It’s time to get outdoors and explore New York State Parks with the Empire Parks Pass! Each NOPL location has one pass, available on a first-come, first-served basis. They can’t be held, but you can check on the availability of the passes.
The Empire Pass permits personal vehicle access to most facilities operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Empire Pass may be borrowed for up to three days and must be presented upon entry to the facility. Without the pass, you will be required to pay the vehicle entry fee. The passes are good for free admission into the parks listed on the NYS Parks website and day use areas listed on the NYS DEC website.
Please note: The Empire Pass does not guarantee free vehicle entry into a park when special events occur and are operated by other organizations or when the park is at maximum capacity. It does not include the waiver of fees for camping, golf, museum or historic site admission and other special activity fees are not included.
Park Passes Can be used at:
- Buttermilk Falls
- Cayuga Lake
- Chimney Bluffs
- Chittenango Falls
- Clark Reservation
- Fair Haven Beach
- Fillmore Glen
- Green Lakes
- Sandy Island Beach
- Selkirk Shores
- Taughannock Falls
- Verona Beach
- Watkins Glen
- And many more!
Park Pass Rules
- Available for a three-day loan, no renewals
- Non-holdable, non-renewable
- 1 pass per library card
- Must be 18 years or older to borrow
- Passes must be picked up at the library and returned in person
- Lost pass fee is $80
- Overdue fine is $2 per day for passes borrowed at NOPL
