Most State and Federally operated public lands (parks, trails, forests, wildlife preserves, etc.) will require that you purchase and display the correct permit or pass during your visit. To determine which permits or passes you need, consider if the land says it is State or Federal/National.
State lands such as Washington State Parks, Department of Natural Resources lands and Department of Fish and Wildlife trailheads. Permit Needed: The Discover Pass allows access into all of these sites. For one-day use only, purchase your discover Pass Day Pass for $11.50/car. For a complete year’s worth of use, purchase the Discover Pass for $50 online or in person from any of nearly 600 recreational license vendors where state fishing and hunting licenses are sold. Purchase in person from a State Park location and save vendor fees.
Federal lands such as National Forests, National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, National Historic Sites, Bureau of Land Management lands, and places managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. Permit Needed: An America the Beautiful Interagency Pass gets named passholders into all of these sites. A Northwest Forest Recreation Pass allows trailhead parking on national forests for $5/car for one day or $30 for an Annual Pass. The pass is available at National Forest offices, visitor centers, ranger districts, via private vendors or https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/passes.
Digital Payments Now Accepted at National Forests in Washington State
Digital payments reduce cash-handling and vandalism, allowing Forest Service staff to spend more time maintaining recreation facilities and assisting visitors.
Be prepared! Download the app and set up your Recreation.gov account before visiting any of Washington’s five national forests. Visitors can scan a QR code on-site and pay instantly, even without cell service, as long as the app is downloaded and set up in advance. Record the confirmation code on the provided slip and display it at your vehicle or campsite.
America the Beautiful and Northwest Forest Passes remain valid at most day-use fee sites and trailheads. Passes can be purchased online, at local vendors, or at Forest Service offices. For information on purchasing passes visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/passes.
Some sites operated by concessionaires may not accept digital payment or passes. Always check the forest website for site specific details or contact the local ranger district before visiting.
Where Digital Payments Are Accepted or Required
Cashless Forests
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest All Forest Service managed fee sites are fully cashless. Sites managed by concessionaires continue to accept cash or check, with some also accepting digital payment.
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Digital payments are accepted at all Forest Service managed trailheads and day-use sites requiring a fee. Campgrounds operated by concessionaires do not accept digital payments; walk-in campsites take cash or checks only.
Self-service automated fee machines are available at Snow Lake, Ira Spring, Franklin Falls, Snoqualmie Pass Visitor Center, Glacier Public Service Center, and Heather Meadows. Additional fee machines are being installed in summer 2026 at Artist Point, Verlot Public Service Center, Annette Lake, and Talapus Lake trailheads.
Download the Recreation.gov mobile app today and set up your account before leaving areas with cell or Wi-Fi service. Once installed, the scan-and-pay function will work even without connectivity.
