by Joan Taylor
The federal government offers three "golden" opportunities in the form of "recreational passports" for visitors to its many facilities across the United States, but there is often confusion as to who can buy and/or usewhich pass for which purposes at which facilities! Adding to the often bewildering options is the new "National Park Pass", sold by the National Parks Foundation, and many national forest "recreation use fee" passes. The following explanations of each pass type, where/how to get it, its cost, uses and requirements, and the facilities where it can be used may help to getthings straight!
The three "Golden" passes (aka "Federal Recreation Passports") are the Golden Age Passport, the Golden Eagle Passport, and the Golden Access Passport. (Note: These passes are all paper, and get soiled and torn easily; laminating the card prolongs its life.)
The Golden Age Passport is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents 62 years or older. The pass must be purchased in person , and proof of age, i.e., a driver's license, birth certificate, passport , or other document which proves age - and contains a photo of the applicant - is required. Golden Age passes can be purchased at any federally-operated facility which charges an entrance fee, i.e., national parks/monuments/historic sites, BLM facilities, Corps of Engineers facilities and at some national forest headquarters offices. (If you plan to purchase a Golden Age Passport at a particular national forest headquarters office, call ahead to make sure that the passes are available.) The Golden Age Pass costs $10.00 and is valid for the life of the card holder; it is not transferable. The Golden Age Pass admits the card holder and all accompanying passengers in one private vehicle to any federally-operated facility. If the card holder is a "walk-in" (or bike-in) to the facility, the pass admits him/her, spouse, children, and parents only. (I wonder how many can take advantage of that offer!) The Golden Age Pass also offers a 50% reduction in camping fees in all federally-operated facilities, and the pass is honored by concessionaires which operate campgrounds. If the facility has special "use" fees, e.g., boat launching, parking, etc., the pass may get the holder (only) a 50% discount - one has to ask - but not if the service/"special recreation permit fees" are provided by a concessionaire.
The Golden Eagle Passport is available to anyone of any age; it costs $65.00, is valid for unlimited entries to any federally-operated facilities for one year from the date of purchase, and entitles the holder and all accompanying passengers in one private vehicle - or the same "walk-in/bike-in" rules as the Golden Age Pass - to "free" admission to any federally-operated facility that charges an entrance fee. The Golden Eagle Pass is good for entrance fees only; it does not cover or reduce camping fees or any other "use" fees. Like the Golden Age Pass, the Golden Eagle Pass can be purchased at any federally-operated facility that charges an entrance fee. (This pass is popular with people who make frequent visits to national parks or other "entrance fee" federal sites or with those who are visiting several national parks/monuments/historical sites during vacations.)
The Golden Access Pass is available free of charge to any blind or permanently disabled person who is "able to receive federal benefits". Application must be made in person, and proof of "medically-determined blindness" and/or other permanent disability (and eligibility to receive federal benefits) is required. Otherwise, the Golden Access Pass provides the holder with the same benefits as the Golden Age Pass, and the same rules and restrictions apply.
The National Parks Pass is sold by the National Parks Foundation; it calls itself "the official, non-profit partner of the National Park Service." The National Parks Pass costs $50.00, is good for one year, and, unlike the other "park passes", is available by mail, phone, or from the web site www.nationalparks.org The "National Parks Pass" covers entrance fees to national parks only, according to its web site; there is no specific mention of the pass covering entrance fees for national monuments or national historic sites, but the fact that the pass comes with a map of all 379 national parks - and a newsletter and a vehicle decal - suggests that it does.
For more information on the National Park Service, see www.nps.gov For the USDA Forest Service, see www.fs.fed.us . For a list of the national forests that charge the often-controversial "use" fees, see www.fs.fed.us/recreationfee_demo/projects/fy00_projects.html The federal government offers three "golden" opportunities in the form of "recreational passports" for visitors to its many facilities across the United States, but there is often confusion as to who can buy and/or use which pass for which purposes at which facilities! Adding to the often bewildering options is the new "National Park Pass", sold by the National Parks Foundation, and many national forest "recreation use fee" passes. The following explanations of each pass type, where/how to get it, its cost, uses and requirements, and the facilities where it can be used may help to get things straight!