Free national park entry on Great American Outdoors Day: What to know in Northern Michigan

最新の投稿 · August 2

Michigan nature lovers can visit one of the state's National Park Service venues free in celebration of Great American Outdoors Day.

Several of the venues can be found around Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

The park service is offering its next free entrance day on Aug. 4 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act's passage, according to the NPS website.

If you can't make it to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore or Isle Royale National Park this week, keep an eye on the calendar because more free entry days will be coming up before 2025 is over.

Here's what to know.

When is the next free entry day?

The next free entry day to National Park Service sites is on Great American Outdoors Day, Aug. 4, 2025.

How can you visit NPS sites for free?

You can visit National Park Service sites across Michigan free of charge on the free entry day.

While the day's typical entrance fee will be waived, activities may require fees such as reservations. Regular park entrance fees can be found on the NPS website.

What is the Great American Outdoors Act?

The Great American Outdoors Act is a law that invests in protecting and sustaining public lands and Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The law also funds infrastructure improvements and expanded outdoor recreation at national parks, per the National Park Service.

The law established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund for overdue maintenance needs and authorized funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, per the Department of the Interior.

When was the Great American Outdoors Act passed?

The Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Aug. 4, 2020, per the NPS and U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management.

Where are Michigan's NPS sites?

Here are Michigan's National Park Service sites:

Isle Royale National Park encompasses all of Isle Royale in Lake Superior. One of the nation's least-visited parks, the rugged islands offer opportunities for backpacking, hiking, boating, paddling and diving. Entry passes usually are required.
Keweenaw National Historic Park encompasses both public and private sites throughout the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula and features heritage sites from the area's copper mining history. It is headquartered in Calumet; check with individual sites regarding entry fees.
North Country National Scenic Trail spans eight states, including more than 1,100 miles in Michigan through urban and rural areas in the upper and lower peninsulas. There is no entry fee.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore features the sandstone cliffs along Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula from Munising to Grand Marais, along with sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forests, waterfalls, beaches and wild shoreline. There are opportunities for camping, hiking, sightseeing and more. Entry passes usually are required.
River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Monroe honors the history of the January 1813 battles of the War of 1812 and their aftermath. There are opportunities to visit historical sites, a museum, walking and biking trails, kayaking and more. There is no entry fee.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the shores of Lake Michigan features miles of sand beach, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna, towering bluffs, an island lighthouse, coastal villages, picturesque farmsteads and more. Entry passes usually are required.

What is the National Park Service?

The U.S. National Park Service is a federal government agency that manages national parks, monuments, lakeshores and preserves throughout the United States.