News Release

Mesa Verde to Offer Free Admission for Five Days in 2020

Date: November 14, 2019
Contact: Cristy Brown, 970-529-4608

The National Park Service has announced the fee free days for 2020. On these days, the public is invited to experience all national park units, including Mesa Verde National Park, without entrance fees.
 
The five entrance fee-free days for 2019 will be: 

•Monday, January 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
•Saturday, April 18 – First day of National Park Week/National Junior Ranger Day
•Tuesday, August 25 – National Park Service Birthday
•Saturday, September 26 – National Public Lands Day
•Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans Day
 
"We truly enjoy the opportunity to offer free admission to Mesa Verde, providing visitors a place to enjoy the benefits of nature” said Superintendent Cliff Spencer. “From hiking trails to the many panoramic scenic views, the park offers visitors the opportunity to relax, disconnect from the stresses of the world, and reconnect with the natural environment.”
 
The entrance fee waiver does not cover camping or tours.
 
Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to 1300. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.
 
Since their inception almost 150 years ago, national parks have protected resources and provided places for public health and enjoyment. With at least one site in every state, the National Park Service’s 419 parks, recreation areas, cultural sites, rivers, and trails are accessible destinations that supply benefits for overall physical and mental wellbeing. Time spent in nature reduces stress and blood pressure and often leads to lifestyle choices that include more exercise and better nutrition. Paddling, bicycling, walking, fishing, star gazing, and camping are just some of the many memorable and healthful recreational activities available in national parks. 
 
Out of the 419 National Park Service sites, 110 charge an entrance fee, with costs ranging from $5 to $35. The other 309 national parks do not have entrance fees.  The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks. There are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current members of the military, families of fourth grade students, and disabled citizens.

 

-NPS-