Valley of Fire welcomes visitors on free day — PHOTOS | Local Nevada

Valley of Fire State Park (James Tensuan/Las Vegas-Review Journal)

A branch is seen at the Valley of Fire on Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Overton. Nevada opened up all 23 of their state parks for one day without an admission fee. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas-Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

The Valley of Fire State park is seen on Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Overton. Nevada opened up all 23 of their state parks for one day without an admission fee. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas-Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

A car passes through the Valley of Fire on Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Overton. Nevada opened up all 23 of their state parks for one day without an admission fee. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas-Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

A rock formation is seen at the Valley of Fire on Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Overton. Nevada opened up all 23 of their state parks for one day without an admission fee. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas-Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

Two men pass through the Valley of Fire on Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Overton. Nevada opened up all 23 of their state parks for one day without an admission fee. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas-Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

Footprints are seen in the sand at the Valley of Fire on Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Overton. Nevada opened up all 23 of their state parks for one day without an admission fee. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas-Review Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter @jtensuan

Visitors went through the gates for free on Saturday, when Nevada’s state parks were open with no admission charge.

“Discover Nevada State Parks” allowed visitors in to see the parks and, where available, to fish for free without a license. Near Las Vegas, that meant a Saturday out at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, the historic Mormon Fort, or up the road a piece to Valley of Fire.

“Nevada’s 23 state parks offer a great diversity of outdoor opportunities,” said State Parks Administrator Eric Johnson in a news release. “For example, visitors can explore the slot canyons of Cathedral Gorge, tour a genuine ghost town at Berlin-Ichthyosaur or spend a relaxing afternoon fishing at South Fork.”

Discover Nevada State Parks day is also an opportunity for visitors to take the passport challenge and add a stamp to their passport booklet, or if they don’t have one yet, to pick one up while visiting a state park. Once visitors have their passports stamped at 15 different parks, they will earn a free annual pass to all Nevada State Parks.