Updated February 7, 2008: This pass will allow you to enjoy the many recreation opportunities on Georgia's two national forests, the Chattahoochee and the Oconee, without having to pay daily fees at each day use fee site.

The money you pay for this pass will be spent on these national forest recreation sites to:

• Enhance recreation facilities
• Perform needed maintenance work
• Correct resource damage
• Provide program support

Congress authorized the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act in December, 2004. Under this fee program, 80 percent of the fees collected will be available for use on the forests where they are collected. The other 20 percent will be used for operating the fee program.

Pricing and Benefits

The price of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest 2008 Annual Pass is $25. The Forest Annual Pass will be good for one year from the month of purchase. For example, a Forest Annual Pass sold on March 15, 2008 will be good until the end of March, 2009.

Holders of the Golden Age Passport, the Golden Access Passport, the Interagency Senior Pass, and the Interagency Access Pass are eligible to receive a 50% discount on the price of the 2008 Chattahoochee-Oconee Forest Annual Pass.

Without the Forest Annual Pass, an individual must pay for day-use pass at each recreation fee site on each visit. The fees at day-use sites vary from $3 for use of boatramps to $5 at shooting ranges and trailheads for horseback riding and mountain biking.

Earn a Forest Annual Pass: You may also earn a pass through your volunteer efforts by meeting these criteria:

• Enter into a Volunteer Agreement with one our District Offices
• Work 20 hours towards the upkeep of the National Forests in Georgia
• Document and submit the time you volunteer to the district for which the work was completed

Each calendar year begins a new cycle towards earning a Forest Annual Pass. While you are working towards your 20 hours, you will be issued a Visitor’s Permit, FS-2300-30, to be displayed on your windshield. When you complete your time and submit it to the district, you will be issued a Forest Annual Pass. OHV Volunteers will be issued an OHV Annual Pass for their volunteer contribution of 20 hours.

Where the Forest Annual Pass is Accepted

The following is a list of sites where the Forest Annual Pass WILL BE accepted for one year from month of purchase.

• Dry Creek Recreation Area: Equestrian Trailhead
• Lake Conasauga Recreation Area: Family Picnic and Swimming Area
• Chestnut Mountain Shooting Range
• Sumac Creek Shooting Range
• Brasstown Bald Visitor Information Center
• Anna Ruby Falls Visitor Information Center
• Frady Branch Equestrian and Mountain Bike Trailhead and System
• Dyar Pasture Recreation Area: Boat Launch Facility and Wildlife Viewing
• Lake Sinclair Recreation Area: Family Picnic and Swim Beach Facilities
• Miller Creek Lake: Family Picnic and Boat Launch Facilities
• Ocmulgee Bluff Equestrian Recreation Area: Equestrian Trailhead
• Oconee River Recreation Area: Boat Launch Facilities
• Redlands Recreation Area: Boat Launch Facilities
• Swords Recreation Area: Boat Launch Facilities
• Town Creek: Mountain Bike Trail System
  

When you visit the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, the Forest Annual Pass must be displayed in your vehicle hanging on the rear-view mirror.

Where the Forest Annual Pass is Limited or NOT Accepted

Recreation Sites Operated by Concessionaires

The Chattahoochee National Forest now has two Concessionaires that are operating some of our recreation areas. These Concessionaires are Chattahoochee Management, Inc. (CMI), and Chattahoochee Outdoor Adventures, LLC (COA).

The Forest Annual Pass is NOT honored at the following Day Use Areas that are under a concession permit to Chattahoochee Management, Inc.

• Dukes Creek Falls Recreation Area: Family Picnic and Trailhead
• Lake Russell Recreation Area: Family Picnic and Swim Beach
• Lake Russell Recreation Area: Boat Launch
• Panther Creek Recreation Area: Family Picnic and Trailhead
• Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area: Boat Launch
• Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area: Family Picnic and Swim Beach

The Forest Annual Pass is NOT honored at the following Day Use Areas that are under a concession permit to Chattahoochee Outdoor Adventures.

• Deep Hole Recreation Area: Canoe Launch and Family Picnic
• DeSoto Falls Recreation Area: Trailhead to Waterfalls
• Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area: Family Picnic and Developed Swimming Area
• Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area: ADA Fishing Pier
• Lakewood Landing Boat Launch
• Morganton Point Recreation Area: Family Picnic, Developed Swimming Area, and Boat Launch
• Toccoa River , Sandy Bottoms Complex: Canoe Launch

OHV Trail Systems and Campgrounds

The Forest Annual Pass is not good at off highway/off road vehicle (OHV) trails, which require seperate fees. An OHV Annual Pass is available for riding on these trails. Also, the Forest Annual Pass does not cover the overnight camping fees charged at all of the developed campgrounds on the national forest.

Exceptions
Hunters with a valid Wildlife Management Stamp or Sportman's License may park in day use areas located within a WMA at no additional cost while engaged in an activity for which the Stamp or License was purchased during the period of August 15 - May 15. Two exceptions are that WMA Stamp or License holders will be required to pay the full day-use fee at shooting ranges and boat ramps. Hunters should fill out a day-use envelope and put their WMA Stamp number/Sportman's License number on it so the compliance checkers will know not to ticket them.

Camping in campgrounds within WMA Areas are full price at all times.