A new program allows individuals and families to rent Discover passes through a select number of local libraries.

Libraries are great. You can use their reference sections to research your next hike, rent books about hiking and on-trail adventures from them, and now there's one more reason to love your local library: Discover Passes you can borrow for your next adventure!

This spring, Check Out Washington is launching a pilot program making family Discover Passes available through a select number of public libraries. These passes will be available at the Pierce County Library, Spokane city and county libraries, and the Mount Vernon Public Library.



Discover Passes unlock adventure on state-managed lands. Photo by Anna Roth.

The passes will be loaned by libraries as part of a backpack kit containing binoculars, field guides and other interpretive materials. Users will want to bring their own 10 Essentials, including food and water for the day, a map of the area, and extra clothes, particularly in winter and spring when the temperatures can fluctuate.

Get out there

Passes, Permits & the Protected Experience

Learn more about parking passes and backcountry permits in Washington.

Normally, Discover Passes are associated to the individual who purchases them by writing the license plate number of the individual's car on the pass itself, but this means you need both a car to get to the trailhead and the means to purchase a pass. The Check Out Washington passes are being made available as a multi-vehicle family passes, so no license plate numbers are necessary for this pass to be valid, and folks can use rental cars or Zipcars to access the trailhead.



Signs like these at the trailhead indicate you're recreating on state-managed lands. Photo by Anna Roth.

Discover Passes are accepted on state lands, so to take advantage of this offer, you'll want to plan your next hike at a state park or on lands managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR). You can find out which pass is required for your next hike by searching WTA's Hiking Guide.

Opening up hiking opportunities

Check Out Washington says they hope that providing these passes will help increase awareness and access to state lands, especially for those who might not otherwise be able to obtain a pass. Several state park systems already offer a loanable multi-vehicle public lands access pass through their public library systems.

Sign up for trail News

Want more seasonal and safety tips for exploring Washington's trails? Sign up for our free newsletter.