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Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and PreserveTwo kayakers paddle along the blue bayou at the Barataria Preserve.
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Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

This pass combines the benefits of existing recreation passes from five federal agencies into one comprehensive pass, the "America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass."

The pass covers recreation opportunities on public lands managed by four Department of the Interior agencies – the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management; and the Bureau of Reclamation - and by the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.

Access to most public lands remains free. The pass applies to locations that have entrance or standard amenity fees. The pass is available at federal recreation sites that charge entrance and standard amenity fees, through government internet sites, and through select third-party vendors.

The new program replaces the Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and the Golden Access Passports as well as the old National Parks Pass. Existing passes will remain valid until expired, lost, or stolen.

The four different passes in the new interagency program are: 

  •  1) a new annual interagency pass costing $80--for visitors to multiple federal sites, the pass offers unlimited coverage of entrance and standard amenity recreation fees for a specific period of time, typically a year, beginning from the date of first use.
  • 2) a $10 lifetime senior pass for U.S. citizens 62 or over;
  • 3) a free lifetime access pass for citizens with permanent disabilities ; and
  • 4) a new, free annual volunteer pass for volunteers acquiring 500 hours of service on a cumulative basis.

The new interagency pass is good at vehicle-based entry sites for all occupants in a single, non-commercial vehicle. At walk-up sites, the pass is good for the pass holder and three adults (total of four adults). There is no charge for children under 16.

For more information, visit the U.S. Geological Survey website at http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html or call 1-888-275-8747 Option 1. The annual pass is for sale through the USGS store and through the government’s federal lands recreation web portal at www.recreation.gov.

Two big red, black, and yellow lubber grasshoppers sit on a leaf  

Did You Know?
Lubber grasshoppers are sometimes known as devil's horses in south Louisiana. They lay their eggs in the fall and prefer loose dirt, so they often lay their eggs in cemeteries. These enormous flightless grasshoppers hatch in spring and spend the summer munching their way through vegetation.

Last Updated: July 14, 2009 at 16:48 EST