Official websites use .gov
A .gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the
United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock
(
) or https:// means you've safely
connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only
on official, secure websites.
Recreation Passes & Permits
America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series
Each pass covers entrance fees at lands managed by the National Park Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service and standard amenity fees (day use fees) at lands managed by the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Army Corps of Engineers.
NEW
In 2024, all passes will have one signature line for a single passholder. A pass covers entrance, day use fees, standard amenity fees and expanded amenity fees for the pass owner and all occupants in a personal vehicle at sites that charge per vehicle or, the pass owner and up to three additional adults (16 and over) at sites that charge per person. Children ages 15 or under are admitted free.
To find a location near you that issues these interagency passes, search thelist of all federal recreation sites where the passes are issued, including national parks. In addition to getting one of the Interagency Passes in person at national parks and other federal recreation sites, many of the America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands (Interagency) Passes are available to order from the USGS Online Store (allow at least three weeks for order processing and delivery). Please visit the USGS Online Store for detailed information about how to purchase a pass online and whether purchasing a pass now is the right decision for you.
Please remember when making your purchase that Interagency Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable, cannot be extended and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Passholders must show valid photo identification (ID) with each pass.
The image is a decision tree to assist people deciding which entrance pass to get. It is titled “Which Interagency Pass is Right for Me?” Text reads “America the Beautiful – The National Park and Federal Recreation Lands Pass. There are a variety of options in the interagency pass program. These passes apply to multiple agencies (see logos below) and may be obtained with appropriate ID or documentation. Funds from Pass sales help Federal agencies support high-quality experiences for visitors”
The infographic includes logos a website to “store.usgs.gov” to find more information about these passes. And includes logos of participating federal agencies, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is also decorated with silhouettes of trees and a bison.
The first row of pass options includes the questions and answers:
It asks, “Are you between the ages of 16-62?” then points to an Annual pass for $80.
It asks, “Are you a federal lands volunteer that has completed 250 hours of service?” then points to a Volunteer pass for free.
Below a question asking, “Are you a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident?” there are multiple pass options:
It asks, “Are you age 62 or over?” then points to a Senior Annual pass for $20 or Senior Lifetime pass for $80.
It asks, “Are you a Gold Star Family member or veteran?” then points to a Military Lifetime pass for free.
It asks, “Do you have a medically determined permanent disability?” then points to an Access pass for free.
It asks, “Are you currently serving in the Military or a dependent?” then points to a Military Annual pass for free.
It asks, “Are you a U.S. student in the 4th grade or home-school equivalent?” then points to a 4th grade pass for free.
Annual Pass
Photo on the pass by Paulette Donnellon, 2023 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner
Cost: $80 annual pass
Available for: Everyone
How to purchase:
- In person:
- Online:
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Online Store'sAnnual Passand Frequently Asked Questions webpages.
- This pass is non-transferable to another person.
- New in 2024, the Annual Pass will have one signature line for a single passholder. This change is necessary to address issues of consistency with other interagency passes, reduce fraudulent misuses, and allow for increased program flexibility.
- Motorcycles are treated the same as passenger vehicles, so each motorcycle will be required to have a passholder and pass on board. This standardizes how motorcycles are treated for all pass types. One pass will allow in one motorcycle.
- Passes cover entrance fees or standard amenity day use fees for the pass owner and accompanying passengers in a private vehicle. For areas that charge a per-person fee, the pass admits the passholder and three adults (16 and older).
- All 2023 passes will continue to be honored until expired.
Military Annual Pass
Photo on the pass by Paulette Donnellon, 2023 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner
Cost: Free
Available for:
- Current US military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members. Please check photo ID requirements before arriving.
How to get:
- In person:Find a location to obtain this pass at a federal recreation site by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).
- Online: Order this free pass from theUSGS Online Store. Processing and shipping fees will be charged for online orders.
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Store'sFrequently Asked Questionswebpage.
-
Passes may not be issued as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.
Military Lifetime Pass
Photo on the pass by Paulette Donnellon, 2023 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner
Cost:Free
Available for:
- Gold Star Families with a valid Gold Star Family Voucher
- US military veterans with a valid, veteran ID
How to get:
- In person:Find a location to obtain this pass at a federal recreation site by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).
- Online: Order this free pass from theUSGS Online Store. Processing and shipping fees will be charged for online orders.
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Online Store'sFrequently Asked Questions webpage.
- Learn about free access for U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Families through a Military Lifetime Pass.
- Passes may not be issued as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.
4th Grade Pass
Photo on the pass taken at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (Interagency Pass Working Group Design).
Cost: Free pass valid for the duration of the 4th grader's school year though the following summer (September-August)
Available for: US 4th graders, including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age, with a valid Every Kid Outdoors paper voucher
How to get:
- Step 1: Get a paper voucher by visiting theEvery Kid Outdoors website and following the instructions.
- Step 2: Exchange a printed voucher for the Annual 4th Grade Pass at federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees (day use fee).Find a location to pick up this pass at a federal recreation site.
- NOTE: Digital versions of the paper voucher, such as on smart phones or tablets, are not accepted to exchange for an Annual 4th Grade Pass.
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on theEvery Kid Outdoors websiteand the USGS Store'sFrequently Asked Questions webpage.
- Educators may help students obtain 4th Grade Passes. Learn more at theEvery Kid Outdoors website. Educators however, do not qualify for a 4th Grade Pass but may want to get one of the other Interagency Passes.
Senior Pass
Photos on the passes are by Lori Wilkinson, Yellowstone National Park (top) and Paulette Donnellon, 2023 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner (bottom).
Cost:
- $80 Lifetime Senior Pass
- $20 Annual Senior Pass
Available for: US citizens or permanent residents ages 62 or over. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship.
How to purchase:
- In person:Find a location to purchase this pass at a federal recreation site.
- Online: Order thelifetime passor theannual pass from the USGS Online Store.
- NOTE: Processing and shipping fees will be charged for online orders.
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Store'sSenior Lifetime Pass,Senior Annual Pass, and Frequently Asked Questions webpages.
- The Senior Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services.
- The Senior Pass generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners.
- Golden Age Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes are still honored according to the provisions of the pass.
- Passes may not be purchased as gifts since eligible recipient must show proof of eligibility.
Access Pass
Photo on the pass Steven Koehler, Yellowstone National Park
Cost: Free lifetime pass
Available for: US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Applicants must provide documentation of permanent disability and residency or citizenship.
How to get:
- In person:Find a location to purchase this pass at a federal recreation site.
- Order this free pass from the USGS Store. Processing and shipping fees will be charged for online orders.
- Mail: Purchase an Access Pass using an application form (558KB PDF) that can be exchanged through mail. Processing and shipping fees will be charged for mail orders.
Additional Information:
- Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Store'sAccess Pass and Frequently Asked Questions webpages.
- FindFrequently Asked Questions about this and other interagency passes on the USGS Store's website.
- The Access Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and specialized interpretive services.
- The Access Pass generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners.
- Golden Access Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes are still honored according to the provisions of the pass. Passes may not be purchased as gifts since eligible recipient must show proof of eligibility.
- Passes may not be purchased as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.
Volunteer Pass
Photo on the pass by Paulette Donnellon, 2023 Share the Experience Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner
Cost: Free annual pass
Available for: Volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program
How to get: Volunteers should contact their volunteer coordinator for more information.
Additional Information:
- Find Frequently Asked Questions about this and other interagency passes on the USGS Store's website.
- The Volunteer Pass is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
- Contact your local federal recreation site for more information about volunteer opportunities or visit Volunteer.gov.
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 2024 dates are:
- January 15, 2024: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- June 8, 2023: National Get Outdoors Day
- June 19, 2024: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- September 28, 2024: National Public Lands Day
- November 11, 2024: Veterans Day
More Information
These six agencies participate in the Interagency Pass Program:
- National Park Service
- US Forest Service
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Bureau of Land Management
- Bureau of Reclamation
- US Army Corps of Engineers
For more information about the terms used (for example, "non-commercial vehicle" or "pass owner," see Pass Program Definitions on the USGS website.
Key information
The USGS Store provides Frequently Asked Questions about Recreational Passes. For more information about permits and passes, see our national Recreation Fees and Passes website.
* The entrance fee waiver does not cover concessionaire or permit fees for some activities such as hunting, fishing or special tours.
National Forest Adventure Pass
Wherever you live in Southern California, you're just a short drive away from a spectacular wildland adventure—recreating in the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino National Forests! Here you will find mountains as high as 11,500 feet, canyons, vast forests, lakes, waterfalls, rivers and streams, and a wealth of recreation activities—all waiting for you.
On the San Bernardino National Forest, you can enjoy hiking, camping, mountain biking, off-highway vehicle travel, picnicking, winter snow play, cross-country skiing and many other activities.
Your national forest lands are a unique and precious resource, yours to enjoy and take care of so that they will always be there...for present and future generations.
Any of the recreation passes depicted below pay for Standard Amenity Fees (day-use) charged on the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino National Forests.
National Forest Daily Adventure Pass
Photo on the pass by Joseph Zayachak, 2020 - Angeles National Forest
Cost: $5
Available for: Everyone
How to get: You can purchase your Daily Adventure Pass at:
- Local - San Bernardino National Forest Offices
- Local Vendors - Choose your vendor from this Vendor Map
- Online - MyScenicDrives.com
Additional Information:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Daily Adventure Pass is valid for 1 day from the date that is scratched off
National Forest Annual Adventure Pass
Photo on the pass by Joseph Zayachak, 2020 - Angeles National Forest
Cost: $30
Available for: Everyone
How to get: You can purchase your Annual Adventure Pass at:
- Local - San Bernardino National Forest Offices
- Local Vendors - Choose your vendor from this Vendor Map
- Online - MyScenicDrives.com
Additional Information:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Annual Adventure Pass is valid for 12 months from the month of purchase
National Forest Second Vehicle Adventure Pass
Photo on the pass by Joseph Zayachak, 2020 - Angeles National Forest
Cost: $5
Available for: Everyone
How to get: You can purchase your Daily Adventure Pass at:
- Local - San Bernardino National Forest Offices
- Local Vendors - Choose your vendor from this Vendor Map
- Online - MyScenicDrives.com
Additional Information:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Second Vehicle Annual Adventure Pass is valid for 12 months from the month of purchase
Many of the facilities and services in San Bernardino National Forest are free. Some areas and facilities do require the Adventure Pass or other fees to help maintain, manage and improve the amenities that you enjoy.
The Recreation Fee Program, which includes the Adventure Pass, helps:
Learn more about the Adventure Pass program and other recreation passes that might meet your needs as you enjoy your public lands.
Recreation Permits
The Forest Service may require recreation permits when extra measures are needed to protect natural or cultural resources, to restrict the number of people participating in the activity at any one time, to provide extra safety or for other specialized services. These permits may be issued to individuals as "Special Recreation Permits." Examples are:
- Off-highway vehicle riding
- Boating on designated Wild and Scenic Rivers
- Rock climbing
- Wilderness areas that have limited access
- Shooting ranges
- Groomed cross-country ski trails
Please contact the nearest Forest Service office for information about permits that may be required in that area.
Forest Permits
Please select from the following options to learn more.
You can help protect the forest from wildfires by knowing and following rules for the safe use of fire. You must obtain a California Campfire Permit if you plan to build a campfire in a yellow post site or use a stove, unless you are in a developed recreation area (campground or picnic area). Remember, wood and charcoal fires are never permitted outside yellow post sites, picnic areas or campgrounds on the San Bernardino National Forest.
Permits are available online at the California Campfire Permit website or at offices of the San Bernardino National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management, and CAL FIRE Riverside. Remember that regulations governing campfires are specific to each National Forest and change with weather conditions and the seasons. To protect yourself and the forest, before each visit check with the Forest Service for current campfire restrictions. If you smoke outside a vehicle, be sure you do so within a cleared area at least three feet in diameter.
The San Bernardino National Forest has eight designated Wildernesses: San Gorgonio, Cucamonga, San Jacinto, Santa Rosa, Bighorn Mountain, Cahuilla Mountain, South Fork San Jacinto, and part of the Sheep Mountain wilderness, area. Maps of these areas are available for purchase at ranger stations. Wilderness permits are not required, but the Forest Service strongly recommends you to obtain a Wilderness Permit before going into any of San Bernardino National Forest’s eight wilderness areas. The permit system benefits both you and the wilderness area by helping the Forest Service monitor visitor usage and environmental impacts.
Overnight visitors who obtain a permit and pre-arrange a campsite will improve their experience by ensuring the greatest amount of solitude, and they will gather valuable information on trails, water availability, area closures, fire conditions and responsible recreation (i.e. Leave No Trace principles).
Wilderness Permits also provide a record of visitors to the area, which enables the Forest Service to monitor whether all visitors return. This record has proven valuable in search-and-rescue operations for lost or injured hikers. If you choose not to obtain a Wilderness Permit, it is highly recommend you leave your itinerary with a friend or family member.
Signs leading to wilderness areas may have outdated information about permit requirements, which the Forest Service is actively working to correct.
- Wilderness permits can be reserved up to 3 months in advance.
- The number of people admitted to the Wilderness is limited—on some summer weekends,
- Wilderness areas fill to capacity well in advance. The best advice is to plan ahead.
- Wilderness permits for the San Gorgonio Wilderness can be requested by completing the San Gorgonio Overnight Wilderness Permit.
- Cucamonga Wilderness Permit can be requested by completing the Cucamonga Day Hike or Overnight Wilderness Permit.
- Wilderness permits for the San Jacinto Wilderness can be requested by visiting the Forest Service Volunteer Association webpage and reading San Jacinto Wilderness Permit Information
- Please contact the local Ranger Station for the area you plan to visit.
When camping in the Wilderness, lightweight gas stoves are recommended. Wilderness permits cover use of your gas stove. Fires are not permitted in Wilderness areas in the San Bernardino National Forest.
-
Digital Passes For Adventure Pass Fee Sites Now Available
The San Bernardino National Forest is now offering digital passes for recreation fee sites! Purchase a day use digital pass prior to your visit or onsite at one of our fee locations (cell coverage dependent).
-
Share the Experience Photo Contest
The Share the Experience Photo Contest is an annual photography competition encouraging all nature lovers and amateur shutterbugs to capture their favorite views, moments and adventures on the nation's public lands. The Grand Prize includes $10,000 plus other great prizes...
-
Your Fees Make A Difference
National Forests in California are using recreation fee revenues to improve and enhance recreation opportunities. See how your fees have made a difference!
-
R5 Recreation Resource Advisory Committee
The Pacific Southwest Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) is a citizen's Federal Advisory Committee that provides recommendations on creating new or changing existing recreation fees managed by the Forest Service in the Pacific Southwest Region.
-
Every Kid Outdoors: Kid-Friendly Locations
The Forest Service wants to see #everykidoutdoors! That’s why every 4th Grader is free—and bring a car full of family and friends for free!
-
Free Access Granted to Military Veterans and Gold Star Families
Without those brave men and women that served our country and uniform, and without the support of their families, our nation would not be what it is today. To show our gratitude for their selfless service, the USDA Forest Service announced it will offer U.S. military veterans and Gold Star families fee-free access to their national forests and grasslands.
-
Wilderness Permits
A free wilderness permit is required for day hikes and overnight trips.