Passes
Recreation passes provide access to Forest Service operated recreation sites in Washington and Oregon where a day use fee is required. Annual passes cover day-use or entrance fees all year, while single-day passes work for one day.
Where to get passes
- Buy passes in-person at a Forest Service office or local store
- Obtain passes online at Discover Your NW or US Geological Survey Store
- Get digital passes at Recreation.gov.
Fee Free Days
On specified Fee Free Dates dates, the Forest Service waives recreation fees at most day-use sites. Participation by concession-operated sites may vary.
Annual Passes
Expand the sections below for more information on the specific annual recreation passes available in the Pacific Northwest:
Cost: $30 annually
Buy a Northwest Forest Pass in person:
Find a Forest Office Find a Store Selling Passes
Order a Northwest Forest Pass online from one of our partners:
Discover Your Northwest Oregon Parks Forever
Get a digital Northwest Forest Pass:
Digital Annual Northwest Forest Passes are now available at www.recreation.gov, for no additional fee. To purchase visit a specific National Forest’s profile and look for pass options. Like the hardcopy version, a digital pass is valid at all Forest Service-operated sites in Oregon and Washington. The digital pass must be printed, signed, and displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard.
Benefits
- Honored at all Forest Service operated recreation sites in Washington and Oregon where a day use fee is required.
- Allows the pass holder use of recreation facilities at per-person sites. Other members in the party must pay the per-person fee.
- Allows the pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle use of the recreation facilities at per vehicle sites.
- Passes are interchangeable between all members of the same household.
- Frequent visitors of national forests may save money by buying an annual pass.
- Reduces Forest Service administrative costs therefore allowing more dollars to go toward improvements at recreation sites.
- One free decal may be issued per Annual Northwest Forest Pass for visitors who have an open topped vehicle (Jeeps, etc.), or motorcycles. Decals are available at Forest Service offices only.
Participating Recreation Sites
Cost: $35 Annually, or $10 for a 5-day pass.
About the Pacific Coast Passport
Benefits:
The Oregon Pacific Coast Passport is a multi-agency day use passport that covers entry or day use fees at dozens of federal fee sites Forest Service, National Parks Service, and Bureau of Land Management sites along Highway 101 and the Siuslaw National Forest.
Cost: Resident: $80; Non-Resident: $250
Find a Forest Office Find a Store Selling Passes
Buy Annual Pass OnlineGet a Digital 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.
- Waives most day use fees (except at some concessionaire-run sites) and most entrance fees for all the federal agencies listed below under "Participating Sites" across the United States.
- Frequent visitors of multiple federal agency lands may save money by buying an Interagency Annual Pass.
Cost: Annual ($20); Lifetime ($80)
Find a Forest Office Buy Annual Pass OnlineGet a Digital 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.
- Waives most day use fees (except at some concessionaire-run sites) and most entrance fees at all participating federal recreation sites.
- Valid for a year, or a pass holder's lifetime (annual vs. lifetime passes).
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.
Cost: Free
Request at a Forest Office Request Online Request a Digital 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.
- Waives most day use fees (except at some concessionaire-run sites) and most entrance fees at all participating federal recreation sites.
- Valid for pass holder's lifetime.
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.
Cost: Free
Request at a Forest OfficeRequest Online Request a Digital Pass
Military Annual Pass
- Available online with a processing fee on USGS Store. Free when obtained in-person at sites that issue passes, which include Federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees or other federal offices.
- Available to Current US Military and Dependents. Documentation is required.
- Covers entrance to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service sites, and covers Standard Amenity Fees at Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation sites, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites.
- Admits the pass owners and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or the pass owner and up to additional 3 adults (16 and over) at sites that charge per person.
- If purchased from the USGS Store, your name will be printed on your pass
What documentation is required for the Military-Annual Pass?
1. Current Military and Dependents:
- Current members of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force and National Guard with valid DoD CAC card
- Dependents of current U.S. military members with valid DD Form 1173
- U.S. Military Cadets with a valid CAC card
- U.S. Active Reservists (Do not need to be deployed) with a valid CAC card
2. The following individuals/groups DO NOT Qualify for the Interagency Military Annual Pass:
- Foreign military members (Including those stationed in the U S and have a CAC card)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees
- Public Health Service (PHS) members
- Inactive U.S. Reservists
- Civilian military contractors
- Civilian military employees
Can dependents of National Guard and the Reserve members acquire a pass?
Dependents of deployed military members with DoD Form 1173 may obtain a pass.
Are there any other benefits for military?
- In addition to the Interagency Annual-Military Pass for current military and dependents, there is now a Military-Lifetime Pass for Gold Star Families and Veterans.
- If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident age 62 or older you qualify for a Senior-Annual or Senior-Lifetime Pass.
- If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have a medically determined permanent disability you may qualify for a free Access Pass. The Access Pass and both the Senior-Annual and Senior-Lifetime Pass are the only passes that may provide a discount on some expanded amenity fees such as camping.
Military Lifetime Pass
- Available online with a processing fee at the USGS Store. Free when obtained in-person at sites that issue passes, which include Federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees or other federal offices.
- Available to Gold Star Families and Veterans. See section below for specific documentation required.
- Covers entrance fees at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service sites and covers Standard Amenity Fees at Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation sites, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites.
- Admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private, non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or the pass owner and up to additional 3 adults (16 and over) at sites that charge per person.
- If purchased from the USGS Store, your name will be printed on your pass.
Who qualifies for the Interagency Military-Lifetime Pass and what documentation is required?
1. Gold Star Families
- Gold Star Families are next of kin of a member of the United States Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack, or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the United States Armed Forces, as explained in Department of Defense Instruction 1348.36
- Gold Star Family members must self-certify by applying for a Military-Lifetime Pass online at https://store.usgs.gov/MilitaryPass or downloading and printing a special voucher to either present to the ranger, exchange for a Military Pass in person, or place on the vehicle dashboard at unstaffed sites. Gold Star Vouchers may be downloaded from https://www.nps.gov/customcf/goldstar/voucher.htm
2. Veterans
- Individuals who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and are able to present one of the following valid non-expired forms of identification when entering or using federal lands:
- Department of Defense Identification Card (CAC Card, DD Form 2, DD Form 2765)
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
- Veteran ID Card
- Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card
- When acquiring a pass in person, the actual IDs listed above must be presented. As of September 2022, the VA only provides a digital version of the #3 Veteran ID Card. When acquiring a pass online, photocopies or digital images are accepted. Form DD-214 is not accepted.
Cost: Free
Get your Fourth Grade PassGet a Digital Fourth Grade Pass
Benefits
- Available to U.S. 4th graders (including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age) who present a valid Every Kid Outdoors paper pass.
- Valid for the duration of the 4th grade school year through the following summer (September -- August).
- 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.
- 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 people who are 16 and older (for a maximum of four people). Anyone 15 and younger is free of charge.
Day Use Passes
Cost: $5
Buy Online & Print Buy Online & Mailed Buy at a Store
Buy a Digital Recreation Pass pass on your device (available for these areas):
- Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
- Gifford Pinchot National Forest (by district)
- Deschutes National Forest
- Mt. Hood National Forest
- Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest (by district)
- Olympic National Forest
- Siuslaw National Forest
Benefits
- Honored at all Forest Service operated recreation sites in Washington and Oregon where a day use fee is required.
- Allows the pass holder use of recreation facilities at per-person sites. Other members in the party must pay the per-person fee.
- Allows the pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle use of the recreation facilities at per vehicle sites.
- Passes are interchangeable between all members of the same household.
- Frequent visitors of national forests may save money by buying an annual pass.
- Reduces Forest Service administrative costs therefore allowing more dollars to go toward improvements at recreation sites.
Cost: $35 Annually, or $10 for a 5-day pass.
About the Pacific Coast Passport
Benefits:
The Oregon Pacific Coast Passport is a multi-agency day use passport that covers entry or day use fees at dozens of federal fee sites (Forest Service, National Parks Service, Bureau of Land Management) and Oregon State Park sites along Highway 101 and the Siuslaw National Forest.
State Issued Passes
Parking at Sno-Parks during the winter season requires a Sno-Park Permit from the state. Money from these permits pays for plowing access roads and grooming trails. Permits are not available on site, so pick one up before your trip!
Washington Sno-Parks
Find a Sno-Park in Washington. Contact: winter@parks.wa.gov
View WA Sno-Park Permit Information.
Buy onlineBuy at a local store
Oregon Sno-Parks
Find a Sno-Park in Oregon. Contact: SnoParkPermits@odot.state.or.us
Federal and State recreation passes are different and usually not accepted for one another's sites. Here's helpful links to see what Oregon and Washington provide for recreation passes for State Parks and other sites they manage.
About Recreation Fees
What do Fees Pay For?
Public lands are a valuable part of our legacy. Recreation fees are an investment in this legacy; they benefit those who are using public lands and they provide a sustainable source of revenue. Recreation fees support work that helps keep water clean, restore and protect the environment, provide safety measures, make recreation opportunities available, and ensure opportunities for future generations.
Outdoor recreation on national forest lands contributes about $14.5 billion to the national economy and provides about 223,000 jobs.
Many recreation activities and sites are free. Law ensures no fee exists for:
- General access
- Traveling through areas where no facilities or services are used
- Access to overlooks or scenic pullouts
- Undesignated parking areas without facilities
- Solely for parking
- Picnicking along roads or trails
- People under the age of 16 (Standard Amenity Fees only)
Recreation Fee Types
Recreation fees, authorized by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, enables federal land management agencies to reinvest the following types of fees back into the recreation sites:
Standard Amenity Fees
- Examples: Picnic areas, developed trailheads, destination visitor centers
- Pass Coverage: Yes. Pass coverage does vary at concessionaire-managed sites
Expanded Amenity Fees
- Examples: Campgrounds, highly developed boat launches and swimming areas, cabin or lookout rentals. Services like hookups, dump stations, special tours, transportation systems and reservation services.
- Pass Coverage: No. However, holders of Senior and Access Passes do receive a 50% discount for single family campsites.