There are a few advantages to getting older. From my experience, getting wiser is not one of them. But, you do get some perks now and then. One that I have been enjoying for the past year or so is a “Senior Pass” that allows me to get into National Parks and Monuments. The cost? $10. You can even get 50% discounts on camping and other fees with this pass. Such a deal! The Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation also honor the Senior Pass.
All that’s required to purchase a Senior Pass is that you be a US Citizen or permanent resident who’s at least 62 years old. I bought my pass when I entered Yellowstone National Park about a week after I turned 62. My options were to pay $25 for a 7-day entrance permit to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks or to pay $10 to use these and all other parks for the rest of my life. Lucky for me I had enough math in college to determine that the Senior Pass was the way to go.
The latest opportunity to use my Senior Pass was on a visit to Zion National Park in southwestern Utah. If you’ve been there before you know that it is a spectacular and serene canyon with towering sandstone walls. If you haven’t been there before, it’s time to pack your bags. Don’t forget your camera. The images below are from my trip to Zion. I was only there one day plus a few hours the evening before and a few more the morning after. It rained all afternoon but didn’t dampen my spirits.
(Click on any photo to enlarge, then use arrows to scroll through the images.)