Passes & Permits
How to Obtain a Pass and Hang Tag
You can secure a pass at the Forest Service's Recreation Passes and Permits page or contact National Forest in Mississippi offices.
Which Pass Do I Need?
To make the best choice on which pass to purchase, you should think about your recreation plans for the next year.
Your best value may be a single-day pass.
Or if you’re a frequent visitor to one or more sites, an annual pass that covers a forest may be the best buy.
An Interagency Annual Pass may be your best value if you plan to visit many different federal lands across the nation that include lands managed by other federal agencies.
The following overview describes the passes accepted by the National Forests in Mississippi.
Mississippi Adventure Pass
Mississippi Annual Forest-wide OHV Pass
America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
Adventure Pass
This $50 pass entitles you to unlimited day use in participating fee areas forest wide for one year. Recreation day-use fee areas in the National Forests in Mississippi include picnic areas, swim beaches, and boat launches.
Interagency Senior Pass, Interagency Access Pass, Golden Age Passport, and Golden Access Passport holders are eligible for a 50% discount on the National Forests in Mississippi Adventure Pass, an annual day-use pass valid at these Recreation Area expanded amenity fee sites.
What is covered
This annual pass is honored at day use fee areas operated by the National Forests in Mississippi.
What is NOT covered
Fees for overnight use.
Fees to reserve a picnic pavilion.
Fees in other national forests across the United States
Your Annual Day-use Pass will cover day-use fees at these special places:
Bienville Ranger District
Marathon Lake Recreation Area
Shongelo Recreation Area
Chickasawhay Ranger District
Turkey Fork Recreation Area
De Soto Ranger District
Big Biloxi Recreation Area
Homochitto Ranger District
Clear Springs Recreation Area
Holly Springs Ranger District
Chewalla Lake Recreation Area
Puskus Lake Recreation Area
Tombigbee Ranger District
Choctaw Lake Recreation Area
Davis Lake Recreation Area
Mississippi Annual Forest-wide OHV Pass
If you like to ride motorized trails, purchase a $60.00 annual Mississippi Forest-wide OHV Pass
Purchasing this pass allows the pass holder to ride any designated OHV trail on National Forest Service lands in Mississippi. Funds generated with this pass help maintain OHV trails in the National Forests in Mississippi.
Trails are open only to vehicles less than or equal to 50" wide. Please see the official Motor Vehicle Use Map or each trail website for detailed information.
Motorized trails close when conditions are wet to prevent trail damage and erosion into streams. Check the status of your favorite trail or Call Before You Haul. For more information, visit a local district office.
Please follow Tread Lightly principles to keep roads and trails sustainable.
The pass can be purchased at Forest Service Offices in Mississippi.
The Mississippi Annual Forest-wide OHV Pass is accepted at the following locations:
Designated OHV Trail Riding Areas
Chickasawhay
Little Tiger ATV/Motorcycle Trail
De Soto
Bethel OHV Trails
Rattlesnake Bay ATV Trail
Tombigbee
Chickasaw ATV/Motorcycle Trail
Applying for a Special Use Permit
Forests within the Southern Region offer private business opportunities through the award of a special use permit by responding to an advertised prospectus solicitation.
The first step in obtaining permit authorization is to contact the local ranger district office. For more information on how to apply and frequently asked questions about what special use permits are and when they are needed, go to our Special Use Permit page.
Spotlights
Recreation Passes
Learn more about how to obtain annual America the Beautiful interagency recreation passes here.
Forest Products Permits
Looking for information on wood for fuel, mushrooms or other forest products for personal use? Click here to learn more.
Event, Commercial and Other Permits
If an activity on National Forest System lands involves 75 or more participants or spectators, a permit is required. Learn more by clicking here.