Expanding Outdoor Access for Those Who Served

From cleaning marine debris along America’s shorelines to leading interpretive hikes within the United States’ iconic national parks and so much more, veterans and service members play a critical role in preserving and improving our vast and beautiful public lands and waters, now and for future generations. Our public places are also for refuge and rejuvenation for those who serve and have served to keep America strong and free. Veterans Day is a time to honor that service.

Across the U.S., public lands and waters provide countless opportunities to connect to the outdoors. These shared spaces offer opportunities for recreation, wellness, community building, and volunteerism. This article highlights several exciting opportunities for veterans and service members to experience the restorative benefits of the outdoors.

One Mission, Many Agencies

Free and Discounted Access to Public Lands and Waters

NPS, M. Reed, Visitors walk on a path off Trailridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Current military service members, their dependents, veterans, and eligible surviving family members of service members can visit many of our public lands and waters free of charge, using the Military Annual Pass and the Military Lifetime Pass. These passes are available on Recreation.gov and cover entrance and standard amenity fees at sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Forest Service.

To find your nearest public recreation site, visit each agency’s web search tool. For example, the Bureau of Land Management, National Marine Sanctuaries, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service have easy online tools to help you plan your visit. For discounted travel and recreation bookings for service members, veterans, and their families, check out the American Forces Travel site.

Finding Accessible Trails

NPS, Adaptive hikers on the Ute Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

To support public access to outdoor recreation, many agencies provide accessibility information online. For instance, the National Park Service offers an interactive map with accessible recreation opportunities, while the Bureau of Land Management provides an accessibility page with a searchable map of current and proposed accessible trails and recreation opportunities. The U.S. Forest Service's National Forests and Grasslands mobile app helps visitors plan trips and search for trails based on surface type and grade.  

Examples of accessible trails on public lands include Coralville Lake's Veterans Trail in Iowa, offering a barrier-free experience for wheelchair users. In Lewis Center, Ohio, the Alum Creek Lake Whitetail Run Trail features tactile interpretive panels and an audio tour accessible by cell phone. In Moab, Utah, the nearly completed Colorado River Pathway, part of the Colorado River Day Use Area, will connect camping and recreation sites, improving safety and accessibility.

Finding More Accessible Recreation Opportunities

USACE, An accessible walking loop around Catfish Cove Pond, Illinois

In addition to trails, many federal sites provide accessible recreation opportunities. For instance, Carters Lake in Chatworth, Georgia, has beach mats to make accessing the water at Harris Branch Beach easier for people with wheelchairs. Accessible boat ramps, canoe and kayak launches, including at Sam Rayburn Lake in Jasper, Texas, and John H. Kerr Reservoir in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, offer safe and reliable platforms for water-based recreation.

There is an accessible archery range at Pomme de Terre Lake in Hermitage, Missouri, with accessible lanes leading to six different targets. The range is free and open to the public. At Rend Lake in Benton, Illinois, the Catfish Cove Pond and Trail features a 1200-foot-long concrete path with four accessible fishing piers.

To learn more about accessible recreation opportunities on our nation's public lands and waters, visit the website of the site you are planning to visit or reach out to site staff directly. 

Opportunities That Provide Mobility Devices

NPS, A track chair offers trail access at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia

Many national parks across the country loan assistive mobility devices to the public to make it easier for visitors with varying abilities to access and enjoy park facilities, trails, and other outdoor recreation activities. Learn what parks have mobility device loan programs by visiting the NPS Mobility Device Loan map.

For the most recent and specific information regarding accessibility and assistive technology opportunities across our public lands and waters, please  reach out to specific parks or sites for the most up-to-date information.

Volunteer and Wellness Programs

NOAA, David Ruck, Kayakers clean up at Mallows Bay Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary, Maryland

Many public lands and waters offer volunteer opportunities for service members and veterans. Volunteering often contributes to a sense of community and connection to the outdoors. Volunteer.gov is a great place to begin your search. You can also find volunteer opportunities through agency websites, such as the Bureau of Land Management, National Marine Sanctuaries, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service, to name a few.

The Department of War offers wellness resources through its Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program and activities, which connects service members with their military community through recreation. Meanwhile, the Best Kept Secrets - Recreational Facilities Locator can help you locate recreation opportunities by state and desired activity for service members and their families. 

Health Benefits of Outdoor Recreation

NPS, Three generations fishing in Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, South Dakota

Outdoor recreation supports physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Being active outdoors can help reduce depression and anxiety, and spending time in nature can improve mental wellbeing. The National Park Service offers resources and tips for how to be healthy outside.  

The Great Outdoors: Engaging with Nature for Mental Health Guide offers a veteran-focused self‑help guide with low‑cost activities. It also includes audio mindfulness and guided imagery exercises to help build wellbeing through outdoor engagement.

Public lands and waters offer a chance to step away from the stresses of day-to-day by providing a space to exercise both mind and body.

Guided Outdoor Trips and Other Outdoor Programs

Friends of Ottawa NWR image, shuttle tour at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Ohio

Many public lands and waters offer outdoor programs for military service members, veterans, and their families.

Blue Star Families, in partnership with the National Park Service, hosts Outdoors Explorers for All, a free program that helps military families build outdoor skills, engage with nature, and strengthen social connections.

The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans, offers an annual, 5-day-long clinic for disabled veterans to engage in adaptive sports. The event features activities like alpine skiing, rock climbing, sled hockey, and more.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hosts events across regions, including for veterans, such as a special guided wildlife and birding tour at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, led by a fellow veteran.

Discover similar programming in the National Resource Directory by searching by “Outdoor Recreation” or "Military Children and Youth."

Continuing National Service: Job Resources and Programs

NPS, Skyler DeYoung, Staff learning trade skills through the SkillBridge job program for veterans

Public lands and waters provide a range of employment and career development opportunities for service members, veterans, and their families. Programs such as the Department of Agriculture’s Military Spouse and Veterans Employment Programs offer career resources and support. The Department of War's SkillBridge Program helps transitioning service members gain civilian job training and work experience with U.S. Department of Interior agencies. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Veterans Curation Program, provides employment and job training through archeological collections, while the Bureau of Reclamation offers veteran employees support through their Reclamation Veterans program.

Operation Warfighter, a program developed by the Department of War, offers opportunities for recovering service members to build job skills, gain federal government work experience, and transition back into the civilian or military workforce.

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