OLYMPIA — Planning to get into the great outdoors on the Fourth of July holiday weekend?
You may need to purchase a pass first.
What once was free now will cost you, since the requirement for the new Discover Pass for visiting state lands kicks in today.
With certain exceptions, the pass is required on vehicles during visits to state parks, boat launches, heritage sites, wildlife and natural areas, trails and trailheads managed by the state Parks and Recreation Commission, the state Department of Natural Resources and the state Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Among the many exceptions are the concerts and fireworks show at Fort Worden State Park at Port Townsend on Monday, holders of certain types of fishing and hunting licenses, registered campers in state parks, registered disabled veterans in state parks and off-road vehicles with ORV tags.
Cost of pass
If purchased at a manned state park office or kiosk, the annual Discover Pass costs $30 per vehicle — with permits not transferable between vehicles — and daily passes are $10.
The price goes up if they are purchased anywhere else.
The passes are $35 and $11.50 at www.discoverpass.wa.gov or by phone at 866-320-9933 from outlets that sell hunting and fishing licenses.
The fine for using state property without a pass is $99, which can be reduced to $30 if the person cited purchases a pass within 15 days, she said.
The cost of the pass does not include other fees, such as fee-based campgrounds, hunting and fishing licenses or other permits.
Slated before June 1
No pass is needed at any state park for any event scheduled with State Parks before June 1, said Virginia Painter, department spokeswoman.
That includes Monday’s fireworks show and reservations for private parties at day-use facilities, she said.
“If they made reservation before June 1, attendees aren’t required to have the Discover Pass,” she said.
In almost all other cases, a Discover Pass is needed for a visit to a state park, including those on the North Olympic Peninsula — Sequim Bay State Park, Fort Flagler near Port Townsend and Bogachiel State Park near Forks — and, in some instances, Fort Worden.
Fort Worden
Fort Worden is a special case among state parks, since it houses businesses, museums, the nonprofit arts center Centrum and a Peninsula College branch and serves as a community gathering place.
A temporary agreement between Fort Worden and State Parks will allow business customers and employees access to the upper campus without a Discover Pass for at least the next year, through June 30, 2012.
“We have one year to work out how to manage the particulars,” Fort Worden State Park Manager Kate Burke has said.
Visitors using the lower park day-use parking area for access to the beach, trailhead and lighthouse will be required to have the permits.
For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
