Passes
The Forest Service offers places for hiking, biking, nature viewing, scenic drives, and so much more. Many of the facilities and services associated with these opportunities are free. However, some do require fees or permits to help maintain, manage and improve your national forests and grasslands. Requirements may vary.
Recreation Passes
National Passes
The America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands are a suite of annual and lifetime passes that provides U.S. citizens and visitors an affordable and convenient way to recreate on Federal recreational lands. They cover the use of amenities and services at many day-use sites on US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. They also can be used at national parks, wildlife refuges, and other federal lands.
There are so many places to explore in the National Forests in Alabama.
Purchase Recreation Passes
On-line
Places to Get Interagency Passes
America the Beautiful Passes can be purchased online through the US Geological Survey website. A $10 processing will be charged and passes will be mailed. https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes.
*As of January 2026 - America the Beautiful Passes are also available through Recreation.gov in a new, digital format. The available passes in this new, digital format include: Access Pass, Resident and Non-Resident Annual Pass, Senior Annual Pass, Senior Lifetime Pass, Military Lifetime Pass, Military Annual Pass, and Every Kid Outdoors 4th Grade Pass. With this new enhancement, you can store, manage, and access your Digital America the Beautiful Passes all from your Recreation.gov account, mobile app or mobile wallet.
In-person
Passes are available for purchase at any one of the six ranger districts.
- Bankhead National Forest, 1070 Highway 33, Double Springs, Alabama (205-489-5111)
- Conecuh National Forest, 24481 Alabama Hwy 55, Andalusia, Alabama (334-222-2555)
- Talladaga National Forest
- Oakmulgee District, 9901 Highway 5, Brent, Alabama (205-926-9765)
- Shoal Creek District, 45 Highway 281, Heflin, Alabama (256-463-2272)
- Talladega District, 1001 North Street (Hwy 21 North), Talladega, Alabama (256-362-2909)
- Tuskegee National Forest, 125 National Forest Road 949, Tuskegee, Alabama (334-552-3145)
- Currently, passes are being sold at the Supervisor's Office by appointment. Please contact 334-832-4470 to schedule an appointment to purchase a pass.
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.
Special Recreation Permits
- Examples: Shooting ranges, special events, specialized trail systems
- Pass Coverage: No. However, some exceptions do exist.
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. Examples are:
- Off-highway vehicle riding
- Rock climbing
- Wilderness areas that have limited access
- Shooting ranges
Special Use Permits
Special Use Permits grant certain rights or privileges to occupy and use a specific area. These permits contain specific terms and conditions that the permit holder must follow. They are issued to profit and non-profit organizations and include:
- Group activities that have 75 or more people or if a fee is collected for the activity
- Outfitting and guiding
- Recreation events, such as weddings, family reunions and bicycle races
For information about permits required to conduct business on national forests, please visit Special Uses.