What's That Pass? How Your Recreation Fees Support Public Lands

You’ve packed your Ten Essentials, laced your hiking boots, and pulled into the trailhead ready for your next adventure - only to pause as you set the parking brake, wondering which recreation pass to display. We’ve all been there: rooting around in the glove compartment for a Discover Pass or Northwest Forest Pass, scanning the trailhead kiosk for some hint of which one we need. Read on to learn how to determine which pass to use, why recreation passes exist in the first place, and how your fees support the places where you recreate. 

More Than A Parking Pass

Managers of public lands rely on recreation user fees to maintain trails and facilities and support educational programming. These fees help spread management costs among the people who use the area the most. Purchasing a pass is a way to give back every time you go outside and help fund the infrastructure and staff that maintain your favorite trails, climbs, and campsites.

A yearly pass or daily fee is required at most recreation sites in Washington. Even if your trip is part of a permitted Mountaineers course or involves a specialized Wilderness camping or climbing permit, you likely still need to pay a fee or display a pass at the trailhead. Some locations, such as national parks, charge a per-person or per-vehicle entrance fee as admission. Other areas, such as national forests and Washington State Parks, require you to purchase a parking pass to display on your vehicle. 

The type of pass you need depends on which state or federal agency manages the land you are visiting. If you’re not sure who the land manager is, check the Routes & Places entry on The Mountaineers website or look for signage at the trailhead. Once you know your land manager, you can easily match it to the pass below.

A Guide to Recreation Passes

In Washington, three main passes provide access to most recreation spots on public lands: the Discover Pass, the Northwest Forest Pass, and the America the Beautiful Pass.

Discover Pass: Washington state-managed lands

• Use for: Trailheads managed by Washington State Parks, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands, and Department of Natural Resources lands (ex. Mailbox Peak, Wallace Falls, Frenchman’s Coulee)
• Cost: $45 annually / $10 daily (the annual pass recently increased from $30 - a change The Mountaineers supported, as it raises much-needed revenue for land managers)
• Funds support: Trail and facility maintenance, staffing, and operations across state-managed recreation lands

Northwest Forest Pass: National Forest System lands

• Use for: Trailheads located on national forests in Washington and Oregon (ex. Talapus and Olallie Lakes, Chain Lakes Loop, Gothic Basin)
• Cost: $30 annually / $5 daily
• Funds support: Trail and trailhead upkeep and ranger patrols - with most funds staying in the forest where the pass was purchased

America the Beautiful Interagency Pass: National parks and other federal lands

• Use for: Entrance and/or parking in national parks, forests, monuments, wildlife refuges, and other federally managed lands across the US (ex. Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Dungeness Wildlife Refuge)
• Cost: $80 annually. Discounts and free options exist for seniors, military families, people with disabilities, and all US 4th graders (daily admission to federal lands varies by location)
• Funds support: Visitor services, facility improvements, and restoration projects at federally managed recreation sites nationwide

Beyond these three most common passes, other permits and fees support specific recreation programs or amenities on public lands. Some locations charge an extra fee for additional amenities like camping, boat launches, hot springs access, or reservations. If you plan to do any backcountry camping or climbing, you may need an additional Wilderness permit. In the winter, many trailheads serving cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers require a daily or seasonal Sno-Park Permit and possibly a Special Groomed Trails add-on permit for locations where trails are groomed.

Discover Passes, Northwest Forest Passes, and Sno-Park Permits are all available for purchase in The Mountaineers Book Store at our Seattle Program Center, open 9am - 5pm Monday through Friday. You can also buy them at local outdoor retailers like REI, at ranger stations or visitor centers, and online via land manager websites. Day passes are sold online or in staffed or self-serve kiosks at popular destinations.

While most areas require a parking permit or entrance fee, some are free, like the Rattlesnake Lake parking lots, the Heybrook Lookout trailhead, all areas of North Cascades National Park, and most county or municipal parks. Many land managers also host “fee-free days,” and you can borrow a Discover Pass or Sno-Park Permit at many local libraries. 

Supporting Public Lands Funding

Buying and displaying the right pass isn’t just about avoiding a hefty parking ticket (though that’s also a great reason) - it’s a tangible way to support the public lands where you recreate. While most funding for land managers comes from federal appropriations or the state budget, recreation user fees are an important source of revenue that goes directly to keeping trailheads open, restrooms stocked, signs readable, and trails safe.

Right now, many state and federal land managers are stretched thin. Rising costs, aging infrastructure, and climate-driven damage are colliding with drastic budget cuts and workforce reductions, leaving agencies with fewer resources and more work than ever before. Even as visitation continues to grow, recreation programs are often competing for funding with urgent priorities like wildfire response and road repairs.

Your recreation passes help fill some of those gaps - funding on-the-ground maintenance, improvements, and ranger presence that keep landscapes healthy and accessible for future generations. Next time you hit the trail, you’ll know exactly which pass belongs on your dashboard - and you can feel good knowing your dollars help sustain the outdoor places you love.