In an effort to encourage more travel to national parks before children return to school, the National Parks Service and U.S. Forest Service will be waiving admissions at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees. The free park entrance days include Aug. 14-15, which is this weekend.

The National Parks Service and U.S. Forest Service waive park fees several times a year. These include Sept. 25 (Public Lands Day) and Nov. 11 (Veterans Day). Most entrance fees typically range from $5 to $25.

The National Park Service also offers annual passes, including America The Beautiful, which is $80 annually. For U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over, the annual pass is $10. People with permanent disabilities or volunteers who acquire 500 service hours can apply for a free pass.

About The National Park Service And U.S. Forest Service.

Together, The National Park Service (founded in 1916) and U.S. Forest Service (founded in 1905) protect national assets that include 400 national parks and places as well as 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands.

National park areas under the National Park Service are responsible for conserving park resources for the enjoyment of visitors. The U.S. Forest Service, in addition to fighting fires, works in multiple-use areas where trees are planted and harvested. There are many recreational opportunities in those areas too.

TourGuy.com Chooses Tour Operators Who Support Our Stewards.

Every tour operator that enters any national park or forest area must have a special license or permit to do so. And while TourGuy.com offers several tours that do not take place in our national parks or forest areas, it requires all operators to have exemplary records with these federal agencies.

"Rangers are out there every day, sometimes risking their lives to ensure our parks and forests are preserved," says James Hoke, president of TourGuy.com. "We are all indirectly the benefactors of their hard work, which is why we only partner with the safest and most environmentally conscious tour operators available."

People planning guided tours should be aware that national parks and forest areas are generally busier on days when the fees have been waived. However, for residents near national parks and forest areas, these special days provide an excellent introduction to ecotourism and the beauty of the natural outdoors.

Which National Parks Have Waived Their Fees?

As a service, TourGuy.com is providing a list of parks and forest areas in its service area that are waiving entrance fees this weekend. While this doesn't change the lowest prices provided by the travel site, it does provide a great quick reference for residents in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. Parks that include TourGuy.com tours are linked to the reservation site.

Arizona. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Chiricahua National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation, Area, Grand Canyon National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Petrified Forest National Park, Pipe Spring National Monument, Saguaro National Park, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Tonto National Monument, Tumacacori National Historical Park, Tuzigoot National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument, and Wupatki National Monument.

California. Cabrillo National Monument, Death Valley National Park, John Muir National Historic Site, Joshua Tree National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Muir Woods National Monument, Pinnacles National Monument, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Sequoia National Park, Whiskeytown Unit National Recreation Area, and Yosemite National Park.

Nevada. Death Valley National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Utah. Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Golden Spike National Historic Site, Hovenweep National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument, and Zion National Park.

This list is provided by the National Parks Service. The waiver does not include fees for camping, tours and other concessions within parks and forests. For more information about tours from Las Vegas, visit TourGuy.com.