Coloradans want to keep their state wild and show they are willing to pay for it. In its first full year, the Keep Colorado Wild Pass netted $39.7 million. These funds directly support state parks, search and rescue teams, as well as the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife set out to raise at least $36 million annually from pass sales in 2023. Of that base amount, the bulk of the funds, $32 million, goes to state park maintenance and development. Search and rescue teams will receive $2.5 million. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center receives $1 million. Any revenue beyond that, CPW said, will go to wildlife projects and outdoor educational programs.
CPW and the Division of Motor Vehicles launched the $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass in January 2023. The first fiscal year of Keep Colorado Wild Pass sales ended on June 30, 2024.
“We’re excited to report on the Keep Colorado Wild Pass’s success during its first year of operations,” said Justin Rutter, CPW chief financial officer. “This is a substantial increase in revenue for our agency compared to previous years, which means our state parks, wildlife, search and rescue volunteers, and avalanche forecasters will get a boost in funding in the coming year too.”
The Keep Colorado Wild Pass offers a 60 percent savings compared to a traditional $80 annual state park pass and provides car, bike, and foot entry into all Colorado state parks.
Residents can get or opt out of the pass during annual registration of a passenger vehicle, light truck, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle with the DMV. When a resident buys a Keep Colorado Wild Pass, the DMV prints a Colorado Parks and Wildlife logo on the vehicle registration card, which serves as the park pass to present at state park entrance stations.
State Park Maintenance Projects
CPW has brainstormed ways to use the funding to improve existing parks through new campsites; updating facilities like bathrooms and visitor centers, parking lots and roads; updating signage; and building new picnic areas. Funding also will be allocated for park operating budgets and new staff positions.
Search and Rescue Funding
On average, Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue (BSAR) organizations can respond to more than 3,600 search and rescue incidents yearly – more than any other state. The Backcountry Search and Rescue Study released in 2022 showed that BSAR volunteers spend an average of $1,587 annually out-of-pocket on equipment, fuel, and other expenses to respond to incidents.
Revenue from Keep Colorado Wild Pass sales will allocate $2.5 million for local backcountry search and rescue teams to help fund rescuer training, mental health programs, and team equipment. CPW also plans to divide $1.5 million into county allocations, which are 2-year grants for eligible counties to purchase items based on a county-designed project.
Support the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)
Funding from the Keep Colorado Wild Pass enables CAIC to provide better avalanche safety information to the public. Some of the specific improvements include a new CAIC website – launched for the 2022-23 season – with dynamic forecast zones that provide more detailed avalanche information, a new avalanche-awareness curriculum CAIC developed with AIARE and NWAC last season, and the development of basic avalanche-education materials in Spanish. This funding also allowed CAIC to convert temporary jobs to permanent positions to help the organization attract and retain the most qualified avalanche forecasters and base them in mountain communities.
“Whether you use the pass to visit state parks or to show support for our outdoor first responders and avalanche forecasters, your contribution plays an integral role in giving back to the outdoor spaces and programs our local communities treasure,” said Heather Disney Dugan, CPW deputy director.
Find more information on the Keep Colorado Wild Pass HERE.