"We want to encourage everyone to enjoy your national forest."
IDYLLWILD, CA - Visitors to the San Bernardino National Forest will be able to access any part of the preserve for free Saturday in celebration of National Public Lands Day.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, fee waivers will be in effect all day, in all areas of the 676,666-acre forest, about a third of which is in Riverside County.
"We want to encourage everyone to enjoy your national forest," said San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Jody Noiron. "This will be a great opportunity to get out and discover a new recreation area you haven't been to before."
National Public Lands Day events are planned at more than 2,000 federally protected sites throughout the country. The event began in 1994 as a way to boost volunteer activity in wilderness areas.
USFS officials said volunteers are needed to help haul away trash, clear trails and plant native trees
On Saturday morning, volunteers will be removing brush around the observation deck and nearby wilderness trail for the Cahuilla Tewanet Overlook, just off state Route 74 in Pinyon Flats. Volunteers will also be making improvements to the roadside stop and paved walkway leading to the site, according to rangers.Officials noted that access to 98 percent of federally protected land is free most -- if not all -- of the time. However, a few activities require a Daily Adventure Pass.More information is available at http://www.publiclandsday.org.