The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: National Forests in North Carolina Launch Digital Passes

Visitors to Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests will have a convenient new way to pay day use fees at several recreation sites starting this summer.

A new online platform allows visitors to pay day use fees using their personal computer or mobile device through Recreation.gov. There is no additional cost to pay fees online.

To purchase a pass, go directly to www.recreation.gov/sitepass/72611, search “National Forests in North Carolina Digital Passes” at the Recreation.gov homepage, or scan the QR code below. Some sites may have limited cell phone reception so users should purchase passes before heading to the destination. Passes can be printed and placed on the dashboard, though this is not required since rangers can validate license plates of passholders. Where cell service is good, passes can be purchased at recreation sites using a smartphone.

Digital Passes are available through Recreation.gov for the following sites:

* Cheoah Point Beach: $5, open through 10/31

* Dry Falls, Whiteside Mountain, and Whitewater Falls: $3, open year round (A pass purchased for Dry Falls, Whiteside Mountain, or Whitewater Falls are honored at all three locations)

* Jackrabbit Mountain Beach: $5, open through 9/30

* Roan Mountain: $3, open through 9/30

Recreation fee revenue helps protect natural resources and enhance recreation opportunities. These fees are critical to the operation and maintenance of recreation sites, including but not limited to cleaning, maintaining, and updating bathroom facilities, replacing sand at beaches, removing trash, mowing and maintaining grounds and parking lots, and replacing picnic tables and other amenities.

For more information on digital passes please visit www.recreation.gov/pass.