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National Parks offer free three-day weekend

James McArdle, right, from Olympic Raft & Kayak, runs a group organized by National Park Conservation Association down the three miles of the Elwha River between the Glines Canyon and Elwha dams in Washington on Thursday. Once both dams are removed the Elwa River will be more accessible to paddlers and fish. Associated Press photos (Associated Press photos / The Spokesman-Review)
By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com(509) 459-5508
James McArdle, right, from Olympic Raft & Kayak, runs a group organized by National Park Conservation Association down the three miles of the Elwha River between the Glines Canyon and Elwha dams in Washington on Thursday. Once both dams are removed the Elwa River will be more accessible to paddlers and fish. Associated Press photos (Associated Press photos / The Spokesman-Review)
James McArdle, right, from Olympic Raft & Kayak, runs a group organized by National Park Conservation Association down the three miles of the Elwha River between the Glines Canyon and Elwha dams in Washington on Thursday. Once both dams are removed the Elwa River will be more accessible to paddlers and fish. Associated Press photos (Associated Press photos / The Spokesman-Review)

PUBLIC LANDS — National parks will be waiving entrance fees to celebrate Martin Luther King holiday weekend, Jan.14-16.

The Park Service is waiving fees for a total of 17 days in 2012. The Martin Luther King weekend fee waiver is the first scheduled for the year.

Offering free admission to national parks and other federal lands has been offered the past three years as a cost-friendly family vacation option in the economic slump.

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Outdoors Blog." Read all stories from this blog