Want to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes or Pictured Rocks without paying a fee? Here's how

Beautiful colors are seemingly painted on the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising. The colors are caused by layers and seepage of copper, iron and manganese in the ancient rock. (USA TODAY Network)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

September 23, 2025

Embrace Michigan‘s great outdoors for National Public Lands Day this weekend by volunteering to clean or just by making a free trip to a National Park Service site.

Michigan’s NPS sites will offer free entry Sept. 27 to mark the day, the NPS said.

In addition, during the annual event on Saturday, Michiganders will come together to volunteer at public lands, according to the National Environmental Education Foundation and the National Park Service.

“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,” the NPS National Public Lands Day website says.

Here’s what to know about National Public Lands Day.

When is National Public Lands Day in 2025?

National Public Lands Day is Sept. 27, 2025.

What is National Public Lands Day?

National Public Lands Day is an annual nationwide volunteering event at US public lands, promoting cleanup and conservation efforts, per the National Environmental Education Foundation.

NEEF organizes the day in collaboration with the NPS and other federal agencies, the NPS website says.

How can you support public lands this National Public Lands Day?

Here are some ways you can join in this National Public Lands Day:

Volunteer at a local service project. Find an event online.
Visit your local NPS sites for free.
Host an event to mark the day.
Join the day’s social media campaign.

Where are Michigan’s NPS sites?

Here are Michigan’s National Park Service sites. Many require entry fees on other days:

Isle Royale National Park encompasses all of Isle Royale in Lake Superior. One of the nation’s least-visited parks, the rugged islands offer opportunities for backpacking, hiking, boating, paddling and diving. Entry passes are required.
Keweenaw National Historic Park encompasses both public and private sites throughout the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula and features heritage sites from the area’s copper mining history. It is headquartered in Calumet; check with individual sites regarding entry fees.
North Country National Scenic Trail spans eight states, including more than 1,100 miles in Michigan through urban and rural areas in the upper and lower peninsulas. There is no entry fee.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore features the sandstone cliffs along Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula from Munising to Grand Marais, along with sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forests, waterfalls, beaches and wild shoreline. There are opportunities for camping, hiking, sightseeing and more. Entry passes are required.
River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Monroe honors the history of the January 1813 battles of the War of 1812 and their aftermath. There are opportunities to visit historical sites, a museum, walking and biking trails, kayaking and more. There is no entry fee.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the shores of Lake Michigan features miles of sand beach, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna, towering bluffs, an island lighthouse, coastal villages, picturesque farmsteads and more. Entry passes are required.

What is the National Park Service?

The US National Park Service is a federal government agency within the US Department of the Interior that manages national parks, monuments, lakeshores and preserves throughout the United States.