Passes

• Forest Passes - Only good on the Mark Twain National Forest
• Interagency Passes - Good at any Forest Service, National Park, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and US Fish and Wildlife Service sites that charge an entrance or standard amenity fee
• Day Use Passes - Some USDA Forest Service operated sites charge a day use fee. This fee can be paid on-site using the provided fee tubes.
  • Fees must be paid using cash or check, no credit card machines are available at any sites.
  • Annual and Lifetime passes can be purchased to cover day use fees at USDA Forest Service operated sites.
  • Fees vary by site, but are usually only $2 or $3.

To buy a Mark Twain pass you will need to call or visit a Mark Twain office. 

Interagency passes can be purchased online or from any nearby federal land management office.

Many recreation activities in the Mark Twain National Forest are available at no cost to the recreational user.

Where developed recreation areas are concerned, however, there is a cost to operating these areas that is recouped through the use of day use fees.

To provide an affordable alternative for frequent visitors to the forests, or for folks who make their National Forests a destination for a week's vacation, we offer a variety of recreational passes and permits that help you save money on day use fees.

Ninety-five percent of fees paid through the Recreation Enhancement Act stay local to help the Forest maintain high quality recreation facilities and trails and:

• increased field patrols by wilderness rangers/portage crews; wilderness maintenance for trails, portages, campsites; increased visitor contact by interpreters and other education projects;
• area-specific maps, brochures, travel planners, etc.; specific campsite cleanup and human waste removal; special field projects like boardwalks, weed removal, campsite restoration;
• volunteers supporting the wilderness program;
• administration of outfitter guides and cooperators;
• wilderness character monitoring and possible mitigation actions;
• safety advisories & training (blow down events, fires, etc.);
• maintenance of entry point facilities (kiosks) and access to entry points (ramps);
• permit reservation system support;
• support of emergency medical and rescue services; and special orders, like fire, or other emergency closures.