Sailors, as you probably remember, for many years CSYC has purchased annual Colorado State Parks passes in bulk from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, in order to take advantage of a bulk discount.  In the first few months of each calendar year, the club has set up an ordering process through which members can order discounted state parks passes.  For the past few years the club has charged $63 per pass, whereas the normal full price is $80.  That is based on a historical order quantity of 50-99 passes, enabling a 25% discount off the full price, plus a postage and processing fee.

This year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has activated a program called the Keep Colorado Wild Pass.  If you’re a Colorado resident, when your vehicle registration comes up for renewal in 2023, you’ll pay $29 for a Keep Colorado Wild Pass, which includes an annual state parks pass, unless you opt out (but why would you, because it’s less than half what you used to pay).

If you bought an annual parks pass from CSYC last year, it probably expires at the end of March or April, depending on when you redeemed your voucher last year.  What if your vehicle registration doesn’t come up for renewal until later in the year?  In that case, you won’t have a valid pass for part or even all of the 2023 sailing season.

For that reason, CSYC is once again offering discounted annual state parks passes via bulk purchase.  This will be the last year the club does it.  The cost is $65 this year in case the order quantity is less than 50 and we only get a 20% discount.

If your registration comes up for renewal within nine months of buying an annual parks pass, CPW will refund the cost of your annual parks pass on a prorated basis (see their FAQ).  As an example, my truck’s registration is up for renewal in November.  My current annual state parks pass purchased through CSYC last year expires at the end of March.  So I’ve got eight months, April through November, the whole sailing season, without a valid pass.  If I buy a $64 pass through CSYC this year, I can get a refund of $21 in November, making my 2023 pass cost effectively $43.  From then on, it’s $29/year for me, every November.

Unless your vehicle registration comes up for renewal in April or earlier, you’ll probably want to buy an annual pass through CSYC one last time, then apply for a refund from CPW when you renew your registration.   Or, if you have already renewed your registration and obtained a Keep Colorado Wild pass, or will do so before the sailing season begins, you may still want to buy an annual parks pass through CSYC this year.  That is because CPW intends to automate park entry by installing electronic license plate readers at all state parks.  But there is not one installed at Chatfield yet, and park management won’t confirm when the reader will be operational.  If you have a Keep Colorado Wild pass, you’ll have to stop at the entrance and show your vehicle registration.  The line for entry may become very long, delaying your entry.  If you have the usual window sticker you may be able to bypass the line.

You can order your discounted 2023 annual parks pass through CSYC by submitting the form below.  You must place your order by 12:00 noon on March 15th.  Vouchers will be mailed before the end of March.

Sorry, the deadline for state park vouchers has passed.