Colorado Parks and Wildlife salutes all active-duty military and veterans by offering free entrance to all 41 Colorado state parks during August.
Free access for veterans and active duty military is slated to continue every year in which general fund dollars are appropriated by the General Assembly for this service.
“We greatly appreciate our active duty service members and veterans for their service to our country,” area wildlife manager Kris Middledorf said in a news release. “We also recognize that it goes beyond the individual service member or veteran, it also includes the spouses and children who spend their lives supporting their family members who may be in harm’s way or serving in an essential role in the defense of our nation.”
All eligible veterans may pick up their hangtag and pass beginning Aug. 1. Proof of service must be presented at any CPW office or state park to enjoy one of the agency’s military benefits. If you are in the CPW system as a military member or veteran, no further proof is necessary. To verify your service in our system, contact any CPW office. Service members and their families can relax and recharge with activities including archery, boating, fishing, hiking, kayaking and wildlife-viewing, along with well-equipped nature centers and picnic areas. Additional outdoor recreation opportunities can be found in the Parks Guide.
“There is no easy way to thank our military members for their selfless service,” added Middledorf. “One thing we are proud to do is invite our veterans and active duty service members and their families to enjoy the outdoors with us at our State Parks and State Wildlife Areas. We wouldn’t have these beautiful public lands, rivers, and lakes to enjoy had it not been for the sacrifice of so many generations of veterans and current active duty service members.”
Veterans and active-duty military personnel (including active duty, Reserve and National Guard members) can obtain a military hang-tag pass valid for free admission during the month of August, by showing the CPW parks staff one of the following:
Active or retired military identification, DD Form 2, DD Form 2765, DD214, Veterans Affairs medical card, a current Colorado Driver’s License or state issued identification card with the veteran seal printed on it.
Once eligibility is confirmed, the military hang-tag pass is issued to the service member. The hang-tag pass is valid when hung from the rear-view mirror of a service member occupied vehicle, and admits all passengers of that vehicle.
Though park entrance fees are waived for veterans and active-duty personnel in the month of August, activities such as fishing and camping still require a valid license or reservation. Visit cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Pages/default.aspx to locate a state park near you.