General Cycling Discussion - Does National Park pass worth buying?

The pass is valid for a year and it's $50, can be used in any National Park instead of the entrance fee, but can it be useful in NAtional Monuments, National Forests etc?

Who have purchased/ used this pass? Is there many places it can be used or just several park?

If you're talking about the Eagle pass, it's valid for any national park that charges admission for one year. Very worth while if you're travelling cross country and are planning on visiting multiple parks.

What it won't cover is camping fees at national forests (those generally don't have any admission fees).

Go here (http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm) and decide for yourself. How many National Parks will you be visiting? Add up the entrance fees to each park. If the number is greater than $50, then it is worth buying. Also, look into the Golden Eagle Pass for $65.

Also check and take into consideration bicycle entrance fee vs. car entrance fee as often parks charge considerably less for entrance on bikes.And check whether the pass includes camping as I believe many don't.P.S.Also a while back I bought one of those passes for use at a National Wildlife Refuge/Seashore so I think it covers more than Parks but I was using it almost every weekend for entrance by car and as I recall it was more like 25-30 dollars rather than $50 so I definately got my moneys worth.If Later I lived almost adjoining a national park (by trail anyway not by road)and I never got the pass for that because I always hiked in by trail rather than using the road entrance where the entrance fee is required.

Thanks!
Yeah, this are two main things I am considering. The pass costs 50$, and regular parks, like Yosemite and Yellowstone, charge half the proce for bicyclist, so, if I only will visit up to 40 parks, then it's not worth buying it, but if other sights suchs as refugees, monuments, gyezer old faithfull, maybe some National FOrest campgrounds where entrance fee is paid, can be entered with this pass, then it would be worth buying. I guess I will just have to see and decide while actually visiting those places, because it's not possible to get info about all the particular places in advance.

Originally posted by Inoplanetyanin
The pass costs 50$, and regular parks, like Yosemite and Yellowstone, charge half the proce for bicyclist, so, if I only will visit up to 40 parks, then it's not worth buying it,

Are you saying that it will only cost you less than $1.25 per visit ($50 / 40) to visit 40 National Parks by bicycle?

It looks like for$65 you can get a pass to include entrance fees to other national lands but remember this is only entrance fees not camping fees or activity fees etc.Also I take back my prior comments because now as I recall I just bought an annual entrance pass to that one wildlife refuge for $25 or so and didn't get a full national park pass since I always hiked in to the national park.It appears the $50 pass is only entrance fees to national parks.P.S. About $1.25 per entrance fee per day sounds in the ballpark as when touring Fl most state parks/lands charged bicycles $1 for an entrance fee(I was usu still to cheap to pay it lol)and I just checked Yellowstone and there fee was $10 for 7 days (didn't specify per day charge)for bicylcles and they are likely to be charging among the highest rates of any national park.

Originally posted by SteveE
Are you saying that it will only cost you less than $1.25 per visit ($50 / 40) to visit 40 National Parks by bicycle?

Oops, misprint. I meant 4 parks. Death Valley, Yosemite, Grand Teton , Yellowstone...
This are major that seem to be on the way. But then there is Glacier, and I don't know about Canadian parks... Waterton etc. Does this pass cover those ones?

Yea it looks like most charge $5-$10 for up to 7 days so you would have to visit more than 5 of the highest charging national parks for the pass to start making sensr and Canadian parks wouldn't be included in the pass .

Originally posted by Inoplanetyanin
Canadian parks... Waterton etc. Does this pass cover those ones?

I doubt it does....Canada wouldn't make a dime.

I'm going to buy one for my Tasmania tour later this year. It makes sense from a piece of mind perspective more than a financial one. I basically know I'm covered wherever I decide to go, even if I decide to take any detours (something I normally do).

Oh, by the way, don't forget that your pass does help to support park improvements. Think of your pass as making a contribution to the national park system. A government entity that deserves support.

If you are an REI member you can get the pass there for $40.