Visit Chiricahua National Monument for Free During Veterans Day Weekend

Date: November 6, 2013
Contact: Chiricahua National Monument Visitor Center, 520-824-3560, ext. 0

Chiricahua National Monument – along with all 401 units of the national park system – will waive entrance fees for all visitors during the upcoming Veterans Day weekend (November 9-11) in appreciation of the service and sacrifice of both active and retired military personnel. From frontier forts to World War II battlefields, more than 70 national park units have direct connections to the military.  In highlighting the significance of Veterans Day weekend across America, NPS Director Jonathan B. Jarvis stated, "We are grateful for the service and sacrifice of military members, past and present, and honored to tell their story at many of our national park areas."

While visiting Chiricahua National Monument (NM), active duty personnel are encouraged to pick up the America the Beautiful Military Pass at no charge (an $80 value) for use throughout the year at any national park, wildlife refuge or other federal recreation site that charges an entrance fee; this pass allows access to more than 2,000 federal areas. Military members must show a current, valid military identification card to obtain their pass. Dependents of active duty personnel are also eligible for this pass. For information about this special military pass, visit www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm.

Western National Parks Association (WNPA), a non-profit park partner that operates the store in the Chiricahua NM visitor center, will help celebrate this special event by offering a 15% discount on all items over the three day weekend. In Cochise County, there are two other National Park Service sites, Coronado National Memorial and Fort Bowie National Historic Site, which never charge entrance fees. The 15% discount will be offered in the WNPA stores at the visitor centers over the long weekend in both of these parks as well.

The fee waiver applies to entrance fees only and does not include fees for camping. Chiricahua NM includes the 25-site Bonita Canyon Campground; campsites are $12/night and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Veterans Day weekend is the last of the National Park Service free entrance opportunities for 2013.

For more information about planning a trip to the NPS sites in Cochise County, visit www.nps.gov/chir,  www.nps.gov/coro, or www.nps.gov/fobo.