People won’t need a Discover Pass to visit state parks during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday three-day weekend, Jan. 14-16.

The upcoming holiday is the first of 10 “free days” this year, which were set into law when state lawmakers created the Discover Pass.

Other no-pass days are March 18-19 (in honor of Washington State Parks’ 99th birthday on March 19); June 9 (National Get Outdoors Day); Sept. 29 (National Public Lands Day); and Nov. 10-12 (Veterans Day weekend).

The Discover Pass was launched last summer to help fill a budget hole created by reduced funding from the state. Sales of the pass — an annual permit costs $30, and a one-day pass, $10 — brought in $7.2 million in total sales during the first four months of the program. Visitors to recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife must display the Discover Pass in their vehicle or face a $99 fine.

State officials said the 2012 free days at state parks were picked to fit with the free days offered by the National Park Service.

Officials also note that the free days only apply at state parks; a Discover Pass will still be required to access DFW and DNR lands.