US Forest Service adds new fee-free day for National Trails Day

article

Aspen trees in fall color along the Monroe Canyon Road on the Sevier Plateau in the Fish Lake National Forest near Monroe, Utah. (Photo by: Jon G. Fuller/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The U.S. Forest Service wants everyone to hit the trails and it’s offering them another chance to do so for free. The agency added National Trails Day to the list of fee-free days at its national forests and grasslands.

What they're saying:

"We hope families and friends can come together and celebrate this special day and reconnect with our nation’s spirit in this positive setting and learn more about our amazing forest landscapes," Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in the Forest Service’s announcement.

When is the fee-free day?

Big picture view:

National Trails Day is set for Saturday, June 6, and will allow people to use all standard amenity recreation sites at national forests and grasslands at no cost, the Forest Service explained in its announcement. A list of all fee-free days is available here. 

What they're saying:

"We hope those who love Forest Service trails will join us at the trailhead on June 6, whether it’s volunteering to build new trails, pick up trash near a trailhead, participating in a nature walk, or taking advantage of the fee-free day benefits," Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz explained.

He added that last year’s event brought Forest Service trail managers, partners, and thousands of volunteers together at 80 events to help maintain 173 miles of trails.

What is National Trails Day?

The backstory:

Created in 1993 by the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day is held every year on the first Saturday of June, and it is not limited to just the national forests and grasslands. All across the country, hikers will gather together for the day of activism and trail service.

What you can do:

The Forest Service encourages people to find a local National Trails Day event at this website and asks them to consider hosting one if there are none already nearby. Also, people can take the #NationalTrailsDay Pledge to commit to leaving trails in better condition than they are.

Dig deeper:

The Forest Service’s trail system extends more than 165,000 miles and is the largest public trail system in the country. There are trailheads in nearly every state in the union, offering people chances to hike, bike, go horseback riding, snowshoe, ride their ATV or snowmobile, and more.