5 Local National Parks Veterans Can Visit for Free

There are five national parks within a 350-mile radius of L.A., each with vastly different landscapes offering Veterans a multitude of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and bask in the unique beauty that California has to offer. (Channel Islands National Park is also nearby but requires a separate transportation fee not covered by the pass.)

The U.S. military has a lengthy history with the National Park Service (NPS), which preserves and oversees approximately 84,000,000 acres of land including many forts and battlefields. Before the NPS existed, the U.S. Army served as steward of many public lands. Today the parks are a majestic symbol of the freedom and values that Veterans have sacrificed to protect. 

In addition, many studies have shown that exposure to nature can have a variety of physical and mental health benefits for Veterans. For those with PTSD, outdoor recreational activities reduced symptoms, according to the 2020 study “Outdoor Recreational Activity Experiences Improve Psychological Wellbeing of Military Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.” 

Check out a few highlights about visiting these five remarkable parks and some of their unique connections to the military and to Veterans below. To get your free pass, visit an approved location or the online store.

Joshua Tree – 135 miles from Los Angeles

The closest national park to L.A. is a desert oasis that has been known to inspire creatives for many years, including famed band U2, who named their 1987 album after the rocky, tree-dotted landscape. The park is titled for its resident tree, a gnarled, spiky specimen “yucca brevifolia,” found primarily in the Mojave Desert.  

Stargazing is a particularly popular activity in Joshua Tree. The park is rated an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), meaning many stars, planets and meteors are visible that are typically obscured by city lights. 

According to the city of Twentynine Palms, home of the park’s headquarters, the area was chosen as a beneficial climate for Veterans experiencing respiratory and heart conditions after World War I. Veterans and their families began homesteading parcels of land in the 1920s, and the city was eventually incorporated in 1987. Now, the area is home to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, the world's largest Marine Corps training base. 

With over 300 miles of hiking trails for visitors to explore in Joshua Tree, some of the easiest and most popular include the golden-hued Cholla Cactus Garden loop; the distinctive Skull Rock; and the winding, plant-rich Cap Rock.

Sequoia & King’s Canyon – 209 miles from Los Angeles

Head north into the mountains to the “land of the giants,” home to the world’s largest trees, the ancient and awe-inspiring giant sequoias. These remarkable trees only grow on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, between 4,000 and 8,000 feet in elevation, and are known to live as long as 3,400 years.

The world’s largest individual tree, the General Sherman, is located within Sequoia National Park and stands 275 feet tall, with a base diameter of 36 feet. In addition to the trees, the park offers vast mountain vistas, roaring waterfalls and verdant meadows.

In 1903, a group of Buffalo Soldiers was assigned to Sequoia and King’s Canyon (then known as General Grant) National Parks. The Buffalo Soldiers were regiments made up of African American soldiers assigned to the western U.S. after the Civil War. Led by the first Black military superintendent, Gen. Charles Young, they built much of Sequoia National Park’s infrastructure including roads to the Giant Forest and the bottom of Moro Rock, according to the NPS. A tree named after Gen. Young is located near the Moro Rock area.

Hikes range from challenging elevation gains to paved, accessible walkways. Some other highlights at Sequoia include Moro Rock, a steep, short climb to a vast panoramic view; the paved, heavily forested Congress trail, lined with giant sequoias; and the shaded walk to the granite cliffs and rushing water of Tokopah Falls.

Death Valley – 273 miles from Los Angeles

The extreme landscape of the 3.4 million-acre Death Valley National Park makes it a singular destination. As the hottest, driest and lowest of all national parks, it is believed to be the hottest place on earth during the summertime. On July 10, 1913, a temperature of 134°F was recorded on site.

Many of the park’s most popular spots for visitors can be accessed by vehicle, allowing for climate-controlled comfort during the high temperatures. Zabriskie Point offers a view of salt flats and badlands; Badwater Basin has the distinction of being the lowest point in North America; and Artists Palette is a rainbow-hued rock formation created by volcanic deposits. 

Death Valley is also classified at the highest (Gold Tier) level by the International Dark-Sky Association, meaning that many cosmic landmarks on display cannot be seen anywhere else on the planet.

Pinnacles – 274 miles from Los Angeles

Caves, California condors and chaparral are some of the distinctive features of California’s newest rocky-peaked national park, which was formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago. 

While visiting, look for the endangered California condor. The largest land birds in North America, they have wingspans of 9.5 feet and an estimated lifespan of over 60 years. According to the NPS, as of 2022 the total world population of these birds was only 561, with only 347 considered wild and free flying.

Pinnacles has more than 30 miles of trails. Some notable routes include Condor Gulch Trail, a moderate hike to an overlook that offers vast views of the park’s High Peaks; Balconies Cliffs-Cave Loop, where you’ll see get to crawl through a cave, flashlight in hand; and the short, kid-friendly Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop, where you’ll see stony outcrops, a reservoir and ancient caves. 

Yosemite – 340 miles from Los Angeles

With more than 3.67 million visitors per year as of 2022, Yosemite is one of the nation’s most popular national parks. Its massive waterfalls, towering cliffs and giant tree groves draw visitors from all over the world. 

Buffalo Soldiers served in Yosemite as well in its early years, protecting the land from poachers, thieves and wildfires, as well as building an arboretum near the south fork of the Merced River in 1904 and overseeing other infrastructure development, according to the NPS.  

During the World War II era, Yosemite got heavily involved in the war effort. Of the town’s 1,000 residents, over 200 served in the military during the war, according to the NPS. The park served as a gathering place for visiting soldiers, a host to victory gardens and blood drives, and even held a U.S. Navy Hospital and U.S. Army Signal Corps training camp.

Some of the most famous features of the park include Mariposa Grove, home to over 500 mature giant sequoias; Yosemite Falls, the highest measured waterfall in North America and home of the renowned Firefall phenomenon; and Half Dome, a strenuous 14- to 16-mile round-trip hike with an elevation gain of over 4,800 feet and cable ascent.

(Reservations are required to enter Yosemite during certain times of the year. Check the website for details.) 

For additional details about the pass, visit the National Park Service website, where you’ll also find a full list of National Parks and federal recreation areas.