Despite a proposal to cut senior citizen discounts for National Forest campgrounds, the U.S. Forest Service opted yesterday to keep the senior discount in tact. The proposal, if it had gone through, would have eliminated the option for use of “Golden Age” and “Golden Access Passports,” as well as “Senior and Access Passes,” which allow for anywhere from 10 to 50 percent off campground fees. From the Forest Service news release:

“Each year more than 175 million people enjoy recreational opportunities on National Forests and Grasslands, and that includes more than 15 million visits to our campgrounds,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.  ”Particularly in these difficult economic times, it is very important to maintain affordable access to our National Forests and Grasslands, giving people easy ways to recreate and find respite in the great outdoors.”