Permit Us to Explain The Tags, Stickers, and Decals You Need to Visit a Sno-Park in Washington

Getting into our green mountains in winter involves some red tape.

By Daniel Person • October 26, 2016 1:30 am
Permit Us to Explain The Tags, Stickers, and Decals You Need to Visit a Sno-Park in Washington

There’s no denying that when it comes to outdoor recreation in Washington, your permits can be as important as warm clothes and a compass. We’re not complaining; we understand that it takes money to manage public lands, and that state and federal lawmakers haven’t been exactly generous with funding. But with three national parks, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington State Parks, each with its own access rules, a newbie would be forgiven if, looking upon Washington’s evergreen-encrusted mountains, he or she were distracted by the giant balls of red tape.

This becomes even truer in the winter, when land agencies add a whole new layer of permit requirements to help pay for the plowing and grooming that help us all enjoy the powdery parks. Because different winter recreation areas require different levels of service, the agencies have come up with a somewhat intimidating site-specific system that means visiting various parks may require: a Sno-Park Pass, a Sno-Park Pass and a Discover Pass, or a Sno-Park Pass and a Groomed Trails Permit.

To take out some of the mystery, here is a guide for what permits you’ll need to visit. I know you’re already confused, but just one more thing: Most state parks don’t become Sno-Parks in the winter, meaning that most of your favorite low-land locations can still be visited all winter with just a Discover Pass. So if at any point your brain starts to hurt, just take a drive to Salt Water State Park and call it good.

Scenario 1

Sno-Park Pass Only: There are 40 Sno-Parks across the state, many of which require just a Sno-Park Pass to visit. Typically, they are on National Forest lands and aren’t groomed. One example is Sun Top off of SR 410 past Enumclaw, in the Snoqualmie-Mount Baker National Forest. The trails aren’t groomed, but the parking lot is kept clear of snow so you can park and go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. You can park here with either a season-long Sno-Park pass for $40 or a one-day Sno-Park pass for $20. Other sites near Seattle that fall under this category are Silver Springs on SR 410 and 92 Road near Ashford.

Scenario 2

One Day Sno-Park Pass plus a Discover Pass: Sno-Parks that exist either on State Parks or Department of Natural Resources land require extra permitting. If you visit these sites with a daily Sno-Park Pass, you must also display a Discover Pass (the Discover Pass can be either a daily pass for $10 or an annual pass for $30). Sites that require a Discover Pass with a one-day Sno-Park pass include Hyak, Crystal Springs, Lake Eastonm and Easton Reload, all of which are in the I-90 corridor on Snoqualmie Pass.

Scenario 3

Seasonal Sno-Park Pass plus Groomed Trail Permit Sticker: If you have a Seasonal Sno-Park pass, you will never need to display it with a Discover Pass. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t need extra permits in some cases. At all the sites listed under Scenario 2 (Hyak, Crystal Springs, Lake Easton, and Easton Reload), as well as some National Forest sites including Cabin Creek off I-90, a seasonal Sno-Park Pass must be accompanied with a $40 seasonal Groomed Trail Permit Sticker on the vehicle. This is because along with clearing the parking lot, land managers also groom the trails for easy cross-country skiing. It’s important to note that when you buy a one-day Sno-Park Permit, a groomed-trail sticker is not required to access these sites. Therefore, some math is required to determine which is the better deal for you: one-day passes or a seasonal Sno-Park pass with a groomed-trail permit sticker. If you already have a Discover Pass and think you will visit a groomed area three days or fewer in the winter, it makes sense to buy three one-day Sno-Park passes for a total cost of $60 (again, in addition to the Discover Pass we assume you already have). If you think you will go four or more times, then it makes sense to buy a $40 seasonal Sno-Park pass plus a $40 groomer sticker, for a total cost of $80.

One last thing: Some DNR sites have recently been converted from Sno-Parks to DNR Winter Recreation Trailheads, and you only need a Discover Pass to visit them; this includes the winter trailhead at Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area outside North Bend.

dperson@seattleweekly.com