Passes
You can purchase federal recreation passes online or at a national forest office near you. Contact the office you plan to visit by phone in advance to ensure passes are available and in stock.
*Please note, we no longer sell recreation passes at the Eastern Region Regional Office located at 626 E. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202.
For your convenience, there are three ways to purchase a recreation pass.
Order through the U.S. Geological Survey online or by phone (888) 275-8747.
Order by calling your local USDA .
Passes can be purchased from other federal agencies. Find one near you.
An interagency pass can be used to visit federally-managed lands across the nation. This means is can be used for Forest Service lands, including the Hiawatha National Forest, and for other agencies. Visit the USGS to learn more.
Free-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 2025 dates are:
- January 20, 2025: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- June 14, 2025: National Get Outdoors Day
- June 19, 2025: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- September 27, 2025: National Public Lands Day
- November 11, 2025: Veterans Day
Standard Amenity Fees
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 things like picnic tables, trash receptacles, toilets, parking lots, interpretive signing and security.
Examples
- Picnic areas
- Developed trailheads
- Destination visitor centers
Expanded Amenity Fees
These amenities provide specific services to individuals or groups that require higher costs for maintenance.
Examples
- Campgrounds
- Highly developed boat launches and swimming areas
- Cabin/lookout rentals
Services like electrical hookups, dump stations, special tours, transportation systems and reservation services are considered expanded amenities.
2025 Annual Pass
Cost: $80 annual pass
Available for: Everyone
Senior Annual Pass
Cost: $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.
Senior Lifetime Pass
Cost: $80 Lifetime Senior Pass
Available for: US citizens or permanent residents ages 62 or over. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship.
Military Passes
Cost: Free
Available for: Gold Star Families with a valid Gold Star Family Voucher and US military veterans with a valid, veteran ID.
Access Pass
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.
4th Grade Pass
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
Volunteer Pass
Cost: Free annual pass
Available for: Volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program.