For a one-time fee of $80 dollars (or for those on a budget, a yearly pass of $20 dollars which can be traded in for a life time pass once 4 yearly passes are purchased) the Pass allows eligible Seniors 62 or over and qualifying companions to visit over 2000 recreation sites that are managed by the National Park Service (including National Monuments), US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
You can get the Pass a couple of different ways like purchasing them online or through the mail from the USGS store; an additional $10 processing fee will be added to the price if you get them this way.
To avoid the additional $10 fee, Passes can be purchased at any participating Federal recreation site or office including many National Park locations. An additional perk, the Pass also provides the pass owner other discounts such as camping, boat launching and guided tours.
Once you have your pass, keep it safe as the Pass is non-transferable and you will have to show your ID every time you use it. If you lose it or it gets destroyed, you cannot get it replaced and will have to buy a new one.
I understand that for many, the thought of dealing with the Federal Government is as scary as turning 62, for me, getting my pass was as easy as visiting my local National Forest Office. It took about 20 minutes, and I had my card in hand and headed to the Grand Canyon.
So, when the thought of getting a little older gets you down, grab a map and your National Parks Senior Pass, pinpoint a destination and head out to explore what is “Our America’s Story”.
