After months of gathering public input, the US Forest Service has announced that it is moving forward with its request to increase or add recreation fees at 36 trailheads, campsites, cabins, and other recreation hubs in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Southwest Washington.
The proposed charge increases are intended to align the agency’s ongoing services with the rest of the state, while making the forest’s recreational rates more consistent.
The Forest Service has said that roughly 95 percent of its recreation fee revenue is reinvested in the forest to operate, improve, and maintain its facilities.
According to the proposal, approximately 70 percent of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest’s sites would remain available at no cost, while the remaining 30 percent would see an increase in fees.
Proposed fee increases include a doubling of the nightly charge at Government Mineral Springs and Tillicum campgrounds, with the fee for single sites at Chambers Lake, Cultus Creek, Forlorn Lakes, and Trout Lake Creek campgrounds increasing to $15 and a $5 charge for each additional vehicle, and the fee for a double site if a location offers one would be $30.
The fee for the Chambers Lake day-use site would be $5 per day or $30 for an annual pass, while Twin Falls’ group campground, which has a 25-person limit, would cost $50 per night. Orr Creek and Wakepish group campgrounds, both accommodating up to 75 people, would cost $100 per night.
The Marble Mountain picnic site would cost $100 per day, with none of these sites currently having a recreation fee.
In addition to campgrounds and picnic areas, the proposal also includes fee increases for cabins, visitor centers, interpretive sites, trailheads, and other recreation areas.
The fee for the Coldwater Science and Learning Center (winter only) and Cascade Peaks Interpretive site would be $5 per day and vehicle, or $30 with an annual pass. The proposed fee for backcountry permits for Mount Margaret would be $7 per person.
During the public participation process, which ran between July and October 2022, the Forest Service received 278 comments, 67 of which were in support of the altered fees and 57 in opposition.
The agency did not receive comments from federal and state officials, as well as the Puyallup, Squaxin Island, Nisqually, and Yakama tribes, and various recreational groups. Representatives were briefed at the beginning of the engagement process.
The Forest Service has said that infrastructure restoration and necessary amenities will be installed at proposed sites prior to the fee implementation, with some locations potentially waiting until 2025 to roll out the proposed fee. To review further recreation fee details, visit the Forest Service’s Gifford Pinchot National Forest website.
As fees increase at the Forest Service’s sites, some visitors may choose to look for alternative camping options, such as nearby campgrounds operated by private companies or local government entities.
Campgrounds in the area could potentially see an increase in demand if visitors are deterred by the higher fees at the Forest Service sites.
Conversely, if nearby campgrounds also choose to increase their fees in response to the Forest Service’s proposal, visitors may be even more likely to seek out free or lower-cost camping options, such as dispersed camping in national forests or Bureau of Land Management lands.
Did you know the Forest Service plans to raise fees to spruce up Gifford Pinchot National Forest? They’re aiming to improve visitor experiences and conserve the area. It’d be great to involve more voices in this decision by reaching out to those who haven’t commented yet.