Get into Melones, Yosemite for free

Entry to Yosemite National Park will be free from Friday through April 29 in recognition of Earth Day and National Park Week, and entry to New Melones Lake will be free on Saturday for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Customer Appreciation Day. 

National Park Week will kick off at Yosemite on Saturday and Sunday, with Earth Day celebrations on both days. Planned activities include the Ansel Adams Photography Walk, which will take place a few times over the weekend, and a sustainable salad bar tasting. 

Yosemite entrance fees will be waived for the entire week, but camping and other fees will still apply.

New Melones Lake is waiving its day-use entry fee of $8 for the Bureau of Reclamation’s fourth annual Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday. Staff will lead a hike at the Peoria Equestrian Staging Area at 10 a.m. 

The New Melones Dam Overlook will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a closeup view of the dam and river canyon. 

For more information on National Park Week at Yosemite, visit http://www.nps.gov/yose/parknews/npweek2012.htm or call 372-0200. For more information on New Melones Lake, call 536-9094, ext. 0.