National parks and forests will waive entrance fees Saturday in honor of National Public Lands Day. It’s a good time to hit the dirt and go exploring or pitch in for trail work or a cleanup somewhere near or far.

The deal: The fee-free day means no need to pay $20 per car to go to Yosemite or Sequoia & Kings Canyon national parks or $5 for an Adventure Pass for Southern California’s national forests. The free day applies to parks and forests nationwide.

When: Free entry applies to Saturday only.

More freebies: Here are some ideas of what to do on nearby public lands -- or make up your own itinerary.


--Yosemite National Park: Stay over and take a free ranger-led Camera Walk at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday starting from the Ansel Adams Gallery. There’s also a Junior Ranger Walk for kids at 9:30 a.m. both days, starting at the Happy Isles nature center.

--Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park: Go to the top of Moro Rock for a ranger talk at 11 a.m., take a 1-mile spin among the giant redwoods at 2:30 p.m. and check out the night sky at Telescope Astronomy at 8 p.m.

--Big Bear Discovery Center: Free, easy nature walks at 1 and 2 p.m. Saturday; get information on hikes in the San Bernardino National Forest.

--Franklin Canyon Park, Beverly Hills: Get acquainted with the nearby hills and the night sky on a free two-hour Autumn Equinox Hike that starts at 6 p.m.