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Contact: Emily Davis, 928-638-7609
Grand Canyon, Ariz. –Celebrate National Public Lands Day with free entrance to Grand Canyon National Park Saturday, September 24. National Public Lands Day promotes enjoyment and stewardship of our nation's public lands. As part of the festivities, visitors can participate in an inaugural ride on the Greenway Trail or attend a lively story-filled evening program. September 24 is also Bike Your Park Day and Grand Canyon will have a ceremonial bike ride on a newly completed section of the Greenway Trail. The Greenway Trail connects the Town of Tusayan to Grand Canyon National Park and promotes healthy activity and increased access to the South Rim by non-motorized means. The cycling fun begins at 9:15 am at the Greenway Trailhead parking lot at the north roundabout in Tusayan. Visitors and residents are welcome to join staff and volunteers from NPS, Bright Angel Bikes, and the Town of Tusayan for pastries and coffee. The ribbon-cutting ceremony begins at 9:30 am and will conclude with an inaugural ride at 10:05 am. Anyone who wants to pedal, walk, or run on the newest of Grand Canyon's trails is welcome to join in on the fun! Bright Angel Bikes will have bikes and helmets available for 8 to 10 otherwise bike-less participants and will assist cyclists on a ride to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center Plaza, about a 6.5 mile ride. Once rested up from a tiring day in the saddle, spend your evening with the Arizona Storytellers Project. At 7:30 pm in the Shrine of the Ages auditorium, the Arizona Storytellers Project will feature four different tales of outdoor adventures. Well known in the Phoenix area, the Arizona Storytellers Project features true, first-person stories. The event is free and open to the public. Information about biking, ranger programs, and other events and activities for the weekend can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/things2do.htm The fee-free designation does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours, or use of concessions. Park entrance stations will have Interagency Senior and Annual Passes available for those who wish to purchase them. Those who plan to spend time in the park beyond September 24 will need to pay the regular entrance fee for the remainder of their stay. Veterans Day, November 11, will be the last fee-free day of the National Park Service's Centennial year. For additional information about NPS fee-free days, visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm. -NPS- |
Last updated: September 15, 2016