National Forests Propose Higher Day Use Fees

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to raise fees at several day use sites in North Carolina’s four national forests and is inviting public comment on some while moving forward with others.

The Forest Service is inviting comment on fee changes at:

Croatan National Forest:

• Cedar Point Day Use Area – new $5/vehicle per day or new $30 annual pass.
• Flanners Beach Day Use Area (at Neuse River Recreation Area) – new $5/vehicle per day or new $30 annual pass.

Thes fees would be waived for visitors who have paid for campsites at Cedar Point or Flanners Beach campgrounds during the duration of their stay.

Uwharrie National Forest:

• Wood Run Mountain Bike Trail System – new $5/rider per day fee or new $30 annual pass.
• Yates Place Camp – new $50 group site fee per night with a group size of 50 people.

The $30 anual pass fees would only apply to mountain bike and equestrian use in each forest.

The public an provide input to proposed fee changes for 60 days beginning on June 23, 2023 and ending on August 22, 2023.

“Increased fee collections would help to improve visitor experiences and enables the Forest Service to be more strategic in planning and developing a sustainable recreation program.  These fee changes will help us maintain our sites and trails at the level and quality our visitors have come to expect, especially at a time when we are experiencing increases in recreation use and operating costs,” the Forest Service says.

After the public comment period, the Forest Service will assess the comments and present the fee proposals to the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee. These citizen advisory committees are meant to help ensure that the public is aware of and engaged in the recreation fee proposal process.

Several addional fee changes opened to public comment in 2019 are awaiting review by the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee. They include:

Nantahala:

• Swan Cabin – increase from $25 per night to $50 per night.
• Tsali Mountain Bike and Horse Trail System – increase from $2 to $5/rider per day, and increase from $15 to $30 for optional annual pass.
• Wayehutta OHV Trail System – increase from $5 to $15/trail vehicle per day, and increase from $30 to $60 for the optional annual pass.

Pisgah:

• Brown Mountain OHV Trail System – increase from $5 to $15/trail vehicle per day, and increase from $30 to $60 for the optional annual pass.
• Roan Mountain Day Use Area – increase from $3 to $5/vehicle per day and optional $30 annual pass.

Uwharrie:

• Badin Lake OHV Trail System – increase from $5 to $15/trail vehicle per day, and increase from $30 to $60 for the optional annual pass.
• Kings Mountain Point Day Use Area – new $5/vehicle per day fee and optional $30 annual pass.
• Yates Place Camp – new $10/site per night fee.

Fees at the Wayehutta, Brown Mountain and Badin Lake OHV trail systems would be phased in over a two-year period.

Interested parties can comment online at the Recreation Fee Proposal Mapping Tool or by contacting Logan Free at 828-257-4256, by email at SM.FS.NFsNCfees@usda.gov, or by mail at:

National Forests in North Carolina
ATTN: Recreation Fee Proposals
160A Zillicoa Street
Asheville, NC 28801

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