Vancouver, WA, June 23, 2023 – To help fund maintenance and operations of popular campgrounds, day-use sites, cabin/lookout rentals, and climbing and backcountry programs on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest new and modified fees will be implemented at some developed recreation sites. These fee changes will be implemented in stages over the course of the next few years.
In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which allows the Forest Service to retain 95% of revenue collected at recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate and maintain and improve these sites. Revenue is reinvested into forest recreation sites in the form of trash pickups, septic and toilet pumping, painting, cleaning, addressing the backlog of deferred maintenance, conducting patrols, maintaining highly used trails, cabin/lookout rentals, campsites, and more.
Starting July 1, 2023, fee changes will be implemented at the following campgrounds in the Mount Adams Ranger District:
- Government Mineral Springs – Current fee $5/New fee $10, per night
- Tillicum Campground – Current fee $5/New fee $10, per night
- Forlorn Lakes Campground – Current fee $10/New fee $15 single, Current fee $20 double/New fee $30 double, per night
- Trout Lake Creek Campground – Current fee $10/New fee $15, per night
- Cultus Creek Campground – Current fee $10/New fee $15, per night
- Lewis River Horse Camp – Current fee $5/New fee $15, per night plus $5 extra vehicle
- Mt. Adams Horse Camp – Current fee $5/New fee $15, per night plus $5 extra vehicle
Starting August 1, 2023, fee changes will be implemented at the following sites:
Day Use Areas/NW Forest Pass Sites
- Crest Camp Trailhead – Currently no fee/New fee $5 per day
- Falls Creek Falls Trailhead – Currently no fee/New fee $5 per day
- Cascade Peaks Interpretive Site – Currently no fee/New fee $5 per day
Group Site
- Marble Mountain Group Picnic Site – New rental opportunity /fee $100 per day (summer only)
Recreation Rental
- Gotchen Guard Station – Currently not available for rent/New fee $85/night
Review a full list of approved Gifford Pinchot National Forest fee changes online at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/gp/fees.
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest hosts fee-free days each year. On fee-free days the agency waives recreation fees at day-use sites. You can find information on fee free days at https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/passes-permits.
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest conducted public outreach last summer, receiving comments on the fee proposal. The comments received were taken into consideration when preparing the final fee change proposal. The proposed changes were based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operations and maintenance and market assessments.
The fee changes come after the Gifford Pinchot Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) met March 9 and 10, 2023 to review and approve the proposed fee changes. The RAC members represent a broad array of interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable fee changes. The Regional Forester reviewed and approved the final fee changes which will now be implemented.
The U.S. Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a mission of sustaining the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest includes 1.3 million acres of forests, mountains & river valleys and includes the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/giffordpinchot.
