Tonto Annual Pass

Also called the Tonto Discovery Pass. $80 for a full year at every Tonto recreation site.

The Tonto Discovery Pass is the annual Tonto Pass — $80, one vehicle, every recreation site, valid one year. Buy at fs.usda.gov or any ranger district office.

Buy the annual pass
What It Isvs. America the BeautifulWhere to BuyHow to DisplayDaily vs. Annual MathFAQ

What Is the Tonto Annual Pass?

$80, one vehicle, every recreation site in Tonto National Forest, valid one year from the month you buy it. It's the year-long version of the standard Tonto Pass.

The Forest Service calls it the Tonto Discovery Pass. People search for it under a lot of different names:

  • Tonto annual pass · annual Tonto pass
  • Tonto yearly pass · yearly Tonto pass · Tonto year pass
  • Tonto National Forest annual pass · Tonto National Forest yearly pass
  • Tonto National Park annual pass (common mix-up — Tonto is a National Forest, not a National Park)
  • Tonto Forest annual pass · Tonto recreation pass

They all refer to the same $80 Tonto Discovery Pass.

Tonto Discovery Pass vs. America the Beautiful Pass

Both annual passes cost $80. Both work at every Tonto recreation site. The difference is everything else.

Tonto Discovery
America the Beautiful
Price
$80/year
$80/year
Tonto coverage
Full — every site
Full — every site
Other federal sites
No
Yes — 2,000+ sites
Buy online
fs.usda.gov
recreation.gov
Format
Paper hangtag
Plastic card + hangtag
Senior version
None
$80 lifetime (age 62+)
Military / 4th grade
Not eligible
Free

Our take: same price, but America the Beautiful is the better deal for almost everyone. Pick the Tonto Discovery Pass if you'd rather your $80 stay with the local forest.

Where to Buy the Tonto Annual Pass

Gas stations and convenience stores only carry the $8 day pass. To buy the annual Discovery Pass:

Online

Mail-order from the Forest Service. Pass arrives in the mail.

fs.usda.gov

In person — Ranger District offices

Cave Creek, Mesa, Globe, Tonto Basin, and Payson Ranger District offices. Weekdays only.

Office addresses

By mail

Send a check and the order form to the Tonto National Forest Supervisor's Office.

Order form

Or get the same-priced America the Beautiful Pass — easier to buy, available at recreation.gov, REI stores, and most national park visitor centers.

How to Display the Annual Pass

The Tonto Discovery Pass is a paper hangtag, not a sticker. To use it:

  1. Sign the front when you receive it.
  2. Write your license plate number on the back.
  3. Hang it from the rearview mirror with the printed side toward the windshield whenever you park at a recreation site.

Patrol staff check at trailheads and day-use lots. A pass in the glovebox or face-down doesn't count.

Daily Pass vs. Annual: When Does It Pay Off?

Ten $8 days equals one annual. Cross 10 trips a year and the Discovery Pass starts saving you money — that's about one trip a month, which most Salt River and Saguaro Lake regulars hit by early summer.

Heads up: each vehicle needs its own pass, so a two-car household pays twice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Tonto Discovery Pass?
The Tonto Discovery Pass is the official annual version of the Tonto Pass. It costs $80 per year and is sometimes called the annual Tonto Pass, yearly Tonto pass, or Tonto Forest annual pass — they all refer to the same product.
What is the difference between the Tonto Discovery Pass and the America the Beautiful Pass?
Both cost $80 per year. The Tonto Discovery Pass only covers Tonto National Forest. The America the Beautiful Pass covers Tonto plus 2,000+ other federal recreation sites nationwide (national parks, BLM lands, Army Corps lakes, etc.). If you only visit Tonto, either works. If you also visit Grand Canyon, Saguaro National Park, or any other federal site, America the Beautiful is the better deal.
Where can I buy a Tonto annual pass?
The Tonto Discovery Pass can be purchased online at fs.usda.gov, by mail, or in person at Forest Service offices including the Cave Creek, Mesa, Globe, Tonto Basin, and Payson Ranger District offices. Most convenience-store and gas-station vendors only sell the $8 daily pass — not the annual.
Is the Tonto annual pass the same as the Tonto National Forest pass?
Yes. The Tonto annual pass, Tonto Discovery Pass, yearly Tonto pass, and Tonto National Forest annual pass all refer to the same $80/year Discovery Pass. The Forest Service uses 'Discovery Pass' as the official name.
How do I display the Tonto Discovery Pass on my vehicle?
The Tonto Discovery Pass is a paper hangtag. Sign it, write your vehicle plate number on the back, and hang it from your rearview mirror with the printed side visible through the windshield whenever you park at a Tonto recreation site.

Only Need a Day Pass?

$8 at any of 200+ Arizona vendors. Find the nearest one on the map.

Find vendors near you