Washington State
Washington
Parking Passes
Discover, Northwest Forest, America the Beautiful, and Sno-Park — which hangtag belongs on which lot.
Washington State Guide →beExploring / Washington State
Overview
Washington uses four common parking passes, and they are not interchangeable. The Discover Pass is for state land. The Northwest Forest Pass is for Forest Service trailheads in Washington and Oregon. America the Beautiful covers federal recreation lands, including those Forest Service lots and national parks — but it does not cover Discover. Winter Sno-Parks are a fourth system from November 1 through March 31.
This page is an explainer, not a lookup tool. We are not listing every lot in the state. The goal is to stop the mix-ups we see on the ground: hanging the federal pass at a state park, treating a camping reservation as a statewide day-use pass, or rolling into a Sno-Park in January with a Discover hangtag. For fire bans — a different rule entirely — use the campfire restrictions page.
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Which Pass Covers What
Four common passes, four different land managers. No single pass covers state parks and national-forest trailheads. Confirm current prices before you buy — they change.
| Pass | Covers | Does not cover | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discover Pass | WA State Parks, DNR, WDFW day-use parking | National forests, national parks, winter Sno-Parks | $10 day / $45 year |
| Northwest Forest Pass | USFS trailheads in Washington and Oregon | State parks, DNR, national parks | $5 day / $30 year |
| America the Beautiful | Federal recreation lands (USFS, NPS, BLM, and others) | Discover Pass lands — state parks and DNR | $80 year |
| Sno-Park permit | Plowed winter lots, Nov 1–Mar 31 | Summer trailheads and regular state-park day use | Daily or seasonal — confirm current price |
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The Three Mix-Ups
These are the mistakes that get tickets. Everything else on this page is context for them.
America the Beautiful does not cover Discover
The federal interagency pass gets you into national parks and covers Forest Service day-use lots. It does not replace a Discover Pass. Lake Chelan State Park, Pearrygin Lake, Twin Falls, and Tiger Mountain still want Discover. If you hike both federal and state land, you need both passes.
A camping reservation is that park only
A Washington State Parks camping reservation covers vehicle access at the park you booked, for the nights you booked. It is not a Discover Pass. It does not get you into another state park for a day hike on the way home, and it does not cover DNR trailheads.
Discover is invalid at Sno-Parks from November 1 to March 31
Winter Sno-Park lots need a Sno-Park permit. Displaying a Discover Pass in that window does not count. Antilon Lake Sno-Park near Chelan, Hyak, and other plowed winter lots are on that system. Buy the Sno-Park permit before you drive — most lots have no pay station.
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Examples We Actually Use
Four lots that show the four systems. Maple Pass is a Highway 20 example here — not a separate hike page on this site.
Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful
Icicle Creek and the Enchantments
Stuart Lake / Colchuck, Icicle Gorge, and most Icicle Road Forest Service trailheads are USFS. A Discover Pass is not valid here. Day hikers to Colchuck still need the parking pass even though they do not need an Enchantments overnight permit.
Colchuck Lake guide →Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful
Rainy Pass, Maple Pass, Blue Lake
The Highway 20 larch trailheads — Maple Pass Loop, Blue Lake, Cutthroat — are Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Same federal pass as Icicle. Highway 20 typically closes mid-November through mid-April, which ends that season regardless of which pass is on the dash.
Best larch hikes →Discover Pass
Pearrygin Lake or Lake Chelan State Park
These are Washington State Parks. Day-use parking needs a Discover Pass (or the park’s day-use fee). America the Beautiful and a Northwest Forest Pass do not cover them. If you are camping there, your reservation covers that park during your stay — not the next state park down the road.
Winthrop camping (Pearrygin) →Sno-Park permit (Nov 1–Mar 31)
Antilon Sno-Park in winter
Antilon Lake Sno-Park north of Manson is the winter gate for Grade Creek snowmobile trails and nearby ski tours. A Discover Pass does not cover it in winter, and there is no pay station on site. Buy the Sno-Park permit before you leave town.
Chelan snowshoeing and Sno-Parks →beExploring / Washington State
How to Use This Page
This is not a lookup tool
Land managers change fee sites. The examples below are the patterns we keep hitting in the Cascades — not a complete list of every lot in the state. Check the trailhead or park page if you are going somewhere we do not cover.
Buy before the lot
Popular trailheads often have no pay station, or the machine is down. Discover Pass, Northwest Forest Pass, and Sno-Park permits are all easier to buy online at home than on a Saturday shoulder.
One hangtag, one vehicle
These passes hang from a rearview mirror or sit on the dash of one vehicle. A second car on the same trip needs its own pass or a day ticket.
Campfires are a different rule
A parking pass does not tell you whether you can have a fire. Fire bans are issued by forest, state park, DNR, and national park separately. Check restrictions before you pack wood or a stove.
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Tips
If you hike both state parks and national-forest trailheads, carry Discover plus America the Beautiful. That pair covers almost every lot we send people to.
If you only hike Forest Service trails (Icicle, Highway 20, Franklin Falls), a Northwest Forest Pass is enough. Upgrade to America the Beautiful when you also visit Rainier or Olympic.
From November 1 through March 31, treat Sno-Park lots as their own system. Do not assume the hangtag that worked in October still works on a plowed winter lot.
A reserved campsite at a state park is not a statewide day-use pass. If you want to stop at another park on the drive, you still need Discover.
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Common Mistakes
Putting an America the Beautiful pass on the dash at a state park and expecting it to count. It does not. Rangers ticket this mix-up constantly.
Displaying a Discover Pass at a Sno-Park between November 1 and March 31. That window requires a Sno-Park permit.
Assuming the lot sells passes. Stuart Lake, many Highway 20 trailheads, and Antilon Sno-Park do not. Buy before you drive.
Thinking a Pearrygin or Lake Chelan State Park camping reservation covers day-use at a different park the next morning. It covers the park you booked, during your stay.
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Plan Your Trip
Campfire Restrictions
Statewide fire bans by forest and park
Best Larch Hikes
Maple Pass, Blue Lake, Colchuck — NW Forest lots
Leavenworth Hiking
Icicle and Enchantments trailheads
Lake Chelan Parks
State parks (Discover) vs city beaches (free)
Winthrop Camping
Pearrygin Lake State Park
Chelan Snowshoeing
Antilon Sno-Park in winter
Seattle Day Trips
Twin Falls, Franklin Falls, North Bend lots
Washington State Guide
Destinations, seasons, trip planning
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