Time is running out for seniors to get a $10 lifetime pass to National Parks

Glacier National Park

IF you are 62 or older, you can get your pass at the Smokey Bear Ranger Station on Mechem Dr., in Ruidoso.  They take cash, checks, and credit cards.  It is quick and will last you a lifetime.  No one seems to know WHEN the price will be increased. 

Folks age 62 and older who love America's national parks and monuments can purchase a lifetime pass for $10, but that bargain won't last much longer.

The cost of a National Park Service lifetime pass will increase to $80, but just when that price hike will occur is unclear.

When enacted, it will be the first increase since 1994.

The senior pass offers lifetime admission to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, National Park Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Pass holders also get 50 percent off certain National Park Service fees, including camping, swimming, boat launch and other services.

At $10, the pass is an incredible bargain. At $80, it's still a great deal. Admission to Grand Canyon National Park, for example, is $30 for seven days.

The senior pass isn’t the only deal the park service offers. Other bargains include:

• Annual pass: Available to anyone for $80.
• Military pass: Free annual pass for current military members (including reserve and National Guard members).
• Fourth Grader pass: Free to U.S. fourth-grade students (and accompanying family) from the start of the school year through the following summer.
• Access pass: Free to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have permanent disabilities.
• Volunteer pass: Free to volunteers with 250 hours of service to participating federal agencies.

When asked about the reasons for the fee increase and when it would occur, NPS spokesman Tom Crosson said it was “congressionally mandated” and the date it would take place has not been determined.

Last December Congress approved the National Parks Service Centennial Act, which included a provision to raise the fee. Proceeds will fund park projects and services.

List of other places to purchase a lifetime passDetails: www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm.

Newspaper article by: Weldon B. Johnson , The Republic | azcentral.com