Each year millions take pleasure in walking and hiking in the National Park system’s parks. Many of these people could receive their park passes for free if they only realized they were eligible. Those with documented disabilities can get their National Park access passes for free, if they follow these simple guidelines.
There is a series of passes to the National parks known as the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. These passes are given for nominal fees, for volunteer service work, or free to those that are disabled. The series of passes to the parks are yearly and part of the Interagency Pass Program authorized by the United States Congress in December of 2004.
Free Disabled National Park Pass
The park pass that is given free, the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Access Pass, is a lifetime pass to the National Parks. The pass is given in person to the disabled individual at the individual park they are accessing. The access pass is given to all permanent residents of the United States and actual U.S. citizens that have a permanent disability that is able to be documented.
Documentation the Parks Accept
There are certain documents that the park goer can bring to the parks that will qualify them for the free lifetime pass to the National parks. These are the documents that can prove disability to the satisfaction of the National Park Service. These include:
- A licensed physician statement
- A Veteran’s Administration statement (or by any Federal Agency)
- A document by the State (like a vocational rehabilitation agency)
- SSDI statement (Social Security Disability Income)
- SSI statement (Supplemental Security Income)
What the Pass Does
The free access National Park pass will let the pass holder into any National Park free and will give a half off discount to the bearer for some of the “Expanded Amenity Fees”. These fees can include camping and swimming. There are some cases where other fees may or may not be enforced; the pass holder will have to check with the National Park they would like to access to see what the pass will allow. You can get these passes at this list of places.
What the Pass Won’t Do
The free access National Park pass for the disabled cannot be transferred to another party or be sold to someone. It is specifically designed to be carried and used by the person that was documented to get the access pass. It will also not allow any discount to special recreation permit fees or to concession fees.
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