The San Bernardino National Forest Service is waiving fees on Saturday, September 24. No Adventure Pass is required for use of High Impact Recreation Areas or day-use sites in recognition of National Public Lands Day.
The Forest Service has more than 60 project sites for initiatives across the country participating in this hands-on, national volunteer effort to improve America’s lands. Local Forest Service activities may range from building and maintaining trails, cleaning waterways, pulling invasive weeds to sprucing up campgrounds.
“Public Lands Day provides a great opportunity for people from all walks of life to get out and enjoy our beautiful forests and grasslands,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “In many parts of the country, late September is the perfect time to view amazing fall colors as you get out and enjoy the woods.”
The annual National Public Lands Day coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation with the support of the Forest Service and other federal agencies, focuses on educating the public about the importance of natural resources and the need for shared stewardship on the land.
Local activities on the San Bernardino National Forest and Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument include:
Cactus Flats Staging Area near Big Bear - Plant trees at the Cactus Flats Staging Area
Parry Pinyon Pines near Garner Valley - Water already planted pinyon pine seedlings, plant new seedlings and remove vegetation away from already established trees.
Lake Hemet Picnic Area near Garner Valley - Remove trash and debris from the perimeter of this popular lake in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Lytle Creek clean-up - Clean up trash and graffiti. Remove debris from the stream beds.
Art Smith Trail in the Coachella Valley - Reclaim the old Art Smith Trail through vertical mulching and rock work to restore the native landscape. Volunteers will also assist with trail maintenance and marking the new, existing Art Smith Trail with signs
La Quinta Cove in the Coachella Valley - Remove garbage and other refuse in cove. Meet at the East Cove Trailhead parking lot at 8am.
Visit http://www.publiclandsday.org/ for more information on each event.
The “Free Day” policy was established as part of the Adventure Pass program in 1998 allowing three free days per year. In addition to National Public Lands Day, the four Southern California national forests also recognize National Trails Day on the first Saturday of June and Veterans Day on November 11.
Other fees, such as those in campgrounds, reservation, and group sites, are still required. Visitors who accidentally use their daily Adventure Pass on a fee-free day may have it replaced free-of-charge. For additional information about fee-free days and the recreation fee program on southern California national forests, visit the Adventure Pass website at: www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/ap/
