Sandy River Delta Fees
The Sandy River Delta is now an official U.S. Forest Service fee site. In recent years, visitation to the delta has increased, driving up maintenance costs and staff time to maintain services. Collection of recreation fees at Forest Service “standard amenity” sites is authorized through the 2004 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA). The new recreation fee will help cover the costs of operations and maintenance of this 1,500-acre day use area. Costs include facility operation and maintenance, trail maintenance, hazard tree abatement, and visitor services such as garbage bags and removal, vault toilet pumping, toilet paper restocking, dog waste bags.
The facilities at Sandy River Delta include a parking area, toilet facilities, trash cans, interpretive signs, and picnic tables. Annual operating and maintenance costs at the delta come to roughly $60,000 each year. To date, the Forest Service has invested more than $1 million in parking, facilities, and trails at Sandy River Delta. The good news is, agency policy requires 95% of the funds to be reinvested into one of the fee sites within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area! (The remaining 5% covers administrative costs.) We share an annual performance report outlining our expenditures, so in the future you can follow our major projects.
At A Glance
Download Sandy River Delta Fee FAQs (PDF).
Fee amount: $5.00 per vehicle per day (except for annual pass holders)
Valid Passes: Annual Northwest Forest Pass, “Every Kid Outdoors” Pass, and “America the Beautiful” Passes (including the Senior, Military, and Access versions). Annual passes must always be visibly displayed in vehicle (only digital day use passes are exempt). Sorry, but Oregon and Washington State passes are NOT accepted at Sandy River Delta.
How to pay: Pay at Recreation.gov using a credit or debit card or visit an official Recreation Pass Vendor. No cash is accepted at the site. Tip: if you buy from a Columbia River Gorge vendor, 95% of the cost goes towards National Scenic Area recreation sites.
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Buying a Day Use Pass Online at www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/1102. You will need to provide the license plate number of the car you will bring as a way to verify payment at the site.
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Buy a Hard Copy from a Nearby Vendor . Vendors can sell both day use passes and annual Northwest Forest Passes. A list of nearby vendors is posted at the trailhead kiosk or you can check this website: https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=7cf8be1a3adc4da090b79fc7ec5aadd4. If you want to ensure direct support for the National Scenic Area, consider buying your pass from our Hood River office or from one of these vendors:
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Multnomah Falls Lodge. 53000 Historic Columbia River Highway, Corbett, OR 97019, 503-695-2376
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Plaid Pantry (Troutdale). 246 West Historic Columbia River Highway, Troutdale, OR 97060-2034, 503-665-8248
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Plaid Pantry (Gresham). 1055 NE Kane, Gresham, OR 97031, 503-669-8893
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Plaid Pantry (Sandy). 38260 Pioneer Blvd, Sandy, OR 97055, 503-668-6642
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Plaid Pantry (Clackamas). 10218 Southeast Hwy 212, Clackamas, OR 97015, 503-656-8714
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Skamania General Store. 33001 Hwy14, Stevenson, WA 98648, 509-427-4820
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Columbia Market. 450 Wa Na Pa Street, Cascade Locks, OR 97014, 541-374-8425
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Main Street Convenience Store. 330 SW Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson, WA 98648, 509-427-5653
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Hatt`s Fuel Stop (Bingen). 204 West Steuben, Bingen, WA 98605, 509-493-3466
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Hatt`s Fuel Stop (The Dalles). 301 West 3rd Street, The Dalles, OR 97058, 541-296-4829
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Boys Pine Grove Grocery. 2375 Hwy 35, Hood River, OR 97031, 541-386-4632
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Bridge Mart. 65205 Hwy 14, White Salmon, WA 98762, 509-493-1188
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Pine Grove Pit Stop. 2385 Hwy 35, Hood River, OR 97031, 541-386-5855
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Riverfront 76. 101 North 1st Street, Hood River, OR 97031, 541-386-9216
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Second Wind. 202 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031, 541-386-4464
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Shortt Supply. 116 Oak Street, Hood River, OR 97031, 541-386-5474
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Public Engagement
In accordance with FLREA requirements, the Forest Service Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area engaged the public in the fee proposal decision. It was announced in the federal register notice and through a press release and signs at the site. Public meetings to hear feedback were held in Troutdale and Portland, and written comments were accepted online and via mail. Of the 71 written comments received, 66% supported the fee. The proposal was unanimously approved by the Mt. Hood – Willamette Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Council (RAC) in July 2019.
- January 21, 2020 - Sandy River Delta officially becomes a fee site.
- Late 2019 - January 2020 established as target timeframe. Signs, online information, partners, and a newsletter begin notifying the public of upcoming fees. By early 2020, a press release announced the fee.
- July 1, 2019 - Hood-Williamette Resource Advisory Committee voted unaninously to accept the proposal, enabling the agency to prepare for Sandy River to become a fee site. RAC meetings are open to the public.
- June 7, 2019 - Proposal presented before the Hood-Willamette Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups, to consider whether the proposal was reasonable and acceptable to the public. RAC meetings are open to the public.
- August 21st, 2017 - The date the original public comment period was set to close. Comments were still accepted until the Resource Advisory Committee heard the proposal in 2019.
- October 30, 2017 - Public Meeting on Proposed Sandy River Delta Fee held 6:30 – 8:30 PM at Sam Cox Building, 1106 E. Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060
- October 23, 2017 - Public Meeting on Proposed Sandy River Delta Fee held 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Mazamas Mountaineering Center, 527 SE 43rd Ave, Portland, OR 97215
- June 23, 2017 - Press release announces the proposed fee to a broader audience.
- June 22, 2017 - Federal Register Notice Document Number 2017-13047 published.