Santa Fe National Forest Waives Fees for National Public Lands Day

By SFNF

The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will waive fees at many day-use recreation sites forNational Public Lands Day (NPLD) on Saturday, Sept. 25. As the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands, NPLD is a great opportunity for more Americans to get outdoors and connect with their public lands.

The Forest Service participates in fee-free days with other federal agencies to encourage Americans to visit their public lands. The final fee waiver day in 2021 will be Thursday, Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day, which commemorates the end of World War I and pays tribute to military heroes, past and present.

The theme for NPLD 2021 is “More Ways to Connect to Nature,” giving Americans the opportunity to show their appreciation for the great outdoors by participating in trail restoration, trash clean-up and other projects at a variety of in-person, virtual and hybrid events.

This year, the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) Coalition will celebrate National Public Lands Day with the San Gregorio Trailhead Stewardship and Leave No Trace Walk. The San Gregorio Trailhead is about a 30-minute drive from Cuba, NM. The trail stewardship event from 8:30 a.m. to noon will focus on trail construction and maintenance to keep the CDT safe and sustainable for hikers. The family hike from the San Gregorio Trailhead from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. will share information on how to practice Leave No Trace when enjoying forest trails. The Cuba Police Department will host a community barbecue at the Eichwald Center from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. For additional information, see the event listing on the NPLD website.

If you plan to visit the Santa Fe National Forest over the weekend, know before you go. For public health and safety, please follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)guidance and comply with state public health orders to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. It is advisable to check with the appropriate ranger district office to confirm which recreation sites are included in the National Public Lands Day fee waiver.