PORT ANGELES — It’s your land. Go enjoy it — free of charge.
State and national parks will waive entrance fees today in honor of the 22nd anniversary of National Public Lands Day, described as the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands.
In addition, Olympic National Park will celebrate Healthy Parks, Healthy Communities Day today with a bevy of activities for the family.
“We invite everyone to come and enjoy the fun and health benefits of a day in the park. We’ll even have prizes for doing it,” Olympic National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum said in a news release.
“Entry into the park is free, and we have a variety of free, fun and healthy activities for all ages, and even one for dogs.”
State parks
State park visitors will not need to display a Discover Pass for day-use visits today as part of National Public Lands Day.
State parks on the North Olympic Peninsula are Bogachiel near Forks, Dosewallips near Brinnon, Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island, Fort Townsend and Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Anderson Lake State Park near Chimacum and Sequim Bay near Sequim.
National park
At Olympic National Park, activities for Healthy Parks, Healthy Communities Day will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the visitor center in Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent and Kalaloch.
The free activities are designed to encourage new and returning visitors to “get outside, get moving and reap the health benefits of exercise, nature and fresh air,” park officials said.
Tokens can be earned by completing some activities. Anyone who gathers three or more tokens can receive a free Olympic National Park Find Your Park water bottle while supplies last by bringing their tokens to the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, Storm King Ranger Station or the Kalaloch Information Station.
Here’s a rundown of the planned events for Healthy Parks, Healthy Communities Day:
Park visitor center
Activities are at 3002 Mount Angeles Road.
■ 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.: Bark ranger program and swearing-in.
■ 10 a.m. to noon: Healthy snacks.
Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula will describe how to fuel your body in healthy ways while in the park.
Visitors can then blend and eat their own trail mix.
■ 10:30 a.m.: Living forest stroll.
A ranger will lead an easy walk along the Living Forest Trail, a 0.4-mile loop.
■ 12:30 p.m.: Peabody Creek ramble.
A ranger will lead a half-mile walk into the Peabody Creek valley.
■ 1 p.m.: Backpacking for beginners.
Skills needed to safely explore the Olympic wilderness will be taught.
■ Anytime: Fourth-grade students can get free annual passes for themselves and their families to visit national parks.
The program began Sept. 1.
Hurricane Ridge
■ Anytime after 9 a.m.: Hurricane Hill hike.
Visitors can hike with friends, family or alone to the summit of Hurricane Hill, a 3.2-mile round trip with a 650-foot elevation gain.
They can collect tokens from the bucket next to the sign at the top.
Lake Crescent
Activities begin at the Storm King Ranger Station porch.
■ 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.: Bark ranger program and swearing-in.
Well-behaved dogs are invited to bring their human companions for a program just for them.
Visitors can learn how to enjoy Olympic National Park with their pets and earn bark ranger badges.
■ 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Salmon Run Obstacle Course.
Children can learn more about the yearly journey of the salmon and earn tokens by running an obstacle course in the meadow in front of the Storm King Ranger Station.
■ Anytime after 9 a.m.: Marymere Falls hike.
Visitors can hike with friends, family or alone to the upper viewpoint for Marymere Falls, a 3.2-mile round trip with a 194-foot elevation gain.
They can collect tokens from the bucket at the second overlook.
Kalaloch area
Activities begin at the Kalaloch Lodge gazebo, Kalaloch Campground and Ruby Beach trailhead.
■ 11 a.m.: Kalaloch Creek walk.
A ranger will lead an easy walk through the coastal forest on a 1.2-mile round trip with a 50-foot elevation gain.
The walk will leave from the south end of the Kalaloch Campground.
■ 2 p.m.: Bark ranger program and swearing-in.
Well-behaved dogs are invited to bring their human companions for a program just for them.
Visitors can learn how to enjoy Olympic National Park with their pets and earn bark ranger badges.
■ Anytime after 9 a.m.: Ruby Beach hike.
Visitors can hike with friends, family or alone to Ruby Beach, a half-mile round trip with 72 feet of elevation gain.
They can collect tokens from the bucket about 100 yards south of where the trail meets the beach.
“We’re excited to partner with the Boys & Girls Club of the Olympic Peninsula and area health care providers to make Healthy Parks, Healthy Communities a reality here,” Creachbaum said.
“We also appreciate generous donations from Discover Your Northwest and Washington’s National Park Fund.”
The Discover Pass is a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on recreation lands managed by State Parks, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the state Department of Natural Resources.
Free days apply only to day use, not to overnight stays or facilities.
Overnight visitors in state parks are charged fees for camping and other accommodations; day access is included in the overnight fee.
One more free day is scheduled in state parks this year.
It will be Wednesday, Nov. 11, in recognition of Veterans Day.
According to the National Public Lands Day website, more than 175,000 volunteers nationwide are expected to pitch in Saturday.
Here is a work project specific to the North Olympic Peninsula:
■ 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Mount Townsend Trail.
The Washington Trails Association will improve several switchbacks, clear brush, improve drainage and fix damaged tread.
The trail is in the Buckhorn Wilderness.
For more information, contact Steven Moore at steven@wta.org or 206-965-8561.
Also, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, the Dungeness River Festival is planned at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, Sequim.
The festival will include participation by the National Park Service and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Olympic National Forest booth will have historical photos, information about pollinators and details about the fire season.
