By James Robinson

Those keen to purchase a state parks Discover Pass should plan to pay more beginning Oct. 1, when the cost jumps from $30 to $45, according to state officials.

State parks officials, who accounced the hike earlier in the year, say the increase marks the first price increase since the pass’inception in 2011.

The Discover Pass is a parking pass that provides one year of unlimited entry to all state lands managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, (State Parks) the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The pass is valid for one year from the date of purchase and can be transferred between two vehicles.

The state Legislature approved the increase in April and the governor signed the bill in May.

The Legislature’s bill also made changes to the Lifetime Disabled Veterans (LDV) Pass. Previously, the LDV Pass only provided access to State Parks-managed lands. Under the new law, LDV pass holders will continue to enjoy free camping, moorage, day-use parking, boat launch and trailer dump at all state parks, as well as access to 3.3 million acres of DNR-managed land, 80 campgrounds and several moorage and water access sites and more than 1 million acres of WDFW-managed recreation land at 33 wildlife areas across the state and hundreds of water access areas.

Additionally, beginning Oct. 1, State Parks will begin collecting camping reservation transaction and change fees on the LDV as part of the legislative changes.  

Approximately 71% of State Parks’ operating budget comes from Discover Pass sales and earned revenue. All of the revenue State Parks earns from Discover Pass sales stays with the agency. The funds go to services such as keeping bathrooms cleaned and trails maintained.