Turning an entire national forest into something that fits into your pocket was one of the biggest challenges behind the new National Forests and Grasslands Passport. Discovering a visual identity for places that can span millions of acres, cross state lines or contain everything from alpine peaks and temperate rainforests to prairies, deserts and coastal ecosystems started with a sign that most visitors already knew.
Each badge is a digital souvenir inspired by the place it represents. You visit, collect them and carry the memories of that place with you.
“From day one, this was a close collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation,” said Joe Frabotta, Head of Marketing of OuterSpatial. “We explored a lot of directions before landing on something familiar to so many visitors, the entrance sign. Its shape, lettering and brown-and-cream colors make the passport feel like the Forest Service the moment you see it.”
Collecting memories
Those badges sit at the heart of the National Forests and Grasslands Passport, a free experience by the U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation. It covers all 154 national forests and 20 grasslands, and is available through the OuterSpatial mobile app.
The premise is simple: travel to a national forest or grassland, check in on your phone and a badge is added to your collection. But unlike a traditional passport, you do not have to start from scratch.
(left) The National Forests and Grasslands Passport allows users to track visits to national forests and grasslands, including past trips, and discover new destinations. Visitors can collect digital badges representing each location and verify future visits through on-site check-ins. (right) A photograph of Maroon Bells at the White River National Forest in Colorado appears in the OuterSpatial app's social feed. The feature allows visitors to share photographs and experiences from their adventures on public lands. (Forest Service photos)
Someone who camped in the Lincoln National Forest years ago, drove through the Columbia River Gorge on a family vacation or hiked a trail in the Fishlake National Forest before the passport existed can add those visits to their collection. Future visits can be verified through an on-site check-in, which gives a green checkmark showing the visitor was within the geographic boundaries of a forest or grassland.
Individuals can also track their travels and compare their progress on a national leaderboard or with friends. That creates a bucket list of where to go next, along with bragging rights of your past adventures.
(left) Steep cliffs, waterfalls and the Columbia River define the artwork for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area passport badge. The design captures the area's dramatic landscape using the familiar shape and lettering inspired by Forest Service entrance signs, a common feature throughout the collection. (right) A hiker makes their way through an aspen forest toward distant mountains on the Fishlake National Forest passport badge. The artwork highlights the recreational opportunities and landscapes that make each forest unique, incorporating details selected with input from local Forest Service staff.
“The camera will take you places you never imagined,” said Lewis Carlyle, a landscape photographer. “Our nation is home to some of the most spectacular landscape photography destinations in the world. Now, we have a whole new way to explore the great outdoors, track our expeditions, and plan the next great adventure.”
Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz explained that the concept was partly inspired by the National Park Service’s long-running passport program. Schultz has collected dozens of physical stamps himself and said he wanted to carry on that tradition within the Forest Service.
“More than 164 million people visit national forests and national grasslands every year, bringing home stories, memories and, often, plans to return,” said Schultz. “Now, millions can also track their visits on their mobile devices, and I’m thrilled to welcome the next generation of explorers through this engaging digital gateway.”
Many visitors begin exploring public lands at home while planning their next adventure. Through the passport, travelers can look up maps, destinations, closures or photographs before arriving.
(left) The OuterSpatial mobile app allows visitors to explore national forests and grasslands through interactive maps, with options to view topographic or satellite imagery. Users can navigate trails, locate recreation opportunities and plan their next adventure. (right) The app helps visitors discover nearby national forests and grasslands, including recreation opportunities for hiking, biking and other outdoor activities. Users can search destinations, filter by activity or accessibility and explore public lands before heading outdoors. (Forest Service photos)
A sense of place
For the team building the passport, developing the app meant answering the most difficult question first, what should each place look like?
While two forests may both contain mountains and wildlife, translating those differences into collectible artwork required a decision on what features would immediately feel recognizable to the people who visit those locations the most.
“More than 150 Forest Service staff, along with the National Forest Foundation team, helped shape the passport badges,” said Frabotta. “Their local knowledge made all the difference, guiding us toward the details that make each forest and grassland remarkable. Working together made the artwork stronger and gave Forest Service teams a sense of ownership in the finished designs. We wanted them to look at their badges and feel proud of how they represent the places they know and care for every day.”
Dakota Prairie Grasslands in North and South Dakota compared to the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina are vastly different landscapes. Checking out the artwork in the passport and suddenly the range of the country’s national forest and grasslands comes into view.
(left) A prairie dog stands among native grasses on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands passport badge. The open landscape and wildlife reflect the character of the northern Great Plains, showing how the passport's artwork captures the distinct features of each national forest and grassland. (right) The Pisgah National Forest passport badge features a rock formation rising above the forested mountains of North Carolina. OuterSpatial worked with local Forest Service staff to develop artwork highlighting recognizable landmarks and landscapes, giving each location its own identity within the passport collection.
After hiking through the mountains, visiting a lake with friends, crossing open grassland or simply stopping along the highway to take a photo, a person may discover for the first time that a location they’ve adventured in for years was part of the National Forest System. OuterSpatial describes the passport as a lifelong record that can continue growing as people explore new places.
Capturing your adventure
“I think about opening your passport years from now and seeing every visit in one spot: the weekend camping trips, the streams you fished, the trails you hiked,” said Ryan Branciforte, CEO of OuterSpatial. “It becomes the story of your time outdoors. And the further you go, the more you realize how vast our national forests and grasslands are, and how much they offer. The badges are the keepsakes you earn on that journey, each one a reminder of somewhere that stayed with you.”
For the National Forest Foundation, the goal is to transform America’s love of nature into action for national forests. The nonprofit works with the Forest Service on projects ranging from restoration and wildfire resilience to opportunities for people to become involved with national forests.
“My hope is that someone earns a badge and thinks, ‘This place means something to me. How can I help care for it?’ The U.S. Forest Service and the thousands of volunteers and partners put tremendous effort into keeping these lands healthy and accessible,” said Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl, president and CEO of National Forest Foundation. “Consider joining a trail workday or a cleanup to get to know both a forest and the people who care for it. There’s something deeply rewarding about sustaining a place that has given you so much.”
That could mean returning to a favorite forest, discovering a new one or eventually volunteering.
The passport also gives visitors a reason to think about what adventure to go on next. What started as a record of a few familiar places could grow into a collection that spans the entire National Forest System.
Christmas tree mini challenge
Continuing the momentum from its August 2026 launch, the National Forests and Grasslands Passport has added an associated mini challenge for the holiday season.
Beginning Oct. 23, visitors who purchase a Christmas Tree permit through Recreation.gov or a ranger station can collect a special "2026 Christmas Tree Harvest" badge when on eligible national forests.
More mini challenges are anticipated in the future for people to participate on national forest lands.
To learn more and to download the app, visit the National Forests and Grasslands Passport page.