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Recreation Passes and Permits
Many recreation activities in the Mark Twain National Forest are available at no cost to the recreational user.
Where developed recreation areas are concerned, however, there is a cost to operating these areas that is recouped through the use of day use fees.
To provide an affordable alternative for frequent visitors to the forests, or for folks who make their National Forests a destination for a week's vacation, we offer a variety of recreational passes and permits that help you save money on day use fees.
How to Buy
For your convenience, there are three ways to purchase a recreation pass.
-
Order Interagency Passes through the U.S. Geological Survey online or by phone (888) 275-8747.
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Order any pass by calling any Mark Twain National Forest office.
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Interagency Passes can be purchased from other federal agencies. Find one near you.
Annual Passes
Forest and Interagency passes are good for one (1) year.
- Annual Forest Passes - Only good on the Mark Twain National Forest
- Interagency Passes - Good at any Forest Service, National Park, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and US Fish and Wildlife Service sites that charge an entrance or standard amenity fee
| Who Can Buy | Price | How Long is it Good for? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anyone | $40.00 | One calendar year (Jan - Dec) | per vehicle per year |
More Information
Valid in all of our developed recreation sites that charge a day use fee, whether operated by concessionaires or the Forest Service.
Forest passes can also be purchased at Concessionaire operated sites.
| Who Can Buy | Price | How Long is it Good for? |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone | $80.00 | 1 year from date of purchase |
For More Information
Visit the National Website for information on what the pass covers, what it doesn't cover and what types of sites it can be used at.
| Who Can Buy | Price | How Long is it Good for? |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone 62 or older | $80.00 | for pass holders lifetime |
| Anyone 62 or older | $20.00 | 1 year from date of purchase |
For More Information
Visit the National Website for information on what the pass covers, what it doesn't cover and what types of sites it can be used at.
| Who Can Buy | Price | How Long is it Good for? |
|---|---|---|
| Active Military and their dependents | $0.00 | 1 year from date of purchase |
| Veterans and Gold Star Families | $0.00 | Indefinetly |
More Information
Visit the National Website for information on what the pass covers, what it doesn't cover and what types of sites it can be used at.
Active Military must show a Common Access Card/Geneva Conventions ID Card. Dependents must show a Uniformed Services ID Card - DD Form 1173.
- Veterans: Provide serial number from ID card on the fee payment envelope
- Gold Star Families: Download and print a voucher from the National Park Service website.
Gold Star Families as defined by DoD are next of kin of a member of the United States Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack, or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the United States Armed Forces. The paper voucher itself can serve as the pass.
| Who Can Buy | Price | How Long is it Good for? |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Graders/4th Grade Teachers/Home school and free-choice learners 10 years of age | $0.00 | Sept. to Aug. of 4th Grade school year |
More Information
Visit the Ever Kid Outdoors website for information on what the pass covers, what it doesn't cover and what types of sites it can be used at.
Digital versions of the paper pass (such as on smart phones or tablets) will not be accepted.
| Who Can Buy | Price | How Long is it Good for? |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer | 250 hours of time | 1 year from obtaining pass |
Must provided 250 hours of documented volunteer service to a National Forest. Time must be documented with a Volunteer Timesheet Form. Contact a District Office about signing up as a volunteer.
More Information
Visit the National Website for information on what the pass covers, what it doesn't cover and what types of sites it can be used at.
Lifetime Passes
Available passes that are good for the lifetime of the passholder.
| Who Can Buy | Price | How Long is it Good for? |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone 62 or older | $80.00 | for pass holders lifetime |
| Anyone 62 or older | $20.00 | 1 year from date of purchase |
For More Information
Visit the National Website for information on what the pass covers, what it doesn't cover and what types of sites it can be used at.
| Who Can Buy | Price | How Long is it Good for? |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone with a disability | $10.00 | for pass holders lifetime |
More Information
Visit the National Website for information on what the pass covers, what it doesn't cover and what types of sites it can be used at.
| Who Can Buy | Price | How Long is it Good for? |
|---|---|---|
| Active Military and their dependents | $0.00 | 1 year from date of purchase |
| Veterans and Gold Star Families | $0.00 | Indefinetly |
More Information
Visit the National Website for information on what the pass covers, what it doesn't cover and what types of sites it can be used at.
Active Military must show a Common Access Card/Geneva Conventions ID Card. Dependents must show a Uniformed Services ID Card - DD Form 1173.
- Veterans: Provide serial number from ID card on the fee payment envelope
- Gold Star Families: Download and print a voucher from the National Park Service website.
Gold Star Families as defined by DoD are next of kin of a member of the United States Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack, or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the United States Armed Forces. The paper voucher itself can serve as the pass.
Must provide documentation of disability from a licensed physician or a Federal Agency such as the VA to receive this pass
Day Use Passes
Some USDA Forest Service operated sites charge a day use fee. This fee can be paid on-site using the provided fee tubes. Fees must be paid using cash or check, no credit card machines are available at any sites. Annual and Lifetime passes can be purchased to cover day use fees at USDA Forest Service operated sites. Fees vary by site, but are usually only $2 or $3.
Motorcycle, ATV, UTV, and Mountain Bike Permits
Mark Twain National Forest restricts riding of ATVs, UTV's and motorcycles on national forest land to open, numbered roads (if ridden in compliance with state law) and designated motorized trails. State law prohibits riding ATVs and UTV's on public roads, except with a county permit, or other exceptions. There are two designated motorized trail systems on the forest – Chadwick Motorcycle and ATV Trail System in Christian County, and Sutton Bluff Motorcycle and ATV Trail System in Reynolds County (near the Sutton Bluff Campground).
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act authorizes collecting and retaining fees for specialized trail systems to improve maintenance and better serve the customers. Anyone riding an ATV, UTV, motorcycle, or mountain bike on these trails is required to purchase and display a current annual ATV/UTV/motorcycle or mountain bike sticker or daily use tag. All ATVs and UTVs must be under 50" in width.
ATV/UTV, Motorcycle Special Recreation Permits
| Who Can Buy | Price | How Long is it Good For? |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone | $20 | 2 days |
| Anyone | $30 | 3 days |
| Anyone | $60 | Annual to December 31 of the year purchased |
| Pass | Who Can Buy | Price | How Long is it Good For? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Bike | Anyone | $20.00/person | December 31 of the year purchased |
| ATV, UTV, Motorcycle | Anyone | $7.00/person | One Day |
| Mountain Bike | Anyone | $3.00/person | One Day |
Where to Purchase
Permits are available from the Ava, Salem and Rolla offices.
Passes for Chadwick are also available online through Recreation.gov.
*Call before going to a vendors to ensure they have permits available*
Chadwick Area Vendors
Casey’s General Store
7182 St Hwy 14 E
Sparta, MO 65753
417-278-3244
Sutton Bluff Area Vendor
Centerville Quick Stop
Hwy 21 N
PO Box 161
Centerville, MO 63633
573-648-2201
More Information
You must obtain and fill out the OHV Registration Form before you purchase your OHV permits. Forms can be faxed to Forest Service Offices if you wish to purchase a permit over the phone.
Download the Registration Form (pdf)
These permits are only valid for Chadwick and Sutton Bluff Trails. You must have a County Permit to ride on open, numbered, Forest Service and County Roads within the Mark Twain National Forest boundaries.
For each OHV that will be ridden on Chadwick and/or Sutton Bluff Trails:
- Download and print a registration form provided above and fill it out completely and sign it.
If you are purchasing a Day Pass, on the registration form indicate the exact day or days that you will be riding the trails.If you wish to have the ATV permit mailed somewhere other than the address that is given on the form, make note of that as well.
Mail or Fax the signed form to the Ava, Salem or Forest Supervisors Office.
By signing the registration slip you are certifying that the OHV you are registering fits the definition of the selected category.
Payment
- Payment must be provided with the registration form, forms sent in with no payment provided will not be processed.
- If you are faxing the registration form call the office you are sending the fax to, to provide your credit card information over the phone.
- If you are mailing the registration form please send a check or money order for the appropriate amount.
Receiving Your Permit
- The Forest Service or a designated vendor will fill out the Permit Number, Date Issued and Time Issued portions of the form.
- It may take up to ten (10) days from the day we receive your request for the permit to reach you.
Trails at Sutton Bluff and some trails at Chadwick are connected by Forest Service and County Roads. Non-street legal dirt bikes may not be ridden on any roads.
Chadwick Trails
UTVs under 50” may be ridden on the Chadwick trails.
It is recommended persons intending to ride an ATV at Chadwick also purchase a Christian County ATV permit.
Sutton Bluff Trails
UTVs under 50” may be ridden on Sutton Bluff trails.
It is recommended persons intending to ride an ATV at Sutton Bluff also purchase a Reynolds County ATV permit.
Roads
You may ride on open Forest Service Numbered Roads, as shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), in counties where ATV or UTV county permits are issued, provided you abide by all Missouri State Motor vehicle regulations (MSMVR). Not all counties offer permits. Motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs must meet MSMVR to be allowed on open Forest Service numbered roads.
Open Forest Service numbered roads will be physically numbered with a post or sign. Roads not posted or shown on the MVUM are considered "Non-system rods" and are not open to motorized vehicles.
| County | County Seat | Permit | District(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barry | Cassville | Yes | Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs |
| Bollinger | Marble Hill | Yes | Potosi/Fredericktown |
| Boone | Columbia | Yes | Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek |
| Butler | Poplar Bluff | Yes | Doniphan/Eleven Point/Poplar Bluff |
| Callaway | Fulton | No | Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek |
| Carter | Van Buren | Yes | Doniphan/Eleven Point/Poplar Bluff |
| Christian | Ozark | Yes | Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs |
| Crawford | Steelville | Yes | Salem/Potosi/Fredericktown |
| Dent | Salem | Yes | Salem |
| Douglas | Ava | Yes | Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs |
| Howell | West Plains | Yes | Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs |
| Iron | Ironton | Yes | Salem/Potosi/Fredericktown |
| Laclede | Lebanon | No | Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek |
| Madison | Fredericktown | Yes | Potosi/Fredericktown |
| Oregon | Alton | Yes | Doniphan/Eleven Point/Poplar Bluff |
| Ozark | Gainesville | Yes | Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs |
| Phelps | Rolla | Yes | Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek |
| Pulaski | Waynesville | Yes | Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek |
| Reynolds | Centerville | Yes | Salem/Potosi/Fredericktown |
| Ripley | Doniphan | Yes | Doniphan/Eleven Point/Poplar Bluff |
| Shannon | Eminence | Yes | Doniphan/Eleven Point/Salem |
| St. Francois | Farmington | No | Potosi/Fredericktown |
| Ste. Genevieve | Ste. Genevieve | Yes | Potosi/Fredericktown |
| Stone | Galena | Yes | Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs |
| Taney | Forsyth | Yes | Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs |
| Texas | Houston | Yes | Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek |
| Washington | Potosi | Yes | Salem/Potosi/Fredericktown |
| Wayne | Greenville | Yes | Doniphan/Eleven Point/Poplar Bluff |
| Wright | Hartville | Yes | Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek |
Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) benefits visitors to federal public lands by
Ninety-five percent of fees paid through the Recreation Enhancement Act stay local to help the Forest maintain high quality recreation facilities and trails and:
- increased field patrols by wilderness rangers/portage crews; wilderness maintenance for trails, portages, campsites; increased visitor contact by interpreters and other education projects;
- area-specific maps, brochures, travel planners, etc.; specific campsite cleanup and human waste removal; special field projects like boardwalks, weed removal, campsite restoration;
- volunteers supporting the wilderness program;
- administration of outfitter guides and cooperators;
- wilderness character monitoring and possible mitigation actions;
- safety advisories & training (blow down events, fires, etc.);
- maintenance of entry point facilities (kiosks) and access to entry points (ramps);
- permit reservation system support;
- support of emergency medical and rescue services; and special orders, like fire, or other emergency closures.