Passes & Permits

  • National Recreation Passes

    Interagency Annual Recreation Pass features a photo of a recreational vehicle under a night sky.

    National passes cover entrance fees found a federal recreation areas such as National Parks and wildlife refuges. They also cover the use of facilities and services at many day use sites on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. There are several pass options to consider. To make the best choice on which pass to purchase, you should think about your recreation plans for the next year.

    National Recreation Passes

  • Forest Product Permits

    A stack of cut firewood.

    A permit may be required to collect and remove forest products such as firewood, Christmas trees, boughs, decorative material, edible materials, mushrooms, plants, trees, shrubs, posts, poles, minerals, sand, soil, rock, and gravel. 

    Firewood
    Forest Products
    Christmas Trees

  • Campfire Permits

    An image of a campfire in a steel ring.

    Campfire Permits are required for the use of campfires, charcoal fires or portable gas stoves outside of designated recreation sites. These are free and are available at all Forest Service, BLM, or CAL FIRE offices, or online (printer required). Remember to check for fire restrictions before you go!

    How to safely build and extinguish a campfire
    Get your campfire permit online

  • Wilderness Permits

    A young boy hikes along the Pacific Crest Trail

    Recreation permits may be required when extra measures are needed to protect natural or cultural resources. Wilderness Permits and California State Campfire Permits are required for trips into the following wilderness.

    Trinity Alps Wilderness

  • Commercial Filming and Photography

    Film crew filming in a forested area.

    Commercial filming and photography may take place on National Forests. Like other commercial uses of National Forest System lands or resources, commercial filming and photography requires a Special Use Permit.

    Commercial Filming and Photography

  • Special Use Permits

    A placeholder image

    Special Use Permits grant certain rights or privileges to occupy and use a specific area and contain specific terms and conditions that the permit holder must follow. They include activities such as group gatherings that have 75 or more people, outfitting and guiding, weddings, bicycle races, recreation organized events, recreation residence permits, road use permits, easements, etc.

    Special Use Permits

Fee-Free Days

On fee-free days, the Forest Service waives recreation fees at most day-use sites on lands managed by the agency. Participation by concession-operated sites may vary. The 2021 dates are:

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