by Alicia MacLeay
Here’s a gift idea for the hiker, backpacker, climber, or general traveler who has all the gear he or she can handle (if such a person exists): a 2009 National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
An annual national parks pass provides access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Cross-country ski at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon; spot alligators at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia; hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado; view rare plants and trees in El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico; bike the trails in the Cottonwood Valley in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area, Nevada.
Passes cost $80 (less for seniors and the disabled) and are valid for one full year from month of purchase. A pass provides entrance or access to the pass holder and three accompanying adults age 16 and older in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. There’s no entry fee for children 15 and under. (Note: fees can vary widely across sites; so contact specific sites directly for information on what is or is not covered.)
You can order a 2009 National Parks and Federal Lands Pass by visiting http://store.usgs.gov/pass, via e-mail: fedrecpass@usgs.gov, or by calling 1-888-275-8747, option 1. All 2009 Annual Passes purchased through USGS in December will be validated for January 2009, and will be honored at participating federal recreation sites in the month of December.
For more information: http://store.usgs.gov/pass
