FEDERAL RECREATION PASSPORT PROGRAM Introduction Golden Eagle Passport For persons under 62 Some federal parks, refuges and facilities can be entered and used free of charge. Other areas and facilities re- What is it? quire payment of entrance fees, user fees, special recrea- tion permit fees, or some combination. The Golden Eagle Passport is an annual entrance pass to those national parks, monuments, historic sites, There are five congressionally authorized entrance recreation areas and national wildlife refuges that passes. The annual Golden Eagle Passport and the two charge entrance fees. lifetime passes, the Golden Age Passport and Golden The passport admits the permit holder and any accom- Access Passport, can be used at all federally operated panying passengers in a single, private, noncommercial outdoor recreation areas which charge entrance fees. vehicle. Where entry is not by private vehicle, the These include national parks, recreation areas, and passport covers the holder, spouse, children and wildlife refuges. The annual Park Pass can be used only parents. The Golden Eagle Passport does not cover use at a specific national park which charges entrance fees. fees, such as fees for camping or parking. It is valid for The annual federal Duck Stamp can be used at any na- entrance fees only. tional wildlife refuge which charges entrance fees. The Golden Eagle Passport costs $25 and is neither These passes were established as part of the Land and refundable nor transferable. It is good for one calendar Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, as amended, year (January 1 through December 31) and permits and the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986. unlimited entries to all federal entrance fee areas. These passes are options the visitor may consider rather Those who plan several visits to park and refuge areas than paying single-visit entrance fees which range from that charge entrance fees may save by buying the $1 to $2 per person or $3 to $7.50 per carload. Golden Eagle Passport for $25 rather than paying single-visit entrance fees which range from $1 to $2 per In addition to entrance fees, some areas may also re- person or $3 to $7.50 per carload. quire user fees. User fees are charged for the use of cer- tain facilities such as campgrounds, boat launching How Do I Get One? equipment, cave tours, and so on. Additionally, fees may be charged for specialized uses, such as group ac- A Golden Eagle Passport may be purchased in person or by mail for $25 from the National Park Service or tivities, recreation events, and motorized recreation U.S. Forest Service headquarters offices in Washington, vehicles. D.C., one of their regional offices (addresses on pages 7 The money collected by the seven federal land-managing and 8), or park units or refuge areas that charge en- agencies that provide public outdoor recreation oppor- trance fees. tunities is used for providing recreational use and con- servation of the unique land, water, and biological resources of our nation. U.S. Department 1 A private noncommercial vehicle is defined as any passenger car, station of the Interior wagon, pickup, camper truck, recreation vehicle, motorcycle, or other motor 1987 vehicle used for private recreation purposes. 1 2 Golden Age Passport All Forest Service supervisor's offices For persons 62 and older Most Forest Service ranger station offices All National Park System areas where entrance fees What Is It? are charged The Golden Age Passport is a free lifetime entrance Bureau of Land Management state and district offices pass to those national parks, monuments, historic sites, Tennessee Valley Authority- Land Between the Lakes recreation areas and national wildlife refuges ad- and all recreation areas that charge fees ministered by the federal government which charges en- All Fish and Wildlife Service regional offices and na- trance fees. It is issued to citizens or permanent tional wildlife refuges where fees are charged residents of the United States who are 62 or older. It * Bureau of Reclamation Hoover Dam also provides a 50 percent discount on federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, boat launching, parking, and SO on. The Golden Age Golden Access Passport Passport does not cover fees charged by private For blind and disabled persons concessionaires. What Is It? The Golden Age Passport admits the permit holder and any accompanying passengers in a single, private, non- The Golden Access Passport is a free lifetime entrance commercial vehicle. Where entry is not by private car, pass to those federally-operated parks, monuments, the passport admits the permit holder and his or her historic sites, recreation areas and wildlife refuges which spouse, children and parents. charge entrance fees. It is issued to citizens or perma- nent residents of the United States who have been 1 A private noncommercial vehicle is defined as any passenger car, station medically determined to be blind or permanently dis- wagon, pickup, camper truck, recreation vehicle, motorcycle, or other motor abled and as a result, are eligible to receive benefits vehicle used for private recreation purposes. under federal law. The passport also provides a 50 per- Note: In some cases where use fees are charged, only the permit holder will be given the 50 percent reduction, for example, for cave tours or elevator services. cent discount on federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, boat launching, parking, and SO forth. The Golden Access Passport does not How Do I Get One? cover fees charged by private concessionaires. A Golden Age Passport must be obtained in person. The Golden Access Passport admits the permit holder They are not available by mail. You must show proof and any accompanying passengers in a single, private, of age in order to get a Golden Age Passport. This may noncommercial vehicle. Where entry is not by private be a state driver's license showing your birth date, a car, the passport admits the permit holder and his or birth certificate, or Medicare card. her spouse, children and parents. The Golden Age Passport is available at most federally 1 A private noncommercial vehicle is defined as any passenger car, station operated recreation areas where it may be used. Thus, it wagon, pickup, camper truck, recreation vehicle, motorcycle, or other motor is not necessary to obtain the passport before beginning vehicle used for private recreation purposes. a vacation trip. Note: In some cases where use fees are charged, only the permit holder will be given the 50 percent reduction, for example, for cave tours or elevator services. The Golden Age Passport may be obtained in person at: * All National Park Service, and Forest Service head- quarters and regional offices 3 4 How Do I Get One? from the National Park Service unit at which the pass their customers. They may also be purchased through will be honored. You may only obtain a Golden Access Passport in per- the mail from the U.S. Postal Service, Philatelic Sales son. They are not available by mail. You must show Division, Washington, D.C. 20265-9997 for the price of proof of being medically determined to be blind or per- Federal Duck Stamp the stamp plus $.50 postage and handling. manently disabled and therefore eligible for receiving benefits under federal law. What is it? A private noncommercial vehicle is defined as any passenger car, station wagon, pickup, camper truck, recreation vehicle, motorcycle, or other motor The Golden Access Passport is available at most of the Officially known as the Migratory Bird Hunting and vehicle used for private recreation purposes. federally-operated recreation and refuge areas described Conservation Stamp, the Duck Stamp was authorized in 1934 as a federal permit to hunt waterfowl and a source FEDERAL RECREATION FEES under the Golden Age Passport. It is not necessary to obtain the passport before beginning a vacation trip. of revenue to purchase wetlands. Only those federal areas designated as fee areas of Although still required of waterfowl hunters, the federal facilities may charge entrance or recreation use fees. Park Pass Duck Stamp now also serves as an annual entrance fee Note: The Golden Eagle, Golden Age, Golden Access, annual Park Pass, Duck To a specific unit permit to national wildlife refuges which charge en- Stamp, single-visit entrance fees, recreation use fees, or special recreation permit fees do not cover charges by private concessionaires or other contractors trance fees. operating within federal recreation areas. What Is It? The federal Duck Stamp admits the stamp holder and The Park Pass is an annual entrance permit to a any accompanying passengers in a single, private, non- INFORMATION SERVICES specific park, monument, historic site or recreation area commercial vehicle. Where entry is not by private vehi- in the National Park System that charges entrance fees. cle, the stamp permits the holder, spouse, children and National Park Service Rocky Mountain Region parents. The federal Duck Stamp does not cover use 655 Parfet Street The pass admits the permit holder and any accompany- Headquarters: fees, such as fees for camping, tours or blind rental. It PO Box 25287 ing passengers in a single, private, noncommercial is valid for entrance fees only. U.S. Department of the Denver, CO 80225 vehicle. Where entry is not by private vehicle, the pass Interior The federal Duck Stamp costs $10 and is neither re- Southwest Region permits the holder, spouse, children and parents. The National Park Service PO Box 728 Park Pass does not cover use fees, such as fees for fundable nor transferable. Each Stamp must be PO Box 37127 Sante Fe, NM 87504-0728 camping or parking. It is valid for entrance fees only. validated by the signature of the bearer across the face Washington, DC of the stamp. A stamp is good from July 1 through Alaska Region The Park Pass costs $10 or $15, depending upon the 20013-7127 June 30 of the following year and permits unlimited en- 2525 Gambell Street, Rm 107 area, and is neither refundable nor transferable. It is tries to all national wildlife refuges which charge en- Regional Offices: Anchorage, AK 99503 good for one calendar year (January 1 through trance fees. It is not valid as an entrance permit outside Golden Gate National December 31) and permits unlimited entries only to the the National Wildlife Refuge System. North Atlantic Region Recreation Area park unit where it is purchased. 15 State Street Those who plan visits to one or more national wildlife Boston, MA 02109-3572 Fort Mason, Hdq. Bldg. 201 Those who plan several visits to other parks and refuge refuges which charge entrance fees may save by buying San Francisco, CA 94123 areas that charge entrance fees may save by buying the Mid-Atlantic Region the federal Duck Stamp for $10 rather than paying daily Golden Eagle Passport for $25 rather than purchasing 143 South Third Street Santa Monica Mountains single-visit entrance fees which range from about $1 per the Park Pass or by paying individual entrance fees Philadelphia, PA 19106 National Recreation Area person to $7.50 per car. 22900 Ventura Blvd. which range from about $1 per person to $7.50 per car. National Capital Region Suite 140 1100 Ohio Drive, SW How Do I Get One? Woodland Hills, CA 91364 How Do I Get One? Washington, DC 20242 Pacific Northwest Region The federal Duck Stamp can be purchased at most post A Park Pass may be purchased in person or by mail Southeast Region offices and many national wildlife refuges. Some spor- 83 South King Street 75 Spring Street, SW Suite 212 ting goods stores may also carry them as a service to Atlanta, GA 30303 Seattle, WA 98104 A private noncommercial vehicle is defined as any passenger car, station wagon, pickup, camper truck, recreation vehicle, motorcycle, or other motor Midwest Region vehicle used for private recreation purposes. 1709 Jackson Street Omaha, NE 68102 5 6 FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR FEE ELIGIBILITY/ ALLOWS GOOD DETAILS North Central Region OPTIONS COST CRITERIA ENTRY TO FOR SEE Headquarters: Federal Building SINGLE- Fees range At national park Specific national Oct. 1 thru P. 1 Division of Refuges Fort Snelling VISIT EN- from $1 per units, fees are park or national Sept. 30 Rm 2343 TRANCE person to charged of visitors wildlife unit U.S. Department of the Twin Cities, MN 55111 FEE (Daily $7.50 per 13 thru 61 years of (where fees are or other vehicle as age; at national paid) Interior Southeast Region term, as set by the wildlife refuges, 18th and C Streets, NW 75 Spring Street, SW posted) individual visitors 16 thru 61 areas years of age Washington, DC 20240 Atlanta, GA 30303 GOLDEN $25 (see above) All federal en- Jan. 1 thru P. 2 Northeast Region EAGLE annually trance fee areas Dec. 31 Regional Offices: PASSPORT One Gateway Center Pacific Region Suite 700 GOLDEN Free For visitors 62 All federal en- Lifetime P. 3 AGE years or older trance fee areas Lloyd 500 Bldg. Newton Corner, MA 02158 PASSPORT plus 50 percent Suite 1692 discount on recrea- Denver Region tion use fees 500 NE Multnomah Street Box 25486 Portland, OR 97232 GOLDEN Free For visitors who All federal en- Lifetime P. 4 Denver, CO 80225 ACCESS are blind or per- trance fee areas PASSPORT manently disabled plus 50 percent Southwest Region Alaska Region discount on recrea- 1011 E. Tudor Road tion use fees Box 1306 Albuquerque, NM 87103 Anchorage, AK 99503 PARK $10 to $15 For visitors 13 The national park Jan. 1 thru P. 5 PASS annually thru 61 years of unit at which the Dec. 31 age pass is purchased FOREST SERVICE DUCK $10 For visitors 16 All national July 1 thru P. 6 STAMP annually thru 61 years of wildlife refuges June 30 age which charge en- Headquarters: California Region trance fees 630 Sansome Street U.S. Department of San Francisco, CA 94111 Agriculture 14th and Independence Ave. Pacific Northwest Region South Agriculture Bldg. 319 S.W. Pine Street Washington, DC 20250 PO Box 3890 Portland, OR 97208 Regional Offices: Southern Region Northern Region 1720 Peachtree Road, NW Federal Building Atlanta, GA 30309 Missoula, MT 59807 Eastern Region Rocky Mountain Region 310 West Wisconsin Avenue 240 W. Prospect Milwaukee, WI 53203 Box 25127 Alaska Region Denver, CO 80225 Box 1628 Southwestern Region Juneau, AK 99802 517 Gold Avenue, SW Albuquerque, NM 87102 Intermountain Region 324 25th Street Ogden, UT 84401 8 9