Wisconsin State Parks, Forests, and Trails
Entrance Fee Waivers

Wisconsin state parks and forests offer several types of waivers for entrance fees and trail passes:

• Conservation Patron and Senior Citizen Recreation card holders
• Disabled Veterans and Former Prisoners of War
• Federal Pass on Ice Age Reserve Unit
• Government Business
• Open House Day and National Trails Day
• Schools, Colleges, and Nonprofit Organizations
• Towed Vehicles
• Vehicles on Public Highways

School, College, and Nonprofit Fee Waivers

Vehicle admission and trail fees may be waived for:

• Authorized public and private school events.
• Vehicles transporting students for authorized outdoor academic classes given by an accredited Wisconsin college or university.
• Groups with mentally or physically disabled persons and their attendants brought by a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is improvement of their mental or physical health.

To receive such a waiver, complete a Vehicle Permit/Trail Fee Waiver Request [PDF] form and send it directly to the property from which you're requesting the waiver. The form must be received at the property at least seven days before the beginning of the planned activity. Before going to the park, confirm whether your request has been granted. Stop at the property office for a courtesy permit when you arrive.

Vehicles dropping off or picking up juvenile group campers also may have admission fees waived.;

Government Business Fee Waivers

Admission fees are waived for vehicles registered to governmental agencies or driven by persons on official government business and for vehicles furnishing services or supplies to the Department of Natural Resources or its concessionaires.

Towed Vehicles

Any vehicle licensed/registered for use on a roadway and that is towed or carried into a vehicle admission area is provided free admission. Any type of vehicle can be towed or do the towing—motor home, truck camper, motorcycle, etc.

The vehicle doing the towing or carrying must have an annual or daily admission sticker. Vehicles being towed or carried will be issued a free Courtesy Admission Sticker allowing it the same access and privileges as a vehicle with an annual or daily admission sticker.

Conservation Patron and Senior Citizen Recreation Card Holders

Resident and non-resident Conservation Patron Licenses valid from April 1 through March 31. These licenses provide, in addition to hunting and fishing privileges, free access to state parks, forests, and recreation areas for vehicles carrying a patron holder. Also included are free access for walk-in patron-holders to Heritage Hill State Historical Park; and free access to state trails for the patron holders.

Before 1992, Wisconsin residents age 65 and older could buy Senior Citizen Recreation Cards granting them lifetime free admission to state parks. This card is no longer available for purchase, but we still honor the cards issued before 1992.

Vehicles on Public Highways

Visitors may drive through a state park or forest recreation area without a vehicle admission sticker. However, if the vehicle is parked within a state park, forest, or recreation area where stickers are required, it must have a sticker.

Disabled Veteran and Former Prisoner of War Fee Waivers

Beginning October 1, 2008, certain disabled veterans and former prisoners of war are eligible to receive waivers of vehicle admission and trail pass fees.

To apply for this fee waiver:

1. Download and complete the Disabled Veteran Free State Park/Forest/Trail Pass Application [PDF] and take it to your County Veteran Service Officer [exit DNR] (CVSO) to certify. The application must be signed and stamped by the CVSO.
2. Mail the certified application to:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Bureau of Parks and Recreation
101 S. Webster St. P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707

Do not send medical records to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The Bureau of Parks and Recreation will mail you an identification card to be presented each time you visit a state park, forest, or recreation area. The park, forest, or recreation area will then issue a courtesy pass for the day. When using state trails requiring a trail pass, carry the identification card with you.

Federal Pass on Ice Age Reserve Unit

At an Ice Age Reserve Unit, admission fees are waived for a vehicle occupied by a holder of a Federal Pass, such as an American the Beautiful—National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass or a pass from a former National Park Service program such as the Golden Age, Access, or Eagle Passports.

Open House Day and National Trails Day

National Trails Day is held the first Saturday of every June. All trail fees on all Department owned properties are waived on National Trails Day.

All DNR-owned properties participate in the statewide open house day each year on the first Sunday of the first full weekend in June. All trail fees on state operated designated state trails are waived statewide open house day. Cooperatively-run state trails also may participate in the statewide open house day.

For more information, ask Wisconsin State Parks, (608) 266-2181.