Celebrate an Icon at Utah’s National Parks

January 15th is Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, and the National Park Service is celebrating with a free entry day. 

According to the National Park Service, the National Park Service was created in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson when he signed the “Organic Act”. 

The National Park Service managed 428 individual units covering more than 85 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories. 

Here are a few of the Southern Utah parks you can check out. 

Zion National Park: became a National Park in 1919

Bryce Canyon National Park: became a National Park in 1928

Arches National Park: became a National Park in 1971

Canyonlands National Park: became a National Park in 1964 

Capitol Reef National Park: became a National Park in 1971 

The National Park Service will have five other days in 2024 that will be free entry. Those days include: 

April 20: National Park Week 

June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day     

August 4: Great American Outdoors Act 

September 28: National Public Lands Day 

 November 11: Veterans Day