The Journal

Mesa Verde National Park will offer free admittance on Friday, Aug. 25, in celebration of the 101st birthday of the National Park Service, according to a news release from the park.

The park also plans to waive admission fees on Saturday, Sept. 30, for Public Lands Day. Sept. 30 also celebrates the second annual Bike Your Park Day.

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands. Seven federal agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations and state, regional, and local governments participate in the annual day of improving the health of public lands and encouraging shared stewardship through volunteer service. Other federal agencies waiving fees on Sept. 30 include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service.

Wetherill Mesa offers bicycling on the 5-mile Long House Loop paved trail, but because of safety concerns, does not allow bicycling on the road to Wetherill Mesa. Regulations are posted at www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm.

The final fee-free days for 2017 are Nov. 11-12 in commemoration of Veterans Day weekend. The park recommends discovering the self-guided aspects of Mesa Verde, including the driving loops, hiking trails and the Far View Sites.

For a full list of free days, go to http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

For more information about Mesa Verde, visit: www.nps.gov/meve