Death Valley to offer free admission Saturday

Death Valley National Park will offer free entrance on Saturday, Sept. 26, for National Public Lands Day.

The 22nd annual event urges everyone to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors, wherever they may be.

The free entrance into Death Valley is part of several local events in communities nationwide that will be available for the public to participate in.

"National Public Lands Day reminds all of us of the vast and diverse nature of America's open spaces, from small neighborhood parks to large national parks, and the importance of each one," said Jonathan B. Jarvis, National Park Service director. "We are fortunate that more than 600 million acres of public land, including national parks, provide all of us with cherished places where we can go to unwind, recreate, or learn."

The National Park Service will offer free entrance to all national parks on Sept. 26 in addition to other organizations offering no-cost offers.

Other federal agencies offering free admittance on Sept. 26 include the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Those planning on utilizing the offer are reminded that only entrance fees will be waived. Camping fees and expanded amenity fees, such as specialized tour tickets, will still apply.

Park staff reminds people spending sustained periods of time outdoors to drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen. This information is especially important in areas like Death Valley that reach extreme temperatures. The forecast high for Death Valley on Saturday is 112 degrees.

To make your visit more comfortable the park service said that mornings are cooler in Death Valley and high elevations offer relief from higher afternoon temperatures. For more information about Death Valley National Park, visit www.nps.gov/deva and for more information about National Public Lands Day, visit http://www.publiclandsday.org/.

Follow reporter Mick Akers on Twitter: @mickakers