Mt. Hood National Forest is implementing new camping fees at seven campgrounds on Barlow and Hood River Ranger Districts beginning Friday, July 14. The camping fees will be $10 per campsite per day and allow the Forest to continue providing trash, toilets, and other basic services expected by visitors. The fees will also be used for larger scale maintenance and improvement projects. The campgrounds will continue to be first come, first served with no reservations.
“Most of these campgrounds already have existing amenities, such as toilets and picnic tables,” said East Zone Recreation Program Manager, Jon Breithaupt. “More people are using these campgrounds every year and we want to continue to invest in them for the future.”
The following campgrounds will begin charging fees on a first come, first served basis on July 14. Fees are payable by cash or check on site:
- Badger Lake Campground
- Bonney Meadows Campground
- Fifteen Mile Campground
- Little Badger Campground
- Little John Sno-Park
- Polallie Campground
- Underhill Campground
In 2022 Mt. Hood National Forest proposed new recreation fees at 10 campgrounds, fee increases at 3 rentable cabins and yurts, and a new climbing permit above 9,500 ft. elevation. After incorporating changes from public and partner feedback, the proposal was approved by a local citizen advisory council and the Regional Forester. Most recreation sites across the Forest continue to be free. Find more details and a list of all approved fee changes on the Forest website at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mthood/fees
Recreation Fees on National Forests
In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) which allows the Forest Service to collect and retain funds at certain recreation sites to operate, maintain, and improve these sites. 95 percent of the revenue from recreation fees remains on the Forest. Recreation fees help national forests improve infrastructure at campsites and day use sites and hire additional recreation staff during the operating season.
Under REA, all new and changing fees must be approved by a citizen’s advisory committee. Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable new fees and fee changes.
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