Keep Colorado Wild Pass raises $43.2M to support state parks, wildlife conservation, and county search and rescue teams

DENVER - Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) published the 2026 Keep Colorado Wild Act Report to share how revenue from the sale of the Keep Colorado Wild Pass (KCW Pass) is being used to meet outdoor recreation and conservation needs in Colorado.

"Colorado is known for our grand outdoor spaces, offering Coloradans and visitors an amazing variety of world-class outdoor recreational activities. In Colorado, we uplift and invest in conservation efforts to preserve our state parks for future generations, protect our ecosystems and make sure parks are accessible for everyone to enjoy," said Governor Polis.

As part of the Keep Colorado Wild (KCW) Act of 2021, CPW and the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) created an optional $29 annual state parks pass (Keep Colorado Wild Pass) for Colorado residents, which can be added when registering passenger vehicles, light trucks, motorcycles and recreational vehicles. The Keep Colorado Wild Pass offers a 60% savings compared to a traditional annual state parks pass and provides entry into 43 Colorado state parks.

Since the pass became available in January 2023, the Keep Colorado Wild Pass has generated approximately $146 million through June 30, 2026, demonstrating its significant contribution to funding for outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation. Funding directly supports CPW's mission to provide quality state parks, conserve wildlife, support local communities, and ensure lasting benefits for Colorado's natural resources.

In Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), CPW sold approximately 1.6 million KCW passes, a 5% increase from the previous fiscal year, generating over $43.2 million in revenue. In Fiscal Year (FY25), approximately 1.5 million KCW passes were sold, generating $41 million in revenue, a 3% increase over the prior year.

Initial Keep Colorado Wild Pass revenue (the first $32.5 million) is dedicated to state park maintenance and staffing. Remaining funds are allocated as follows: $2.5 million to the Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue Program; $1 million to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC); and the remainder to the Wildlife Cash Fund and the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Cash Fund for broader wildlife and outdoor recreation initiatives.

KCW pass funding is used to help CPW accomplish the following 10 goals:

• Providing an affordable state parks pass to ensure Colorado's outdoors are welcoming and accessible to all.
• Ensuring sufficient staffing and resources to manage and protect Colorado's existing state parks.
• Supporting the thousands of search and rescue volunteers in Colorado who risk their lives responding to backcountry emergencies and developing educational programs and campaigns to promote backcountry safety.
• Protecting winter recreationists by supporting backcountry avalanche safety and awareness.
• Building and maintaining new state parks on a regular basis in partnership with local governments.
• Growing CPW's capacity to address outdoor recreation beyond state parks, including on federal lands.
• Increasing state trails program funds for trail stewardship, new trails and river recreation.
• Dedicating resources for the State Wildlife Action Plan to conserve vulnerable species and habitats.
• Supporting CPW's initiatives that are focused on equity, diversity and inclusion in the outdoors.
• Funding Colorado Regional Outdoor Partnerships to support community-driven conservation and recreation planning projects.

Learn more about the Keep Colorado Wild Pass at cpw.state.co.us/keep-colorado-wild-pass

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