Sno-park versus Discover Pass

[Aerosled]

I just read the Ahtanum thread and sense some confusion on the parking permit required. This is from the Washington State Parks Winter Recreation web page. It is clear that if you have a seasonal sno-park permit you do not need a Discover pass at a Designated sno-park.

http://www.parks.wa.gov/winter/

Discover Pass: Visitors to Washington state parks and state recreation lands managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources are required to display the Discover Pass on their vehicles. Exemption: If you have a current seasonal Sno-Park permit, you will not need to purchase a Discover Pass to use a designated Sno-Park between Nov. 1 and March 31 for winter recreation activities. However, your Sno-Park permit may not be used to access other state recreation lands.

Please note: If using a daily Sno-Park permit, you also will need a one-day Discover Pass or an annual Discover Pass when visiting Crystal Springs, Easton Reload and Hyak sno-parks, Fields Spring, Lake Easton, Lake Wenatchee and Mount Spokane state parks and DNR's Mt. Tahoma Trail System. For more information or to purchase an annual Discover Pass, please visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.

 

[jasnyder]

Thought the same thing but the DNR guy who was up there told us we were wrong. I had checked the same website you listed and told him about it and he said it did not matter what the website said. He was very clear with us that you needed to have one. They have signs up all over the place saying you need one as well. My guess is you would have a decent chance of overturning it if you got a ticket but who knows... That is why I have only been to Tampico once this year, I refuse to buy a discovery pass.

 

[KrazyKen]

I was at the Autanum (Tampico) snopark last saturday. Only because we had to rescue two sleds, that made it a lot easier from that side of the mountain. I noticed the signs at the entrance to the lot that said "Discover Pass Required", clearly posted at the entrance to the snopark.
I also was mislead by the USFS website. I have not heard of one person getting a ticket for not having one but I don't want to be the first. Fortunately I already had one.
I've heard that some of the law inforcement has comented that they will not write tickets to guys with a snopark because they feel the same way we do. But you know there is always one hardass out there that would love to write you up.
And as far as that Autanum snopark goes, what a friggin' joke. Over crowded mess! I'll stick to my side of the hill whenever possible.

 

[Tampico]

To clarify a bit, DNR no longer has "sno-parks" they are now Winter Recreation Areas. You do need a Discover Pass in DNR Winter Recreation Areas, and registered snowmobiles to used the groomed system on DNR (or any other public) lands. As far as the sno-park permit on DNR lands, it is not required, but is kind of a moot point since you get one when you register your sleds.

The Ahtanum winter rec sites have been crowded this winter at times, even with the new additional parking. In January (don't remember which weekend) we probably had the most rigs there in history.

The USFS has no correlation to DNR lands. DNR personnel have been writing some tickets, but have generally encourage people to drive down to the pay phone at the end of the pavement to get one over the phone.

Discover Pass funding pays for the plowing of the DNR winter rec. areas (they took over the contracts from State Parks), your registration pays for the grooming.

The Discover Pass has just been amended (and is on the Governors desk) to include room for 2 vehicles for this upcoming year.

AS for refusing to buy a Discover Pass, if you don't use state lands or state parks, that is probably a wise decision. For heavy users of those areas, it seems a small price to pay versus a locked gate, no berms, no parking and no grooming. Since the Ahtanum area can be a crowded mess at times (probably the 2nd largest winter rec/sno-park area in the state, before the new lot) most people must think its worth it.

Tampico

 

[Aerosled]

I stand corrected. It is confusing, however, that the State doesn't explain on their winter recreation web site that the Ahtanum snowmobiling parking lot is not a designated snow-park.

 

[Tampico]

Aerosled,

Agree with you on that. It is and has been a confusing mess.

Tampico