Fee Free Days for Bureau of Land Management Public Lands Set for 2017
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The Bureau of Land Management, in conjunction with other agencies within the Department of the Interior, will waive recreation-related fees for visitors to public lands on four occasions in 2017— Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 16, 2017), Presidents Day (February 20, 2017), National Public Lands Day (September 30, 2017), and Veterans Day Weekend (November 11-12, 2017).
“Fee-Free Days are one way of reaching out to members of the public who might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit our nation’s public lands,” said BLM Acting Director Kristin Bail. “The BLM offers more recreational opportunities than any other land management agency, and we invite you and your families to hike, bike, climb, fish and camp on your public lands.”
Site-specific standard amenity and individual day-use fees at BLM recreation sites and areas will be waived for the specified dates. Other fees, such as overnight camping, cabin rentals, group day use, and use of special areas, will remain in effect.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public lands, which provide for a wide range of recreational opportunities from hiking, fishing and camping to riding off-highway vehicles and rock-climbing. In FY 2015, BLM-managed lands received more than 62 million recreation visits, generated about $6 million in economic output, and supported about 44,000 recreation-related jobs.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.