and DNR lands.
Free days apply only to day use, not to overnight stays or facilities.
The remaining 2016 State Parks free days are as follows:
■ May 8: A springtime free Sunday.
■ June 4: National Trails Day.
■ June 11: National Get Outdoors Day.
■ Aug. 25: National Park Service 100th birthday.
■ Sept. 24: National Public Lands Day.
■ Nov. 11: Veterans Day.
For more information about National Park Week, see http://tinyurl.com/PDN-nationalparkweek.
For more on Olympic’s Junior Ranger Day, see http://tinyurl.com/PDN-juniorranger or call 360-565-3146.
More information about the Discover Pass is at www.discoverpass.wa.gov, and more information about state parks is at www.washingtonstateparks.us.
