Hiker Headlines: Discover Pass Fees, Kids Hike Free, Olympics Campgrounds Close for Season
The new Transit to Trails bill makes it easier for everyone to get outdoors, nationwide. State park goers might see a Discover Pass fee increase, while fourth graders get a free pass to play outside in national recreation areas. It’s the last weekend to camp at some Olympic National Forest campgrounds. And do you love trails? Apply to be an ambassador!
It’s Thursday, Sept. 12. State park goers might see a Discover Pass fee increase. Fourth graders get a free pass to play outside in national recreation areas. It’s the last weekend to camp at Olympic National Forest campgrounds. And do you love trails? Apply to be an ambassador!
Here’s what you might have missed while out on trail this week:
Fourth graders get a free pass to get outside. Photo by Britt Lê .
Upping the ante: A proposed fee increase for the annual Discover Pass, which allows entrance into state parks and lands and helps provide funding for outdoor recreation, will be discussed at a State Parks Commission meeting on Sept. 19 in Richland. The meeting will include time for public comment. Can’t make it to the meeting? Email your comments to Commission@parks.wa.gov no later than 5 pm Friday, Sept. 13. We are keeping an eye on this and will provide more information as details of the plan emerge.
Free to play: The Every Kid Outdoors pass — which replaces the Every Kid in a Park pass — allows fourth-graders nationwide to download a pass that will get them into any national park, land or water area for free for an entire year. Bonus for parents and educators: the pass is good for up to three accompanying adults (or an entire car for drive-in parks.) Hike a national forest, or discover a new Washington national park or monument.
Campgrounds closed: Starting Sunday, Sept. 15, Dungeness Forks, Seal Rock, Collins, Hamma Hamma, Lena Creek, Brown Creek (except sites 1-6), and LeBar Horse Camp in the Hood Canal region of the Olympic National Forest will be closed until spring of 2020. Need your Olympics fix? Find a day hike in the area instead.
Outdoor voices wanted: WTA is expanding our Ambassador program! We’re looking for trail champions who are passionate about their local trails and public lands and want to volunteer to support their continued funding and maintenance. Sound like you? We’d love to hear from you!
Love trails? Apply to be a WTA Ambassador today! Photo by WTA staff.
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