Required for Entry
Specialty Passes
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers special discounted and free parks passes for the following Colorado residents:
- Experiencing disabilities
- Income-eligible
- Veterans or Purple Heart recipients
- Disabled first responders
Specialty Passes
For Those Experiencing Disabilities
Columbine Parks Pass - $14.00
Valid for 12 months from the issue date.
The Columbine Pass is for a Colorado resident with a total and permanent disability and who is on a fixed/limited income because of their disability. The pass can be moved between vehicles, allowing the Columbine Pass holder and others in the same vehicle to enter the park. The Columbine Pass holder must be present for the pass to be valid.
Columbine Pass holders 64 years of age or older will receive a $3 camping discount per night Sunday through Thursday. This discount does not apply on Fridays, weekends and holidays or on reservations for cabins or yurts.
You must have a current, valid Columbine Pass at the time of your reservation and at the time of your stay, and be the primary occupant of your campsite. At the time of your stay, pass holders must provide photo identification with proof of age along with your Columbine Pass to receive the discount.
To qualify for a Columbine Pass, you must be a Colorado resident and provide one of the following as documentation of a total and permanent disability:
- A fully completed Colorado Parks and Wildlife “Physician’s Affidavit” (located on the second page of the pass application), signed by a licensed physician attesting that the applicant meets the definition of a total and permanent disability, or
- A Division of Workers' Compensation "Final Admission of Liability" form indicating “Permanent Total Disability.”
Columbine Passes for Youth
Youth who meet all of the qualifications for the program are eligible to apply. A National Park Service disability pass cannot be used as documentation because the criteria for disability programs vary across different agencies and organizations.
To apply, please complete the Columbine License and Pass Application (PDF). Applications are also available at Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices and state parks upon request.
You only need to apply for the pass once. Once you are approved, you will be able to obtain your pass each year online, in person at any CPW location, or by phone at 1-800-244-5613, as long as you remain a resident of Colorado.
On your application, "CID" refers to your account number with Colorado Parks and Wildlife if you have ever purchased licenses, passes, or made camping reservations in the past. If you do not know this number, or do not have an account with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, you can leave this box blank and it will be filled in for you.
Submit by Email
Email your completed application and supporting documentation (as stated above) to [email protected]. Applicants who submit their application by email will not be sent a physical pass at the time of approval. Approved applicants will have an authorization placed on their account that will allow them to purchase their Columbine Pass online, by phone, or in person at any CPW location at their convenience.
Submit by Mail
Mail your completed Columbine Pass application with qualifying documentation of your total or permanent disability and a check or money order for $14.00 payable to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Mail-in address only:
Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Attn: Columbine Program
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO, 80216
Please allow at least 15 business days for verification and processing of mail-in applications. Less time is required for processing applications submitted via email.
Submit In Person
Columbine applications can be processed in person at the CPW headquarters office only:
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216
Other CPW offices are not able to process the Columbine application.
The rules for the Columbine Parks Pass Program, including qualifying documentation, are set by Colorado Revised Statute 33-12-103.5 and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Regulation Chapter P-07 #701.4.a.
Disabled Veterans Plates and Purple Heart Plates
Colorado residents with current Colorado Disabled Veterans or Purple Heart license plates may access Colorado State Parks free without a pass on the windshield. The veteran must be present in the vehicle.
Camping Discounts
The Disabled Veterans and Purple Heart license plates do not provide camping discounts. If you are 64 years of age or older and a Colorado resident, apply for the free Independence Pass for special camping discounts.
Colorado Disabled Veterans or Purple Heart License Plates
Colorado Disabled Veterans or Purple Heart license plates are obtained through the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Learn More About Military License PlatesMilitary and Veterans Benefits
Visit the Military and Veterans Benefits page for more information on active duty and retired military personnel.
Learn More About Military and Veterans BenefitsSpecialty Passes
For Veterans
Independence Parks Pass - No Cost
Valid for 12 months from the issue date.
Under the Veteran’s License and Pass Program, Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers a free Independence State Parks Pass. The Independence Pass provides unlimited access to all Colorado state parks for Colorado resident veterans with service-connected disabilities and for Purple Heart Award recipients.
The pass can transfer between vehicles, allowing the Independence Pass holder and others in the same vehicle to enter the park. The Independence Pass holder must be present for the pass to be valid.
Independence Park Pass holders 64 years of age or older will receive a $3 camping discount per night Sunday through Thursday. This discount does not apply on Fridays, weekends and holidays or for cabins or yurts.
You must have a current, valid Independence Pass at the time of your reservation and at the time of your stay, and be the primary occupant of your campsite. At the time of your stay, pass holders must provide photo identification with proof of age along with your Independence Pass to receive the discount.
To qualify for the Independence Pass, you must be a Colorado resident and provide a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs stating that you were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable and are receiving compensation from the VA for one of the following:
- 50% or greater disability (if there are multiple ratings, the combined rating must equal 50% or greater)
- Loss of use of one or both hands or feet
- Permanent loss of vision in both eyes
Purple Heart recipients also qualify for the Independence Pass. Purple Heart recipients must provide a Purple Heart Certificate or DD214 showing a Purple Heart Award. The Purple Heart Medal itself is not proof of the award. A National Park Service disability pass cannot be used for documentation because the criteria for disability programs vary across different agencies and organizations.
To apply, please complete the Veteran's License and Pass Application (PDF). Applications are also available at Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices and state parks upon request.
You only need to apply for the pass once. Once you are approved, you will be able to obtain your pass each year online, in person at any CPW location, or by phone at 1-800-244-5613, as long as you remain a resident of Colorado.
On the application, "CID" refers to your account number with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. If you have ever purchased licenses, passes, or made camping reservations in the past, you will have a CID. If you do not know this number, or do not have an account with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, you can leave this box blank and it will be filled in for you. Please complete the application fully and legibly and include all of the appropriate documentation. Failure to do so will delay processing of your application and may result in your application being denied.
Submit by Email
For fastest processing, email your completed application and supporting documentation to [email protected].
Submit by Mail
Mail your completed Independence Pass application to:
Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Attn: Independence Pass
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO, 80216
Please allow at least 15 business days for verification and processing time of mail-in applications. Less time is required for processing applications submitted via email or in person.
Submit In Person
Veteran license and pass applications can be processed in person at the CPW Headquarters office only:
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216
Other CPW offices are not able to process the Independence Pass application.
The rules for the Independence Parks Pass Program, including qualifying documentation, are set by Colorado Revised Statute 33-12-106.
Specialty Passes
For Those With Limited Income
Centennial Parks Pass - $14.00
Valid for 12 months from the issue date
The Centennial Pass is for income-eligible Colorado residents. With this pass, the Centennial Pass holder and vehicle occupants may enter Colorado’s state parks in any vehicle they choose. The Centennial Pass holder must be present in the vehicle for the pass to be valid.
The Centennial Pass is available to Colorado residents age 18 or older. To purchase a Centennial Pass, you will need to show a Colorado drivers license or Colorado identification card and provide income documentation, in the form of one of the following:
- A current eligibility letter or card for any of the following programs: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food Distribution on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
- The previous year's U.S. federal tax form 1040 or 1040-SR. Your federal total taxable income is found on Line 15 of the tax form 1040 and Line 11 for 1040-SR. To prove eligibility using a federal tax return, your federal total taxable income for the previous calendar year must fall at or below a specific income level, depending on family size. These amounts are shown in the table below. They are updated each year, typically in February, when the federal government releases annual poverty guidelines.
- A signed affidavit if your income is at a level such that you were not required to file a federal income tax return within the last year. The affidavit is located on the application form.
2023 HHS Poverty Guidelines
Number of Dependents (1 means just yourself, 2 means yourself and another person, etc.)
Maximum Total Taxable Income (line 15)
1 $14,580
2 $19,720
3 $24,860
4 $30,000
5 $35,140
6 $40,280
7 $45,420
8 $50,560
For each additional person, add $5,140.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines. In effect as of January 19, 2023.
How to Apply
Please see the Centennial Program application (PDF) for complete details and requirements. To enroll in the Centennial Program, you must provide proof of Colorado residency and one of the following:
- Provide eligibility documentation in the form of your previous year's federal income tax return
- Sign an affidavit that your federal total taxable income was at or below the determined threshold amount that you are not required to file a federal income tax return
- Provide proof that you are enrolled in any of six income-eligible programs previously mentioned
Submit by Mail
The Centennial Program application may be mailed to:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Attn: Centennial Program
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216
Specialty Passes
For First Responders
Blue Spruce Parks Pass - No Cost
Valid for 12 months from the issue date
Under the First Responder Lifetime Program, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is proud to offer a free annual Blue Spruce Parks Pass for qualifying first responders with a permanent occupational disability.
The Blue Spruce Parks Pass can transfer between vehicles, allowing the pass holder and others in the same vehicle to enter the park. The Blue Spruce Pass holder must be present for the pass to be valid.
Blue Spruce Parks Pass holders 64 years of age or older will receive a $3 camping discount per night Sunday through Thursday. This discount does not apply on Fridays, weekends and holidays or for cabins or yurts.
You must have a current, valid Blue Spruce Parks Pass at the time of your reservation and at the time of your stay, and be the primary occupant of your campsite. At the time of your stay, pass holders must provide photo identification with proof of age along with your Blue Spruce Parks Pass to receive the discount.
To obtain the pass, you must be a Colorado resident. Applicants need to provide proof of a permanent occupational disability or disease by one of the following means:
- An “Initial Disability Administration Decision” form from the Fire and Police Pension Association (FPPA) that specifies a permanent occupational disability, or
- For residents who are not members of FPPA, a fully completed Colorado Parks and Wildlife “First Responder Affidavit” (located on the second page of the application), signed by the applicant attesting that their permanent disability or disease was obtained as a result of performing official duties.
To apply, please complete the First Responder Lifetime Program Application (PDF) and include proof of your qualifying disability.
You only need to apply for the pass once. Once you are approved, you will be able to obtain your pass each year online, in person at any CPW location, or by phone at 1-800-244-5613, as long as you remain a resident of Colorado.
Without proper documentation, we will be unable to process your application. Please be sure to fill out the application completely and legibly. Any missing information will delay application processing or may result in your application being denied.
In the application, "CID" refers to your account number with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. You will have a if you have ever purchased licenses, passes, or made camping reservations in the past. If you do not know this number, or do not have an account with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, you can leave this box blank and it will be filled in for you.
Submit by Email
For fastest processing, email your completed application and supporting documentation to [email protected].
Submit by Mail
Mail your completed First Responder Application to:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Attn: First Responder Program
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO, 80216
Please allow at least 15 business days for verification and processing time of mail-in applications. Less time is required for processing applications submitted via email or in person.
The rules for the First Responder Resident Lifetime Program, including qualifying documentation and eligible first responder personnel, are set by Colorado Revised Statute 33-4-104.5 and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Regulation Chapter W-0, Article II, #002.Q.3 and Chapter P-07 #701.3.
SPECIALTY PASSES
How to Display Specialty Passes in Your Vehicle
Since these passes are linked to an individual, not a vehicle, they may be moved from car to car as long as the passholder is present. The passholder must be present for the pass to be valid.
Holders of passes that can be transferred between vehicles will be provided a reusable hang tag to display their pass. The pass can be secured in the hang tag by tucking the pass corners into the corner slits of the tag. For increased stability, you may tape the pass to the hang tag.
If you receive your pass without a hang tag, the hang tag can be picked up free of charge at Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices or state park offices.