Tonto Pass vs. Senior Interagency Pass

[azbackpackr]

Yes, Chumley, I did do a lot of clicking around to find the answer to this. I can also call Tonto NF and ask, but it's 5:30 a.m. and I want to know now!

I have spent very little time in the Tonto NF. Today I am going to car camp in a campground at Roosevelt Lake, and I see that my Senior Interagency Pass will get me half price, as it does in the other federal campgrounds.

I was wondering what, if any, use the Senior Tonto pass would be, if I already have the Interagency pass? I looked all over the Tonto website. I found that I can go picnicking with my Interagency Pass. I am not sure if I am allowed to launch my kayak? What if I want to paddle around Canyon Lake and camp on the shore? Leave my car there? Go backpacking? What pass do I need for that?

Another thing that makes me very uncomfortable is that some rangers will tell you to "just leave your senior pass on the dashboard" in a parking area. Why, so it can get stolen? I can see making a color copy of it, and leaving it there, but not the original pass.

I doubt if I will see a ranger today. A camp host may not understand my questions. Let's say, I might want to leave my car near a launch point for several days, and do some paddle camping. Or leave my car somewhere and go backpacking. What do I do?

I saw something on the website about an interagency pass decal, but then it said that was only for Oregon and Washington. So, why was that on the Tonto NF page? Well, it's because they just put up the info for the whole US on their page, even if it is not even slightly apropos to Tonto.

Anyway, basic question: If I already have the Senior Interagency Pass, do I need the Senior Tonto pass for anything at all?

[Pivo]

Yes, Chumley, I did do a lot of clicking around to find the answer to this.

Preemptive Nordic Gatekeeper suppression.

[azbackpackr]

@Pivo
Vel uansett.

[nonot]

According to brief research on the Tonto website, your senior (America the Beautiful) interagency pass will only cover the use of Tonto NF picnic areas only. It does not cover the use of Tonto NF Shoreline use, nor Tonto NF boat launches. However, the Senior Tonto Discovery pass covers all 3 activities.

Campgrounds don't need these passes, as campground usage is separate from the pass. However, either senior pass gets you a half-price discount at campgrounds.

I think that means if you want to go kayaking you'd need the separate pass, but assuming you don't park at a campground site, shoreline site, or boating site you'd be fine for day and overnight hiking/backpacking anywhere.

The following website lists each picninc, shoreline, boat launch, and campground site that has these permits/fees associated with them, including which type of pass you need for each site.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/tont ... rdb5202533

[CannondaleKid]

Another thing that makes me very uncomfortable is that some rangers will tell you to "just leave your senior pass on the dashboard" in a parking area. Why, so it can get stolen?

Seems to me the vehicle itself being stolen/vandalized would be a MUCH bigger deal than having to purchase another Senior Pass.
Personally I've left my Senior Pass clipped to the lower left windshield for the last decade (yeah, I'm that old) and I've never worried about the PASS being stolen.

[chumley]

Yes, Chumley,

Looks like others have parsed the details for you. While I may spend an unnatural amount of time reading such things, I will say that the agencies that manage public lands (NPS, USFS, BLM, AZ State Parks, etc.) are collectively terrible at communicating most things in a way that the average person can find and understand.

Why we have to pay for many of the things these "permits" cover is a discussion for another thread.

[azbackpackr]

@nonot
@chumley
As Nonot has very kindly pointed out, it does say something about shoreline and boat launching on those pages. As Chumley equally kindly pointed out, the way that the info is written is sort of vague.
Vel uansett.

I'm now sitting by my morning fire near Roosevelt Lake!

[big_load]

They're continuously chipping away at the value of the Senior Interagency Pass.

[azbackpackr]

@big_load