Salmon-Challis National Forest

National Recreation Fee Program

What is the recreation fee program?

More and more people recreate on national forests and grasslands every year. Meeting the increasing needs of these visitors, delivering quality recreation, heritage and wilderness opportunities, and protecting natural resources has become very difficult.

To help address this issue, President Bush signed the 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act (PL 108-447), which includes the 10-year Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) on December 8, 2004. The Act permits federal land management agencies to continue charging modest fees at campgrounds, rental cabins, high-impact recreation areas and at day-use sites that have certain facilities.

The previous Recreation Fee Demonstration program was enacted by Congress in 1996. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior have testified before Congress in strong support of a long-term, multi-agency recreation fee program. Recreation fees provide crucial resources that allow the federal agencies to respond to increased demand on federal lands. The goal is to provide visitors with a quality recreation experience through enhanced facilities and services

National Recreation Fee web site

The Salmon-Challis National Forest is currently using the Recreation Fee program for Heritage Expeditions, permits on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon Rivers, and sales of Golden Passports. To learn more about these three programs on the Forest click on the links below.

Forest Developed Recreation Site Maintenance and Fees

• Fee Program Summary
• Recreation Fee Proposal
• FY05 Program Summary
• FY06 Program Summary
• FY07 Program Sumamry
• For electronic responses
• For hard copy responses

Middle Fork and Main Salmon River Recreation Fee Program

The Salmon-Challis National Forest collects fees for recreation use on the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon Rivers in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Fees from lottery applications and permits are used to improve the services provided for users of the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon Rivers. The non-refundable lottery application fee is $6/application; if granted a permit, the Forest charges a per-person, per-day user fee. Season Passes entitle the pass holder to float the Middle Fork and/or Main Salmon Rivers without further payment for one year from the date of purchase.

Information on the river permit system is available on the Four Rivers Lottery web page, or by contacting the North Fork or Middle Fork Ranger Districts, 208 865-2700 or 208 879-4101.

Golden Passports

The Golden Passport Program is a federal interagency recreation pass program. Under the Recreaton Fee program, the Salmon-Challis National Forest can keep 80% of the money collected from the sale of Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and Golden Access passports.

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Your Fees at Work

Investing in a Healthy Environment and Quality Recreation Services
on the Salmon-Challis National Forest

USDA Forest Service - Salmon-Challis National Forest
Last Modified: Wednesday, 04 June 2008 at 11:53:53 EDT