Tag Archives: california

California, National Parks, Outdoors

Veterans Day 2026: Free Admission to California’s National Parks

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The U.S. Army was protecting California’s national parks long before there was a National Park Service. This Veterans Day, those parks are opening their gates for free.

Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans Day, and the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees at participating national parks and other National Park Service sites across the country. Here in California, that includes Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, and the other parks that normally charge admission. It’s the final scheduled fee-free day of 2026, and a good excuse to spend the holiday outdoors.

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California, National Parks, Outdoors

California’s National Parks Offer Free Admission Tuesday, October 27

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to visit one of California’s national parks, Tuesday might be the day.

The National Park Service is waiving entrance fees on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in celebration of Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday. The fee-free day applies to national parks and other National Park Service sites that normally charge admission throughout California and across the United States.

There’s one change this year. Free admission is limited to U.S. citizens and residents. International visitors must pay regular entrance fees and any applicable nonresident charges. Continue reading →

Conservation, News, State Parks

California State Parks Seeks Public Input on a Road and Trail Management Plan for Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Weott, Calif. — California State Parks will hold an open house meeting to solicit comments on a draft road and trail management plan (RTMP) for Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The RTMP describes the existing roads and trails of the state park and provides specific direction for management and operations in the future. The goal of the plan is to enhance recreational trail opportunities, while protecting the park’s cultural and natural resources.
The open house meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the River Lodge Conference Center located at 1800 Riverwalk Drive, Fortuna. The draft plan can be viewed online at www.parks.ca.gov/HRSP-RTMP or be reviewed in person at the following locations:

  • North Coast Redwoods District Headquarters, 3431 Fort Ave, Eureka
  • Humboldt Redwoods State Park Visitor Center, 17119 Avenue of the Giants, Weott
  • California State Parks Facility Management Division, 704 O Street, Sacramento
  • Humboldt County Library Branches:

Eureka Main Library, 1313 3rd Street, Eureka

Arcata Library, 500 7th Street, Arcata

Fortuna Library, 753 14th Street, Fortuna

Garberville Library, 715 Cedar Street, Garberville

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State Parks

Incredible Camping Opportunities: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Recently, David Miller posted on the REI posted about seven U.S. state parks that offer up some great camping opportunities (see article: “7 U.S. STATE PARKS WITH INCREDIBLE CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES“). One of the parks mentioned was California’s own Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

David wrote that  “Camping in a redwood forest is mystical. Tucked within a massive canopy of redwood, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and grand and Douglas fir, and with a soft layer of duff covering the forest floor, there’s a sense of quiet and peace here. Sounds are dampened. Jedediah Smith is an entrancing place to camp: just imagine looking up through the huge branches and the understory of madrone and bigleaf maple, strolling through the giants in the Stout Grove, and wading in the crystal clear Smith River, the last major undammed river in California.”

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Conservation, National Forests, National Parks

Sportsmen-Legislators, Conservation Groups Discuss Federal Forest Policy

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Today, members of the sportsmen’s conservation community gathered with Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) at a Breakfast Briefing, titled, “The Resilient Federal Forests Act: Wildlife Habitat and Forest Diversity,” hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF).

Speakers addressed issues from funding, increasing litigation, and complicated regulations to wildlife habitat management and public access for outdoor recreation on federal lands, many of which are addressed in H.R. 2647.

CSF President Jeff Crane, CSC Co-Chair Congressman Rob Wittman (VA), and CSC Vice-Chair Congressman Gene Green (TX) introduced H.R. 2647 and its importance, not only to sportsmen and women, but to all users of public lands.

CSC Member and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Congressman Rob Bishop (UT) addressed the audience. “[Forest management] needs more money to be effective, but that alone is not going to solve the problem. There has to be some substantial changes. The Resilient Federal Forests Act is the first step forward.”

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