There's a Pass For That

Christina Maloney, Hood Canal Adventures CEO

Over the past few decades tax-based funding for our national and state lands have dwindled, and our land use agencies have been supplementing this shortfall with user pay passes and permits. Because there are several land use agencies each requiring a different pass, this system can be very confusing and can cause considerable frustration. In this article, we lay out what you need to know while you’re exploring the Hood Canal area.

Discover Pass

The Discover Pass is needed when visiting Washington State Parks, areas managed by Washington State Fish & Wildlife (WDFW), and state managed tidelands. The Discover Pass is a parking pass for your vehicle and costs $10 for a day, or $30 for an annual pass.

Around the Canal Discover Passes may be purchased at Dosewallips State Park and the Brinnon General Store (Brinnon); Eldon Store; Hoodsport Visitor Information Center and Hood Canal Outfitters (Hoodsport); Twanoh State Park (Union); and the North Mason County Visitor Information Center (Belfair); They can also be purchased in advance online at discoverpass.wa.gov.

Discover Passes are required at following recreation areas: State Parks Belfair State Park (Belfair); Twanoh State Park (Union); Potlatch State Park (Skokomish); Triton Cove State Park (Brinnon); Dosewallips State Park (Brinnon); Pleasant Harbor State Park (Brinnon);Schafer State Park (Matlock); Jarrell Cove State Park (Harstine)

While camping at a state park you do not need to purchase a Discover Pass to use the campground’s facilities, trails, and beaches within the park. The Discovery Pass is a parking pass, therefore walk-ins, cyclists and boat-ins are exempt.

Boat Launches Lake Kokonee* (Hoodsport/Cushman) Pleasant Harbor Boat Ramp* (Brinnon) Point Whitney Boat Launch* (Brinnon) Triton Cove Boat Launch** (Brinnon) *Washington State Fish & Wildlife parking passes are issued with some types of hunting and fishing licenses and may be used instead of a Discover Pass at WDFW managed locations. **Additional $7 launch fee

Did you know WA State Parks and state managed recreation areas grant you 15 minutes to use a restroom or stretch your legs without a pass?

Northwest Forest Pass

The Northwest Forest Pass is required at U.S. Forest Service (USFS) trailheads in Washington and Oregon that offer facilities such as restrooms, pit toilets and picnic tables. An annual pass costs $30 and day passes are offered at $5.

You may purchase a Northwest Forest Pass at Hood Canal Adventures (Brinnon); the USFS Hood Canal Ranger Station (Quilcene); Eldon Store; Hood Canal Outfitters and the Hoodsport Visitor Information Center (Hoodsport); and the North Mason County Visitor Information Cente r(Belfair). Also available online at fs.usda.gov. The following local trailheads require a Northwest Forest Pass or America The Beautiful Pass. Big Creek 4 Mile Trail (Lake Cushman) Mt. Ellinor, Upper (Lake Cushman) Big Quilcene (Quilcene) Skokomish Lower South Fork Lena Lake / Brothers (Hamma Hamma) Mildred Lakes (Hamma Hamma) Duckabush Trail (Duckabush Rec) Ranger Hole (Duckabush Rec. Olympic National Park Passes And if your head’s not spinning yet – this should do it! The Olympic National Park has a different fee system. The only vehicle access into the Olympic National Park within the Hood Canal area is at Staircase. Staircase is located at the far end of Lake Cushman and is usually accessed via Hwy 119 from Hoodsport. There are a variety of pass options to enter the Park. Pass types are outlined below.

Olympic National Park Annual Pass

$55 – 12 month vehicle pass for the ONP only. Vehicle Pass $30 – Up to 15 persons in one vehicle for 7 consecutive days Motorcycle $25 – Good for one motorcycle and driver for 7 consecutive days;Person Pass $15 – Good for one person on foot or bike for 7 consecutive days (kids 15 and under free); Wilderness Camping Permit - $8 per person per night plus a $6 per permit fee (kids 15 and under free)

Passes to enter ONP are sold at Staircase Ranger Station. Other areas of the Olympic National Park may be accessed by foot via a number of trailheads beginning in the National Forest and no fee is required to walk into the Park for day use if accessing the park from these areas.

America The Beautiful Annual Pass

The America The Beautiful Annual Pass is a great option for travelers and folks who frequent the outdoors. This pass covers federally managed recreation lands such as National Parks, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, and Bureau of Land Management Recreation Areas throughout the country. Therefore, if you purchase this pass you may use it for both the Olympic National Park and for trailheads requiring a NW Forest Pass. The pass covers all people in your vehicle and covers two pass signers at walk-in locations, so at $80 per year, it’s a pretty good value.

America The Beautiful Passes are available locally at the USFS Hood Canal Ranger District Station in Quilcene,* Hoodsport Visitor Information Center, or online at usgs.gov. Special America The Beautiful Passes such as the Lifetime Senior, Senior Annual, Handicap Access, Military, and 4th Grade Passes can be purchased locally only at the USFS Hood Canal Ranger District Station.*

*As of printing of this article in February of 2021, the USFS Hood Canal Ranger District Station in Quilcene remains closed due to Covid protections. A reopening date for the station had not been announced.

If you still find the pass system confusing, please visit us at Hood Canal Adventures in Brinnon. In addition to kayak tours, kayak rentals, forest tours, and retail store we offer free visitor information and local maps. You may also purchase your Northwest Forest Pass at our retail location (Hood Canal Adventures Basecamp). Now get out and explore!