Trail Mix for Jan. 14: Celebrate MLK Day at a National Park

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees Monday.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon will be among the parks celebrating, hosting the MLK Day of Service at Foothills Visitor Center along Highway 198. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be volunteer activities, a chance to go on guided hikes, and the opportunity to check out investigation stations and monitor newts on Paradise Creek trail.

Hikes will be offered at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and last about 45 minutes. The newt monitoring group will meet at Hospital Rock at 11 a.m.

For more details, call the Foothills Visitor Center at 559-565-4212.

Visitors headed to Yosemite or Sequoia and Kings Canyon are urged to drive with caution as there could be snow or ice on the roads. Chains may be required at any time.

▪ Pinnacles National Park will host its volunteer project at 9 a.m. at the East Entrance Visitor Center. Volunteers should be prepared for up to four hours of work, wear sturdy shoes, and bring rain gear and a water bottle. For more information, call 831-389-4485.

I Have a Dream Ride – The Central California Off-Road Cyclists will have their annual “I Have a Dream” Ride at 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Riders will meet at San Joaquin River Gorge, taking the Pa’san Ridge and Wu-ki’o Trails for an out-and-back ride of about 15 miles. It is an intermediate to advanced ride and self-supported. Bring plenty of water.

The daily parking fee will be waived at San Joaquin River Gorge and all Bureau of Land Management public lands in honor of MLK Day.

5K run – The fifth annual Got Miles 5K is 9 a.m. Saturday at Railroad Park on Peach and Alluvial avenues in Clovis.

Runners and walkers are welcome to participate in the charity race started by Miles Alexander, the birthday boy who wanted to celebrate by giving back to the community. Proceeds go to Poverello House.

Registration includes a bib, technical race shirt, a balloon, post-race snacks and other refreshments, and a custom, edible finisher’s medallion. There’s also a raffle and costume contest as well as awards for the top finishers.

The event costs $25 for adults and $10 for anyone 18 and younger.

Online registration ends at 11:59 p.m. Jan. 15. Details: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Clovis/GotMiles5kBirthdayRace.

China Peak transits – China Peak Mountain Resort has started a bus service, picking up riders from Fresno every first and third Saturday through April 2.

Other routes are available from Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo/Paso Robles.

In Fresno, riders will check in at 6:45 a.m. at Maya Cinemas across from Save Mart Center. The bus departs at 7 a.m. and will leave China Peak at 4 p.m. Space is still available for this Saturday. Other dates are Feb. 6 and 20, March 5 and 19 and April 2.

Tickets are $69 for adults and $38 for children and include a lift ticket. Ride-only tickets are $20.

Starting Jan. 20, the New Rock 104 party bus will take snow-goers to China Peak every first and third Wednesday. It will depart from Sequoia Brewing Co. on Champlain and Perrin avenues at 7:15 a.m. and leave the mountain at 4 p.m. Tickets are $39 and include a lift ticket. Season pass holders ride for $20.

For details and reservations, visit skichinapeak.com and click on Bus Trips under the Resort Services tab. All bus riders must download, sign and return a liability waiver.

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Trail Mix for Jan. 14: Celebrate MLK Day at a National Park."