Below you will find more information about recreational resources and organizations here in Utah and throughout the country that seek to provide meaningful recreational opportunities to Veterans, service members and their families.
The Utah Division of State Parks is proud to offer qualifying veterans access to our Veterans With Disabilities Honor Pass! The Honor Pass will be available for veterans who (1) are a Utah resident, (2) were honorably discharged from their military service, and (3) have a service-related disability and can provide a current summary of benefits letter issued by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Pickup locations include Utah State Parks Region Offices and all state parks — excluding Flight Park, Piute State Park, Jordan River OHV State Park, Utahraptor State Park, Lost Creek State Park, and This is the Place Heritage Park.
Learn more: Utah Division of State Parks – Honor Pass
The Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs and the Utah Division of State Parks are launching a new Veterans Adventure State Parks Pass pilot program, offering 1,600 eligible Utah veterans free day-use access to state parks for one year. To qualify, veterans must be Utah residents, have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and hold an Interagency Military Lifetime Pass. Applications are open now on a first-come, first-served basis.
Learn more: Utah State Parks Adventure Pass Pilot Program
Gold Star Families and US military veterans are eligible to receive free lifetime access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests. The free Military Pass is a way to thank America’s veterans, Gold Star Families, and current military and their dependents for their support of our country and to encourage them to explore recreational opportunities on their public lands and waters.
Learn more: America the Beautiful - National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Military Pass
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources offers discounted hunting, fishing or combination licenses to any Veteran who is a Utah resident and has a service-connected disability of 20% or greater.
Learn more: Utah Wildlife Resources – Diabled Veteran Hunting License
The National Ability Center empowers individuals of all abilities by building self-esteem, confidence and lifetime skills through sport, recreation and educational programs. They welcome members of the Armed Forces and Veterans from every era to participate in ANY of their programs. These programs provide recreational, rehabilitative, and therapeutic programs to service members AND their families that include ongoing lessons, specialized camps, mobile programs and adaptive wilderness expeditions.
In most cases service members are provided access to all National Ability Center recreation and adventure programs at NO COST, with scholarships being available by request for their accompanying family members.
Learn more: National Ability Center - Military/Veterans Programs
Continue Mission serves service members with service-connected physical, mental, and emotional injuries; Veterans and civilians in recovery; and their family/support members. They offer year round events, multiple days of the week, including: Alpine ski/ride, cross country ski, snowshoeing, fat tire biking, bowling, pickleball, disc golf, volleyball, softball, paddleboarding, ropes course, cycling, mountain biking, hiking, nature walks, ice skating, museum tours, multi-day R&R's, events for the family, and more. All at no cost to their Registered Veterans or their family/support members.
Learn more: Continue Mission
The mission of the American Heroes Project is to reduce the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the subsequent high suicide rates by providing healing outdoor recreational therapy to Utah’s disabled combat veterans and their families utilizing Hand in Hand Outdoor’s fleet of boats, professional captains, volunteer staff and councilors from the VA.
Learn more: American Heroes Project
Operation Pay It Forward was formed to help returning service members and Veterans overcome the injuries and demons they brought back with them from combat. Their goal is to introduce or reintroduce these veterans to the outdoors and the associated healing effects and comradery that comes with it. These soldiers are then given a new mission – to connect with their veteran brothers and sisters that need help and involve them in OPIF’s mission to “pay it forward” to their brothers and sisters in arms.
Learn more: Operation Pay it Forward