Visit Manassas Battlefield and 396 other national parks free on June 9

This Saturday, June 9. In celebration of National Get Outdoors Day, all 397 national parks, including Manassas National Battlefield Park will waive entrance fees.

Ed Clark, superintendent of Manassas Battlefield, was quoted in a news release as saying “Outdoor physical activity is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and Manassas Battlefield is a great place to get out and enjoy a walking tour with a ranger or to take a self-guided hike on the park’s trails.”

MNBP will be offering guided walking tours of key portions of the First and Second Manassas battlefields throughout the day on June 9, beginning at 10 a.m., with the final program starting at 4 p.m..  Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes to an hour in length and covers up to 800 yards of walking.  This series of regularly scheduled programs will continue through August. 

National Get Outdoors Day, now in its fifth year, encourages Americans, especially youth, to participate in outdoor activities while enjoying the beauty of public lands such as national parks, forests nd wildlife refuges. Nationwide, hundreds of organizations and businesses will partner with Federal, state, and local agencies to provide fun and healthy events at sites throughout the country.

President Barack Obama has proclaimed the month of June as Great Outdoors Month and encourages all Americans to share in the natural splendor of which we are all proud inheritors.  Gov. Bob McDonnell has also issued a proclamation for the Commonwealth of Virginia, recognizing the opportunity for “unparalleled outdoor recreation that promotes health, fitness and conservation stewardship” in our public lands, including Federal, state, and local parks, forests, and preserves.

Manassas National Battlefield Park will waive its $3 entrance fee on four more days in 2012 – Sept. 29 (National Public Lands Day) and Nov. 10-12 (Veterans Day weekend). If you are planning a trip to visit multiple national parks, you might consider the $80 annual pass that provides entrance to all national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests and many other Federal lands – more than 2,000 in all. This America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is offered free to all active duty military members and their dependents. Information on these and other pass options is available online. Manassas National Battlefield Park also offers an annual pass for the park for $20.