Entry to Colorado’s national parks and monuments will be free on Tuesday to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service.
Originally created on Aug. 25, 1916, the National Park Service’s purpose is to “preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.”
Colorado is home to four national parks — Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes and Black Canyon of the Gunnison — and an additional 13 national monuments, trails and historic sites that are overseen by the National Park Service. All of those will be accessible for free this week. (If you want to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, however, you still need a timed reservation.)
The National Park Service’s birthday celebration is part of a bigger National Park Week, which includes themed days through Sunday, such as Watch Wildlife Wednesday and Freedom Friday.
Read more PHOTOS: Denver Public Schools welcomes back students for 2026-27 school year
Can’t make it this week? Entry to these sites will also be free on Sept. 17 in honor of Constitution Day, Oct. 27 in honor of Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, and Nov. 11 for Veteran’s Day.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Adventurist, to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox.
Read more Thornton youth pastor gets 13 years to life in prison for child sex assault
Read more Casa Juani’s funky cheesecake helped this Boulder spot make best new restaurants in America list
