Recreation Passes & Permits
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Pass Program
- Types of Fee Sites on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
- Where is the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Pass Required?
- Uinta-Wasatch-Cache Pass & Interagency Pass Options
- Where to purchase passes
Types of Fee Sites on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
The Forest encompasses 2.2-million acres and receives 9-10 million visitors annually. It is an intensely used year-round destination with an increased demand for amenities and opportunities with recreation use. The increased use is impacting the resource, visitor experience, and affecting the forest’s capacity to manage a quality recreation program. This use is expected to continue to increase in conjunction with population growth across the Forest.
Developed sites are currently managed as two Recreation Fee Area, and recreation sites managed through a concessionaire permit, local government, and Forest Service employees.
FOREST MANAGED:
- The Forest utilizes FLREA authority in 111 sites, these funds help manage 42 trailheads, 16 campgrounds, 14 picnic sites, and 8 cabins amongst others. Fees or a permit are required to use any of these sites.
PARTNERSHIP:
- The Forest successfully partners with Salt Lake County in Mill Creek Canyon using a fee area model with fees collected by the County.
CONCESSIONAIRE PERMIT:
- There are 137 sites under a special-use permit sites that are managed under a concessionaire special-use permit by Utah Recreation Company (URC). Information, conditions, fees, and reservations are available through https://www.recreation.gov/
Fees at any of these sites make the maintenance and management of these sites possible. Forest Service employees also manage 179 sites with appropriated funding which allows these sites to be fee free locations.
Where is the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Pass Required?
If you leave your vehicle while recreating at a REA fee site, you must purchase a recreation pass. However, it does not include access to concessionaire-fee sites. Here is a list of all REA Sites by District on the Forest.
Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District (Date of Fee Implementation)
- Christmas Meadows Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- East Fork Bear River Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- East Fork Blacks Fork Trailhead (5/1/2024)
- East Fork Black’s Fork Campground (5/1/2024)
- Henry’s Fork Trailhead (5/1/2024)
- Hewinta Guard Station (12/1/2024)
- Lily Lake Cross Country Ski Area (12/1/2023)
- Lily Lake RV Comfort Station (12/1/2023)
- Middle Fork Blacks Group Campground (5/1/2026)
- Mill Creek Guard Station (5/1/2025)
- North Slope OHV System (12/1/2023)
- North Slope Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Quarter Corner Trailhead (5/1/2024)
- Ruth Lake Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Whitney Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Whitney Reservoir OHV/Snowmobile (12/1/2023)
Heber Ranger District (Date of Fee Implementation)
- Chicken Creek East Fishing Site (12/1/2024)
- Chicken Creek West (Jakes Bay) Fishing Site (5/1/2025)
- Haws Point East Fishing Site (5/1/2025)
- Haw Point West Fishing Site (5/1/2025
- Ladders Inlet Fishing Site (12/1/2024)
- Mud Creek Fishing Site (5/1/2025)
Kamas Ranger District (Date of Fee Implementation)
- Bald Mountain Trailhead and Picnic Area (12/1/2023)
- Beaver Creek Picnic Area (12/1/2023)
- Beaver Creek Ski Trail (12/1/2023)
- Butterfly Lake Fishing Site (12/1/2023)
- Crystal Lake Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Duchesne Tunnel Camp (12/1/2023)
- Fehr Lake Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Highline Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Horsemen Camp (12/1/2023)
- Mirror Lake Angler (12/1/2023)
- Mirror Lake Guard Station (12/1/2025)
- Mirror Lake Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Moosehorn Lake Fishing Site (12/1/2023)
- Murdock Basin OHV System (12/1/2023)
- North Fork Winter Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Pass Lake Fishing Site (12/1/2023)
- Pass Lake Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Pine Valley Camp (12/1/2023)
- Shingle Creek Group Picnic Area (12/1/2023)
- Soapstone Comfort Camps (12/1/2023)
- Soapstone RV Comfort Station (12/1/2023)
- Soapstone Trailhead (12/1/2024)
- Soapstone Winter Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Spring Canyon OHV System (12/1/2023)
- Trial Lake Fishing Site (12/1/2023)
- Upper Provo Bridge Picnic Area (12/1/2023)
- Yellow Pine Camp (12/1/2023)
- Yellow Pine Trailhead (12/1/2024)
- Yellow Pine Winter Trailhead (12/1/2023)
Logan Ranger District (Date of Fee Implementation)
- Card Guard Station (12/1/2024)
- Elk Valley Guard Station (5/1/2026)
- Lower Green Canyon Trailhead (12/1/2024)
- Right Hand Fork Guard Station (5/1/2026)
- Sinks Winter Trailhead (12/1/2024)
- Smithfield Canyon Winter (12/1/2024)
- Tony Grove Guard Station (12/1/2023)
- Tony Grove Winter Sports Trailhead (12/1/2024)
Ogden Ranger District (Date of Fee Implementation)
- Causey Reservoir Picnic Area (5/1/2026)
- Skull Crack Trailhead (5/1/2026)
- Wheatgrass Trailhead (5/1/2026)
Pleasant Grove Ranger District (Date of Fee Implementation)
- Box Elder Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Cascade Springs (12/1/2023)
- Deer Creek Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Dry Creek Trailhead (5/1/2025)
- Echo Picnic Site (12/1/2023) (area is unavailable)
- Elk Camp (5/1/2024)
- Grey Cliffs Picnic Site (12/1/2023)
- Horse Transfer Station Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Martin Picnic Site (12/1/2023)
- Mile Rock Picnic Site (12/1/2023)
- Mount Timpanogos Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- National Guard Campground (12/1/2025)
- National Guard Trailhead (12/1/2024)
- Pine Hollow Trailhead (12/1/2023) (area is unavailable)
- Roadhouse Picnic Site (12/1/2023)
- Salamander Flat Campground (12/1/2023)
- Sawmill Picnic Site (12/1/2023)
- Silver Lake Flat Trailhead/Fishing Area (12/1/2023)
- Summit Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Theater-In-The-Pines Group Campground (5/1/2025)
- Tibble Fork Reservoir (6/16/2023)
- Tibble Fork Trailhead/Fishing Area (6/16/2023)
- Timpooneke Guard Station (5/1/2026)
- Timpooneke Trailhead (12/1/2023)
- Upper Cascade Springs (12/1/2023)
- Upper Falls Picnic Site (12/1/2023)
Salt Lake Ranger District (Date of Fee Implementation)
- Birches Picnic Site (5/1/2025)
- Cardiff Fork/Mill D North Trailhead (12/1/2024)
- Dogwood Picnic Site (5/2/2025)
- Donut Falls Trailhead (5/1/2025)
- Grit Mill Trailhead (5/1/2025)
- Ledgemere Picnic Site (5/1/2025)
- Mill B Trailhead (North & South) (5/1/2025)
- Silver Lake Recreation Complex (5/1/2024)
- Spruces Winter Trailhead (12/1/2024)
- White Pine Trailhead (12/1/2024)
Spanish Fork Ranger District (Date of Fee Implementation)
- Cottonwood Campground (5/1/2024)
- Dry Canyon Campground (5/1/2024)
- Fifth Water Trailhead (5/1/2025)
- Lower Grotto Trailhead (5/1/2026)
- Monks Hollow Trailhead (12/1/2024)
- Monument Trailhead (5/1/2024)
- Red Ledges (5/1/2024)
- Sawmill Hollow Campground (5/1/2024)
- Three Forks Trailhead (12/1/2024)
- Unicorn Ridge Campground (5/1/2024)
- Upper Grotto Trailhead (5/1/2025)
- Vernon Reservoir Campground (5/1/2024)
Recreation Pass Options: Uinta-Wasatch-Cache Pass & Interagency Pass
There are many different passes honored on the Forest and ways to obtain a pass. You can use the table below to help you find what pass is right for you based on your demographic and use.
Which Pass Should I Choose?
FOR FLREA SITES
Are you… |
Recommended Pass |
Price and Notes |
A U.S. resident 62 or older? |
$80 Lifetime pass or $20 for an annual pass |
|
A U.S. resident with a permanent disability? |
Free- Documentation is required. |
|
A current U.S. Military, Dependent, Gold Star family member or Veteran? |
Free- Documentation is required. |
|
A U.S. 4th Grader? |
Free for fourth graders and their families. |
|
A frequent visitor to National Forests and other federal recreational lands? |
$80 Annually |
|
Visiting for less than 3 days? |
3- Day UWC Pass |
$10 for three consecutive days. |
Visiting for a week or less? |
7- Day UWC Pass |
$20 for seven consecutive days. |
Visiting for more than a week? A frequent visitor? A local? |
Annual UWC Pass |
$60 for twelve consecutive months. |
Willing to volunteer at least 40 hours? |
Options for Annual National or Forest Pass through meeting volunteer requirements. |
Twelve consecutive months pass once hours are met. |
MILLCREEK CANYON
Millcreek for a day? |
$5 per day. $3 for senior. |
|
Millcreek frequent visitor? |
$50 for twelve consecutive months. $30 for Senior Annual Pass. |
CONCESSIONAIRE SITES
Visiting a Concessionaire Operated site? |
See www.recreation.gov for individual site information. |
Site/Use Dependent |
Where to Purchase Your Pass:
For the UWC Forest REA sites there are multiple ways to get your pass ahead of time and on site. Be sure to have your pass on display while parked at any recreation sites.
Location: |
Type of Passes Available |
Types of Payment Accepted |
Rec.gov |
3 Day, Seven Day, and Annual Forest Pass (You can bring in your receipt to one of our offices and they will exchange it for a hanging annual pass) |
Card |
Any of our offices (8:00-4:30 Mon-Friday) |
All Forest Passes and all Federal Passes |
Card, Cash, Check |
Information Booths on SR-92 |
All Forest Passes and all Federal Passes |
Card, Cash, Check |
Bear River Visitor Center on the Mirror Lake HWY (8:00-4:30 Thursday-Monday Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day and Friday through Sunday until end of October) |
All Forest Passes and Federal Passes |
Cash, Check |
Iron Ranger/Fee Envelope at the Individual Site |
3 Day and Seven Day Passes |
Cash or Check |
Automated Fee Machines (Currently only at Cascade Springs on the Pleasant Grove District) |
3 Day, Seven Day, and Annual Forest Pass (You can bring in your receipt to the booths or the Pleasant Grove Ranger District for a hanging annual pass) |
Card |
Vendor: |
All Forest Passes and the Interagency Pass | Card, Cash, Check |
Vendor: |
All Forest Passes and the Interagency Pass | Card, Cash, Check |
Vendor: |
All Forest Passes and the Interagency Pass | Card, Cash, Check |
Spotlights
American Fork Canyon
The American Fork Canyon - Alpine Scenic Loop Backway is more popular than ever. It is estimated that over a million people visit the canyon annually. Learn more about the American Fork Recreation Fee Demonstration.
Mill Creek Canyon Fee
The Mill Creek Canyon has a recreation use fee in place. Passes can only be purchased at the fee booth at the mouth of Mill Creek Canyon
Mirror Lake Highway Recreation Corridor
Mirror Lake is considered by many to be Utah's most beautiful natural mountain lake. It is stocked with rainbow and brook trout, making for a popular fishing and picnicking area.