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Federal Recreation Pass Programs

Federal Recreation Fees Support Our National Heritage

Entrance and use fees for federal lands are not only used for conserving
our nation's land, wildlife, waterways and historical sites, but are used to
develop, maintain and improve visitor services and recreation opportunities.

Download a printable version (in PDF format) of this guide to Federal Recreation Pass Programs:
First page of the Federal Recreation Pass Programs brochure (or in 8.5 by 11 format)
Second page of the Federal Recreation Pass Programs brochure (or in 8.5 by 11 format)

Pass Program Name
What Is It?
Who Is It For?
Admits Honored at / Coverage Includes: How to Get One
Golden Eagle Passport

graphic of Golden Eagle Passport
$65

Good for one year from date of purchase.

Entrance pass to Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Forest Service (FS), and National Park Service (NPS) sites that charge entrance fees.

General public.

Admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle.* In those areas where a per person fee is charged, the pass admits the pass owner, spouse, parents and children.
Honored at all BLM, FWS, FS, NPS sites charging fees for entrance into federal recreation areas which may include developed day use recreation sites (i.e., picnic sites, trailheads, visitor centers, parking and areas of high public use that may not be highly developed). **

Most BLM, FWS, and FS sites that charge entrance fees. Available from the Forest Service, call (877) 465-2727 or at www.nationalforests.org or from the Bureau of Land Management at (877) 851-8946 or at www.publiclands.org/goldeneagle/

National Parks Pass

logo of National Parks Pass 04
$50

Good for one year from date of purchase.

Entrance Pass to National Park Service (NPS) sites that charge entrance fees.

General public.

Admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle.* In those areas where a per person fee is charged, the pass admits the pass owner, spouse, parents and children. This pass covers entrance fees at National Parks. Online at hwww.nationalparks.org, or call 1-888-GO-PARKS, or at most national parks.
Golden Eagle Sticker

graphic of Golden Eagle sticker
$15

One year from date of National Parks Pass purchase.

A sticker can be purchased and affixed to a National Park Service (NPS) Parks Pass.
The National Parks Pass with the Golden Eagle Sticker provides the same benefit as the Golden Eagle Passport.

General public.

Must be affixed to National Parks Pass. Admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle. * In those areas where a per person fee is charged, the pass admits the pass owner, spouse, parents and children. Coverage is the same as Golden Eagle Passport when affixed to a National Parks Pass. Most BLM, FWS, FS, or NPS sites that charge entrance fees. Available through the Forest Service, call (877) 465-2727 or at www.orders.com/nfs/requestinfo.cfm
or from the Bureau of Land Management at www.publiclands.org/goldeneagle/ or (877) 851-8946.
Golden Age Passport

graphic of Golden Age Passport
$10

Lifetime.

Entrance/discount pass to Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Corps of Engineers (Corps), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Forest Service (FS), National Park Service (NPS), and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) sites that charge entrance fees.

Citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. who are age 62 or older.

Admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle.* In those areas where a per person fee is charged, the pass admits the pass owner, spouse and children.
Same benefits as Golden Eagle Passport and a 50% discount at camping, developed boat launches and swimming sites and for specialized interpretive services. Concessionaires may honor Golden Age / Access if included in terms of their current permit.***, **** Purchase it IN PERSON at most BLM offices, Corps, FWS, FS, NPS sites, or TVA Watershed Team offices. Proof of age must be shown.
Golden Access Passport

graphic of Golden Access Passport
Free

Lifetime.

Entrance and discount pass to Bureau of Land Management, Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, National Park Service, and Tennessee Valley Authority sites with entrance fees.

Citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. who are legally blind or permanently disabled.

Admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle.* In those areas where a per person fee is charged, the pass admits the pass owner, spouse, and children. The pass also entitles other persons accompanying the holder such as a parent or care assistant. Same benefits as Golden Eagle and a 50% discount at campgrounds, developed boat launches and swimming sites and for specialized interpretive services. Concessionaires may honor Golden Age / Access if included in terms of their current permit.***, **** Obtain it IN PERSON at most BLM offices, Corps, FWS, FS, NPS sites, or TVA Watershed Team offices. Proof of medically determined permanent disability or eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law must be shown.
Corps of Engineers Annual Day Use Pass

graphic of Army Corps of Engineers Annual Day Use Pass
$30

The calendar year in which it was purchased.

A pass for day use facilities at any Corps of Engineers site during the calendar year.

General public.

Admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers (up to a total of 8 people) in a private vehicle. Covers fees charged for boat ramps or swim beaches at Corps sites. The pass does not cover camping fees or fees for special facilities such as group picnic shelters, multipurpose courts, amphitheaters, athletic complexes, etc. Purchase it at any Corps site where day use fees are charged. The pass may also be purchased through the mail from most Corps district or lake offices. To find a district office, see www.usace.army.mil/divdistmap.html
Federal Duck Stamp

graphic of Federal Duck Stamp
$15

July 1st through June 30th of the next year.

Mandatory federal permit for hunters 16 years and older to hunt waterfowl. Also serves as an entrance pass to national wildlife refuges that charge entrance fees.

General public.

Admits the pass owner and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle.* In those areas where a per person fee is charged, the pass admits the pass owner, spouse and children. Entrance fees. May be purchased at post offices, many national wildlife refuges, the sporting goods departments at Wal-Mart or other local sporting goods stores, or by calling the Federal Duck Stamp Office at: (703) 358-2000 Stamps are also available online at www.duckstamp.com

NOTE: Passes are not replaceable, refundable, or transferable. All passes except for Golden Age Passports and Golden Access Passports may be purchased as gifts.

There may be site-specific passes for a short period (weekend/week), season, or annual basis. See the web page on Recreation.gov for details of fees for each recreation site.
There are also regional passes that cover several sites within a geographic area.

* A private vehicle is defined as any non-commercial vehicle that is being used for private recreational purposes.

** The Golden Eagle Passport does NOT include overnight camping,developed boat launches and swimming sites, specialized interpretive services or concessionaire services, however, concessionaires may honor the Golden Age/Access Passports if included in the terms of their current permit.

*** In some cases where per person fees are charged, the 50% discount will be given to the pass owner only: for example, cave tours or elevator services.

**** Golden Passports may not be valid for fees related to facility or equipment rental (cabins, lookouts, day/overnight group sites), special conservation programs, managed off highway vehicle areas, optional transportation systems, reservation services, specialized equipment such as hookups for water, electricity, cable, sewer, or sanitary dump stations, or permits of any kind.

Authorized by Congress
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCFA), passed by Congress in 1965, and the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act (EWRA), passed by Congress in 1986, authorized federal recreation fees in some national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and outdoor recreation areas. In 1996 Congress authorized the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program (P.L. 104-34 and its amendments). This legislation allowed the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to retain all or part of the fees at the site where they were collected. The fees are used for projects to improve visitor services, protect cultural and natural resources, address health and safety maintenance, and to cover the cost of collection. The authorization has been extended several times and will expire (now scheduled for December 31, 2005) unless Congress reauthorizes it further or passes new legislation.

Bureau of Land Management
Office of Public Affairs
Room LS-406
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
www.blm.gov
Bureau of Land Management graphic and link to BLM Corps of Engineers
HQUSAE
(CECW-ON)
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20314-1000
www.usace.army.mil
graphic of US Army Corps of Engineers and link to USACE  

Fish and Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuge System
4401 N. Fairfax Drive,
MS 670
Arlington, VA 22203
www.refuges.fws.gov
graphic of Fish and Wildlife Service and link to FWS
Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Auditors Building
201 14th Street, SW
P.O. Box 96090
Washington, DC 20250
www.fs.fed.us
graphic of Forest Service logo and link to FS  

Federal Duck Stamp Office
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MBSP - 4070
Arlington, VA 22203-1622
duckstamps.fws.gov
graphic of Duck Stamp logo and link to Duck Stamp Office
National Park Service
Office of Public Inquiries
Room 7012
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
www.nps.gov
graphic of National Park Service logo and link to NPS  

Tennesee Valley
Authority
TVA Recreation Areas
P.O. Box 1589
Norris, TN 37828
www.tva.gov
graphic of Tennessee Valley Authority logo and link to TVA    

NOTE: Licenses to hunt and fish are issued by the states. For more information on specific state fees and requirements for hunting and fishing licenses, see the State Fish and Wildlife Agencies' License Information and Regulations website.
You may also be interested in the links to websites with information about the Fees and Entrance Passes for State Parks.
 
 

 

Recreation Fee Information:

   
Bureau of Land Management Fee Information
Fish and Wildlife Service Fee Information
Forest Service Fee Information
National Park Service Fee Information
FY 2002 Annual Report to Congress
   

Recreation.gov
Revised: 05/01/2004
 
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