Heads up, there’s a Free Entrance Day at all National Parks next week

Have you been itching to get outdoors? You’re in luck because next Monday, January 17th is a Free Entrance Day at all National Parks. Whether you’re looking for winter hiking or want to take your pup to hit the trails there are several options. Let’s get into some details.

Why January 17th? Well, the 17th happens to be Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday. King not only was an important leader in the American civil rights movement, but he’s also the namesake of Seattle’s King County. Technically, the county was renamed in 2005 as it was originally named in 1852, but these days it is widely known and regarded that King County is named after King.

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There are only five of these days each year so it’s worth planning ahead especially because you can visit parks nationwide.

Keep in mind though, the only fees waved are daily entrance fees so it does not apply to camping or overnight stays. With that in mind, it’s a great opportunity to take a day trip and check out a park in a neighboring state like Oregon or Idaho.

If you decide to stay in Washington, you can check out parks like Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and North Cascades National Park. More details can be found here and if you do decide to go out, be sure to have adequate gear and prepare for unexpected weather.