Mesa Verde National Park will offer free admittance on Saturday, Sept. 24, for National Public Lands Day.
Saturday also celebrates the first ever Bike Your Park Day, intended to help the public discover new parks or see their favorites in a new way.
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands. Seven federal agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations and state, regional, and local governments participate in the annual day of improving the health of public lands and encouraging shared stewardship through volunteer service.
Other federal agencies waiving fees on Sept. 24 include the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Wetherill Mesa offers easy rides on the 5-mile Long House Loop paved trail, but because of safety concerns, bicycle riding is not allowed on the road to Wetherill Mesa.
Bicyclists should visit the park’s website to ensure they are familiar with the bicycle regulations at www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/gettingaround.
The National Park Service will also waive entrance fees on Nov. 11 in commemoration of Veterans Day. For a full list of fee free days, go to http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.