Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Recreation

  NORTHWEST FOREST PASS

Recreationists visiting Wallowa-Whitman National Forest will need a Northwest Forest  Pass to park at 33 specific trailheads and two picnic areas in 2003. Passes cost $30 per year, or $5 per day, and are currently for sale at all Wallowa-Whitman National Forest offices, as well as various businesses throughout northeast Oregon (see list, below).

The requirement to have a pass for parking at specified national forest trailheads is part of the Congressionally-authorized fee demonstration project (more information). The program has had several extensions by Congress and is currently authorized through September 30, 2004. See how your Forest Pass dollars were used in 2001 (pdf file, 388kb).

The passes will also allow visitors to park at many other national forest trailheads across Washington and Oregon during 2003. Northwest Forest  passes will not be a substitution for other permits such as State sponsored Sno-Park, wilderness, or commercial mushroom-picking permits.  However, Golden Passports will be honored at all Northwest Forest Pass sites starting on April 18, 2003. Golden Age and Golden Access passes will be good for 50% discounts at our Fee campgrounds.

Outlets selling Northwest Forest Passes in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest vicinity:

Enterprise:

• Our Little Store
• Wallowa Outdoors

Joseph:

• Joseph Fly Shoppe
• Joseph Hardware
• Sports Corral

Wallowa Lake:

• Wallowa Lake Lodge
• Matterhorn Swiss Village

Wallowa

• Goebel’s Texaco

(Near) Lostine:

• Lostine Guard Station (during summer months)

Baker City:

• Baker County Visitor and Convention Bureau

Granite:

• The Granite Store

La Grande:

• Blue Mtn. Sports
• La Grande-Union County Visitors and Convention Bureau

Union:

• Bare's Hometown Hardware

Trailheads Requiring Northwest Forest  Passes

Baker Ranger District:

• Baldy Creek
• Crawfish Upper
• Crawfish Lower
• Crawfish Basin
• Dutch Flat
• Elkhorn Crest
• Peavy

La Grande Ranger District:

• Buck Creek
• Main Eagle
• Moss Springs
• North Fork Catherine Creek
• Oregon Trail Interpretive Trail
• West Eagle Meadows

Pine Ranger District:

• Deadman
• East Eagle
• Summit

Eagle Cap Ranger District:

• Bear Creek (Self-Service pay station on site)
• Bear Wallow
• Bowman/Frances Lake
• Cougar Ridge
• Huckleberry
• Hurricane
• Maxwell Lake (Self-Service pay station at Lostine Guard Station or Two Pan Trailhead)
• McCully (Self-Service pay station on site)
• Two Pan (Self-Service pay station on site)

Wallowa Valley:

• Tenderfoot

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area:

• Buck Creek
• Freezeout (Self-Service pay station on site)
• Hat Point (Self-Service pay station on site)
• Indian Crossing (Self-Service pay station on site)
• Lick Creek
• P.O. Saddle
• Warnock Corral

Picnic Areas requiring NW Forest Passes

La Grande Ranger District:

• Oregon Trail Interpretive
• West Eagle

Golden Passport Program

The Golden Passport Program is a federal interagency recreation pass program, comprised of three distinct Passports:

GOLDEN EAGLE PASSPORT: A yearly pass honored at all Forest Service, National Parks Service, Bureau of Land Management, and US Fish and Wildlife Service sites charging fees for entrance into federal recreation areas, use of high impact recreation areas and developed day-use recreation sites which may include picnic sites, low development boat ramps, trailheads, visitor centers, and parking. This pass sells for $65. (Golden Eagle Passports are valid for entrance ONLY, and receive NO other discounts).

GOLDEN AGE PASSPORT: A lifetime pass available to citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are 62 years of age or older. In addition to the benefits provided by the Golden Eagle, the Golden Age cardholders will continue to receive a 50% fee discount at campgrounds, developed boat launches and swimming sites and for specialized interpretive services. This pass sells for a one-time $10 fee.

GOLDEN ACCESS PASSPORT: A lifetime pass available to citizens or permanent residents of the United States who have been medically determined to be blind or permanently disabled and as a result, are eligible to receive benefits under federal law. A permanent disability is a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that substantially limits one or more of the person’s manor life activities. This pass provides the same benefits as the Golden Age Passport. This is a free pass.

The Golden Eagle Passport does NOT include concessionaire services, however, concessionaires will honor the Golden Age/Access Passports according to the terms of their current permit.

Golden Passports are NOT valid for fees related to facility or equipment rental (cabins, lookouts, day/overnight group sites), special conservation programs, managed off highway vehicle areas, transportation systems, reservation services, or permits of any kind.