Celebrating Founders Day in Sierra National Parks. If you are lucky enough to visit a National Park today in the Sierra here are the things you might want to know.
It was a year ago that Sierra Rec Traveled to Yosemite to hike into Cathedral Lakes, Our favorite Hike of 2014.
Enjoy your day at the parks.
Yosemite
Park Entrance Fees Waived and Special Events on 99th Birthday of the NPS
Yosemite National park will celebrate Founders’ Day on Tuesday, August 25, 2015, the 99th birthday of the National Park Service (NPS). In commemoration of this special day, entrance fees will be waived and the park will conduct special events throughout the day.
In partnership with REI, a premier sponsor of the “Find Your Park” NPS Centennial campaign, an interactive “village” will be set up in front of the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. The REI Village will create a camping lounge where visitors can learn about the Centennial through interactive maps of national parks, camping games, historical camping artifacts, and an Instagram station. The village will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and all of the activities are free to park visitors.
The special guest for the day will be Conrad Anker, world-renowned mountaineer, explorer, and Yosemite Centennial Ambassador. Conrad will be joining NPS and REI staff to interact with park visitors from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the REI Village. During this time, visitors are encouraged to participate in an “InstaMeet” to post photos with Conrad and Park Rangers. Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher will provide brief remarks at noon.
The special commemoration this year is leading up to the National Park Service Centennial on August 25, 2016. President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill to create the National Park Service on August 25, 1916. A large component of the campaign includes the “Find Your Park” campaign encouraging people to find the nearest national park unit to where they live and explore and enjoy our nation’s national parks. Please visit www.FindYourPark.com to learn more about the upcoming Centennial and how you can get involved.
Late summer is a wonderful time to visit Yosemite National Park,” stated Don Neubacher, Superintendent. “We hope you will join us for our celebration and Find Your Park in Yosemite.”
Fees being waived for Founders’ Day include the park entrance only. All other fees associated with camping, lodging, or activities within the park are not waived. The fee waiver is good for Tuesday, August 25, Founders’ Day, only.
For more information, and to plan your trip, visit www.nps.gov/yose.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon
And as we celebrate National Parks today a reminder that one of our parks is under attack from this years fire season. The Rough Fire, now over 50,000 acres and still burning has had its effects on the National Parks access. This from Sequoia and Kings Canyon this week.
SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, CA – The Grant Grove and Wilsonia areas of Kings Canyon National Park will reopen in stages over the next two days starting on Monday, August 24, 2015.
– On Monday, August 24, at 12 noon, the General Grant Tree, Panoramic Point, park trails, John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins, restaurant, market, and gift shop will be open.
– On Tuesday, August 25, at 8 a.m., the Kings Canyon Visitor Center will reopen.
– On Tuesday, August 25, at 12 noon, Azalea Campground will open. However, since the air quality in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks can be very unhealthy to hazardous at this time due to smoke from the Rough Fire, it is suggested that people who wish to camp do so in hard-sided vehicles, such as RVs, vans, etc. Currently, air quality in the parks is the worst from 12 midnight to 10 a.m.
For more info about Sequoia National Park, call 559-565-3341 or visit www.nps.gov/seki.
For more info about the Rough Fire, call 559-332-2028 or visit http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4456.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen National Park had no news for todays park celebrations. but here is todays view from