Over 400 National Parks Waive Entrance Fee for Upcoming Holiday

The Alcatraz Island visitor tram is seen in the file photo. Courtesy of the National Park Service

In honor of the kickoff of National Park Week, entrance at more than 400 parks across the nation will be free April 22.

The week ends April 30 and will include events and activities, according to the National Park Service.

As one of the most biodiverse states in the country, the state is among the primary spots for visitors to experience the rich views and vibrant plant and animal life many such parks have to offer.

Boasting nine national parks total—more than any other state—each has something unique to offer. Yosemite has fantastic hiking, waterfalls, and granite monoliths. Death Valley is the biggest and the hottest, while Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park contain some of the world’s largest trees.

General Sherman is seen in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, Calif., on Jan. 1, 2023. Sophie Li/The Epoch Times

With its majestic waterfalls, giant sequoias, massive granite cliffs, and more, some can spend weeks traversing Sequoia. And thanks to its affordable public transportation system, visitors can meander the park car-free.

At Channel Islands National Park located off the Southern California coast, visitors can dive into some of the parks’ mystic sea caves, and marvel at seals and nesting seabirds.

Alcatraz Island—located off the San Francisco coast—provides an inside look at one of the state’s most infamous prisons, which housed some of the country’s most notorious bad guys including Al Capone.

Visitors can take a 20-minute ferry to the island and explore the abandoned prison, which also covers admission to the island, an optional ranger-led tour, and a 40-minute self-guided tour of the cell house with an audio headset.

The Alcatraz Island citadel. Courtesy of the National Park Service

The narrated program, “Doing Time,” weaves together voices of actual inmates and prison guards with actors’ reenactments, making the prison’s empty walls come to life with tales of food riots, solitary confinement, and escape attempts.

For caves, condors, and camping, Pinnacles National Park—located east of the Salinas Valley—is ideal for those seeking natural wonder off the beaten path. The endangered California condor is the park’s signature bird, and with its nine-foot wingspan and bald head, is a sight to behold.

For a full list of upcoming activities at California parks, visit the park’s social media listings.