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Parks and Recreation Areas
A new series of passes, available since January 1, 2007, covers the entrance and standard amenity fees charged for using federal recreational lands – including national wildlife refuges. This pass series is collectively known as the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. The new Interagency Pass Program was established as part of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and authorized by Congress in December 2004. The passes are the Annual Pass, the Senior Pass, the Access Pass and the Volunteer Pass. Of these passes, three are specific to target populations.
American the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Annual Pass (For persons under age 62) – This pass is an annual entrance permit to federal parks, monuments, historic sites and recreation areas. This pass replaces the Golden Eagle Passport. The annual pass admits the permit holder and any accompanying passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. Where entry is not by private vehicle, the pass permits the holder, spouse, children and parents to enter.
The Annual Pass is valid for entrance fees only; it does not cover use fees -- e.g., fees for camping or parking. (It is particularly useful for persons planning visits to several Park System areas.) The cost for this pass is $80.00. It may be purchased in person or by mail from a National Park Service or Forest Services office, or at a Park System area, which charges an entrance fee. The Annual Pass is valid for a 12-month period. It is not refundable or transferable.
American the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Senior Pass (For persons age 62 and older) - The American the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – Senior Pass is a lifetime entrance permit for persons age 62 or older, to national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges which charge entrance fees. This pass replaces the Golden Age Passport. It also provides the pass holder a 50 percent discount on federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as parking, camping, boat launching, etc. The Senior Pass admits the permit holder and a carload of accompanying persons. Where entry is not by private car, the pass admits the permit holder, spouse, children and parents.
The American the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Access Pass) (For Blind and Permanently Disabled Persons) - The American the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Access Pass) is a free lifetime entrance permit to those national parks, monuments, and recreation areas, which charge entrance fees. This pass replaces the Golden Access Passport. It is issued to persons who have been medically determined to be blind or permanently disabled, and as a result are eligible to receive benefits under federal law. The pass also provides the pass holder a 50 percent discount on federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as parking, camping, boat launching, and the like. The pass admits the permit holder and a carload of accompanying persons. Where entry is not by private car, the pass admits the permit holder, spouse, children, and parents. The pass is obtainable only in person, and is available at most federally operated recreation areas. Medical proof of permanent disability or blindness must be supplied.
Further Pass Information - The America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entries at sites where Entrance or Standard Amenity Fees are charged. The Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation honor the passes. All National Parks Passes will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass. Existing Golden Eagle Passports and National Parks Passes with an expiration date will be honored until they expire. Paper versions of the Golden Age or Golden Access Passports should be exchanged for the new Senior or Access passes. The plastic Golden Age or Access passes are valid for the pass holder's lifetime and do not need to be exchanged. Only paper Golden Age and Access Passports may be exchanged free of charge for new plastic passes.
The Federal Duck Stamp is a mandatory permit to hunt waterfowl and can be purchased at most post offices, many national wildlife refuges, and local sporting goods stores. The stamp is also available online at www.duckstamp.com or by calling the Federal Duck Stamp Office at 703-358-2000. For an additional $15, a Golden Eagle sticker may be purchased and affixed to a National Parks Pass to cover entrance fees at not only national parks, but also at sites managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. The Golden Eagle sticker is valid until the expiration of the National Parks Pass to which it is affixed.
For information on any American the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass contact: National Park Service, 200 Chestnut St., U.S. Custom House Building, Philadelphia, PA 19106, toll-free at 1-877-465-2727 or website www.nps.gov.
In New Jersey, the Senior Pass is available for purchase at Morristown National Historical Park’s (NHP) Washington’s Headquarters unit at 30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ, and at the park’s Jockey Hollow Visitor Center.
For park hours and further information, please call Morristown NHP's Washington's Headquarters at 973-539-2016, ext. 210, or the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center at 973-543-4030, www.nps.gov/morr.
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Golden Eagle Passport (For persons under
age 62)
The Golden Eagle Passport is an annual entrance permit to federal
parks, monuments, historic sites and recreation areas. The passport
admits the permit holder and any accompanying passengers in a single,
private, non-commercial vehicle. Where entry is not by private vehicle,
the passport permits the holder, spouse, children and parents to
enter.
The Golden Eagle Passport is valid for entrance fees only; it
does not cover use fees -- e.g., fees for camping or parking. (It
is particularly useful for persons planning visits to several Park
System areas.) The cost for this passport is $50.00. It may be purchased
in person or by mail from a National Park Service or Forest Services office, or at a Park System area, which charges an entrance fee.
The Golden Eagle Passport is valid for a 12-month period. It is
not refundable or transferable.
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Golden Age Passport (For persons age 62 and
older)
The Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance permit for persons
age 62 or older, to national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation
areas, and national wildlife refuges which charge entrance fees.
It also provides a 50 percent discount on federal use fees charged
for facilities and services such as parking, camping, boat launching,
etc. The Golden Age Passport admits the permit holder and a carload
of accompanying persons. Where entry is not by private car, the
passport admits the permit holder, spouse, children and parents.
The Golden Age Passport must be obtained in person, and is available
at most federally operated recreation areas. There is a one-time
$10.00 processing charge and proof of age must be supplied.
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Golden Access Passport (For Blind and
Permanently Disabled Persons)
The Golden Access Passport is a free lifetime entrance permit
to those national parks, monuments, and recreation areas, which
charge entrance fees. It is issued to persons who have been medically
determined to be blind or permanently disabled, and as a result
are eligible to receive benefits under federal law. The passport
also provides a 50 percent discount on federal use fees charged
for facilities and services such as parking, camping, boat launching,
and the like. The Golden Access Passport admits the permit holder
and a carload of accompanying persons. Where entry is not by private
car, the passport admits the permit holder, spouse, children, and
parents. The Golden Access Passport is obtainable only in person, and is
available at most federally operated recreation areas. Medical proof
of permanent disability or blindness must be supplied.
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Further "Passport" Information
The Park-Specific Pass permit allows unlimited entries only to
the park unit for which it is purchased and does not cover or reduce
use fees. The Federal Duck Stamp is a permit to hunt waterfowl and
can be purchased at most post offices and many national wildlife
refuges. For an additional $15, a Golden Eagle hologram may be purchased
and affixed to a National Park Pass to cover entrance fees at not
only national parks, but also at sites managed by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of
Land Management. For information on any Golden Passport, contact: National Park Service, 200 Chestnut St., U.S. Custom House Building, Philadelphia, PA 19106, toll-free at 1-877-465-2727, or website www.nps.gov.
In NJ, passports may be obtained, in person, at Morristown National Historical Park, Washington Place, Morristown or at Edison National Historic Site, Main Street and Lakeside Avenue, West Orange. The Museum is closed for major rehabilitation and expansion and is scheduled to reopen in 2007. During construction, tours will begin at a temporary Visitor Services Trailer located about a 300-yard walk from the visitor parking lot.
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