USFS: Senior pass purchasers can redeem vouchers

The Deschutes National Forest now has Senior Passes available for individuals who purchased their pass before August 28 and received a paper voucher. That voucher can now be redeemed for an official Senior Pass at the US Forest Service office in Bend.

Supplies of the passes ran out in mid-August and paper vouchers were issued for individuals who purchased their pass when it was $10. Senior Passes are available for individuals over 62 years of age and are now $80 for a lifetime pass or $20 for an annual pass.

To raise money for natural resources and recreation work, in 2016 Congress passed a law to increase the cost of the lifetime senior pass to $80. Annual and lifetime Senior Passes provide access to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by six federal agencies:

· National Park Service

· US Fish & Wildlife Service

· Bureau of Land Management

· Bureau of Reclamation

· US Forest Service

· US Army Corps of Engineers

The passes cover entrance and standard amenity (day-use) recreation fees and provide discounts on some expanded amenity recreation fees.