WILLIAMSPORT, MD News (9/18/2022) – On Saturday, September 24, the National Park Service will celebrate National Public Lands Day with free admission to all National Parks. Visitors can take advantage of this fee-free day and hike a trail, walk or bike the canal towpath, and learn more about the natural and cultural resources at the C&O Canal.
While most of the C&O Canal is free for visitors, some parts, such as Great Falls, charge an admission fee. Visitors to Great Falls can also enjoy Canal Boat Rides.
Boat rides will be offered every Saturday through October 15th at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Tickets are required and will be available at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center beginning one hour before each program. Tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis, and cannot be reserved in advance. Boat rides are limited to a 50 person maximum occupancy and are weather and staff dependent.
Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day is traditionally the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort. It celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits. This year, National Public Lands Day falls on September 24, 2022.
National Public Lands Day is organized annually and led by the National Environmental Education Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service and other federal agencies. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers roll up their sleeves to help restore and preserve public lands of all types and sizes—from iconic national parks and rivers to local urban green spaces and everything in between. National Public Lands Day is special because it provides all lovers of the environment—old and new—an opportunity to show our appreciation for these unique places.
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