Passes
First, determine whether or not the site you plan to visit requires a fee.
To make the best choice on which pass to purchase, you need to know a bit 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, a multi-day pass or annual pass that covers a forest or region may be the best buy. Forest Service regions offer more ‘localized’ passes and you can find information about those on the respective forest and grassland websites.
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. You may also qualify for the Interagency Senior passes or Interagency Access Pass. Below is a list of all the available Interagency Passes:
Interagency Recreation Passes
Annual Pass
Annual Pass:
Available to anyone.
Benefits
- Honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or *standard amenity fees.
- Valid for 12 months from the month of purchase. Expires the last day of the month punched.
- The Interagency Annual Pass has two signature lines and any two individuals may sign the pass. Both are considered pass holders.
- Admits pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle.
- At per-person fee areas, admits pass holder and up to 3 persons. Persons 15 and younger are admitted free of charge.
- Frequent visitors of multiple federal agency lands may save money by buying an Interagency Annual Pass.
Validation
The date is validated by the seller at the time of purchase. The pass is not valid for use until at least one person signs the pass.
Display
- At staffed sites, show your pass to the booth attendant.
- At unstaffed sites, use hangtag to display pass from rear-view mirror. Hangtags are available at Forest Service offices.
- At per-person sites, present pass upon request.
Other Important Details
- Anyone can purchase an Interagency Annual Pass.
- Interagency Annual Passes are nontransferable. Two people can sign and use the Interagency Annual Pass. Both are considered pass holders; however, once signed, the pass may not be given to or used by anyone whose name is not on the pass.
- The Interagency Annual Pass belongs to the signer(s) only and s/he must be present for the pass to be used. Photo identification may be requested to verify pass ownership.
- Concessionaires may or may not honor the Interagency Annual Pass, according to the terms of their current permit.
- Decals for open topped vehicles may be issued free with an Interagency Annual Pass. Decals can only be used for motorcycles or open-topped vehicles at unstaffed sites and are only valid with an Interagency Annual Pass.
- Interagency Annual Passes do NOT cover expanded amenity fees or special recreation permits.
*Standard Amenity Fee:
Examples: Picnic areas, developed trailheads, destination visitor centers, high impact recreation areas
Explanation: Typically, standard amenity fees are day use fees, often covered by a day or annual pass. Each site or area must contain six "amenities," which are picnic tables, trash, toilet, parking, interpretive signing and security.
Senior Pass
Senior Pass: $80 Lifetime or $20 Annually
Available to citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are 62 years of age or older.
Benefits
- Honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or *standard amenity fees.
- Senior Annual Pass – Valid for one year from month of purchase.
- Senior Lifetime Pass - Valid for pass holder's lifetime.
- Admits pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle.
- At per-person fee areas, admits pass holder and up to 3 persons. Persons 15 and younger are admitted free of charge.
- Receives a 50% discount on some expanded amenity fees like campgrounds (does not include hookups for water/sewer/electricity), highly developed boat launches and swimming sites and for specialized interpretive services.
Display
- At staffed sites, show your pass to the booth attendant.
- At unstaffed sites, use hangtag to display pass from rear-view mirror. Hangtags are available at Forest Service offices.
- At per-person sites, present pass upon request.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
- Must be 62 years of age or older.
- Must obtain in person.
- Must show proof of age, which may be a state driver's license showing birth date, a birth certificate, or similar document.
Other Important Details
- Nontransferable.
- A $20 Senior Annual Pass may be applied towards the purchase of a $80 Senior Lifetime Pass. Simply bring your Senior Annual pass(es), with your name on the signature line. Each valid pass will count as $20 towards the $80 purchase price of the Senior Lifetime Pass.
- Belongs to the signer only and s/he must be present for the pass to be used. Photo identification may be requested to verify pass ownership.
- Concessionaires may or may not honor this pass, according to the terms of their current permit.
- Pass holders receive a 50% discount on some expanded amenity fees.
- Decals may be issued free for open topped vehicles at unstaffed sites. Decals are only valid when the owner has an accompanying valid pass.
- Are not valid for any special recreation permits.
*Standard Amenity Fee:
Examples: Picnic areas, developed trailheads, destination visitor centers, high impact recreation areas
Explanation: Typically, standard amenity fees are day use fees, often covered by a day or annual pass. Each site or area must contain six "amenities," which are picnic tables, trash, toilet, parking, interpretive signing and security.
Military Pass
Military Pass: Free
Available to active military personnel and their dependents.
Interagency Military Pass
Benefits
- Honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or *standard amenity fees.
- Valid for 12 months from the month of issue. Expires the last day of the month punched. Pass will be issued through December 2013.
- The Interagency Annual Military Pass has two signature lines and can be signed by another active military member or dependent at any time. Both are considered pass holders.
- Admits pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle.
- At per-person fee areas, admits pass holder and up to 3 persons. Persons 15 and younger are admitted free of charge.
Validation
The date is validated by the issuer at the time of issuance. The pass is not valid for use until at least one person signs the pass.
Display
- At staffed sites, show your pass to the booth attendant.
- At unstaffed sites, use hangtag to display pass from rear-view mirror. Hangtags are available at Forest Service offices.
- At per-person sites, present pass upon request.
Eligibility Requirements
For active military personnel and their dependents.
- To verify active military status, the applicant must submit a Department of Defense Common Access Card (CAC) - Geneva Conventions Identification Card that verifies that the person is an active member of the U. S. military.
- To verify dependent, the applicant must submit a Department of Defense Uniformed Services Identification Card - DD Form 1173 that identifies the dependent and his/her sponsor.
Other Important Details
Interagency Annual Military Passes are nontransferable. Two active military members or dependents can sign and use the Interagency Annual Military Pass. Both are considered pass holders; however, once signed, the pass may not be given to or used by anyone whose name is not on the pass.
The Interagency Annual Military Pass belongs to the signer(s) only and s/he must be present for the pass to be used. Photo identification may be requested to verify pass ownership.
Concessionaires may or may not honor the Interagency Annual Military Pass, according to the terms of their current permit.
Decals for open topped vehicles may be issued free with an Interagency Annual Military Pass. Decals can only be used for motorcycles or open-topped vehicles at unstaffed sites and are only valid with an Interagency Annual Military Pass.
Interagency Annual Military Passes do NOT cover expanded amenity fees or special recreation permits.
*Standard Amenity Fee:
Examples: Picnic areas, developed trailheads, destination visitor centers, high impact recreation areas
Explanation: Typically, standard amenity fees are day use fees, often covered by a day or annual pass. Each site or area must contain six "amenities," which are picnic tables, trash, toilet, parking, interpretive signing and security.
Access Pass
Access Pass: Free, lifetime
Available to those that have a medical determination and documentation of blindness or permanent disability.
Interagency Access Pass
Benefits
- Honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or *standard amenity fees.
- Valid for pass holder's lifetime.
- Admits pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle.
- At per-person fee areas, admits pass holder and up to 3 persons. Persons 15 and younger are admitted free of charge.
- Receives a 50% discount on some expanded amenity fees like campgrounds (does not include hookups for water/sewer/electricity), highly developed boat launches and swimming sites and for specialized interpretive services.
Display
- At staffed sites, show your pass to the booth attendant.
- At unstaffed sites, use hangtag to display pass from rear-view mirror. Hangtags are available at Forest Service offices.
- At per-person sites, present pass upon request.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
- Must have a medical determination and documentation of blindness or permanent disability.
- Must obtain in person
- Must submit one of the following documents:
- A statement signed by a licensed physician attesting that the applicant has a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that severely limits one or more major life activity.
- A document issued by a federal agency, such as the Veteran's Administration, which attests that the applicant has been medically determined to be eligible to receive federal benefits as a result of disability. Other acceptable federal agency documents include proof of receipt of Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to disability.
- A document issued by a state agency, such as the vocational rehabilitation agency, which attests that the applicant has been medically determined to be eligible to receive that agencies benefits or services as a result of medically determined permanent disability. Showing a state motor vehicle department disability sticker, license plate, or hang tag is not acceptable documentation.
Other Important Details
- Interagency Access Passes are nontransferable.
- The Interagency Access Pass belongs to the signer only and s/he must be present for the pass to be used. Photo identification may be requested to verify pass ownership.
- Concessionaires may or may not honor the Interagency Access Pass, according to the terms of their current permit.
- Interagency Access Pass holders receive a 50% discount on some expanded amenity fees. (More Information)
- Interagency Access Passes are NOT valid for any special recreation permits.
*Standard Amenity Fee:
Examples: Picnic areas, developed trailheads, destination visitor centers, high impact recreation areas
Explanation: Typically, standard amenity fees are day use fees, often covered by a day or annual pass. Each site or area must contain six "amenities," which are picnic tables, trash, toilet, parking, interpretive signing and security.
Interagency Recreation Passes
Every Kid in a Park Pass: Free to 4th Graders
For more information: Click Here