Fee Changes & Upcoming Climbing Permit

Mt. Hood National Forest gained regional forester approval in early 2023 to implement new or increased fees at 10 campgrounds, 2 fire lookouts, and 1 new yurt. A climbing permit requirement for those traveling above 9,500 feet has also been approved. This approval comes after the Hood-Willamette Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting in December 2022, when members viewed a Forest Service presentation, reviewed and discussed the proposal, and ultimately provided adjustments and recommendations.

Approved changes are listed in the tables below. Some of the proposed fees will go into effect beginning this summer and others will be implemented later on. The climbing permit will be required beginning January 2024.

Fee changes will allow the Forest to continue to provide services, such as clean restrooms and trash collection, and to provide for the health and public safety expected by visitors at recreation sites. These fees will also be used for larger scale maintenance and improvement projects at sites where fees are collected.

• Read our Frequently Asked Questions!
• Learn more about current recreation fees on the Forest.
• More info about climbing Mount Hood.

Key Points

• Visitors to areas where the Forest is charging a new fee will see increased visitor security, improved trail connections, repairs or replacements to degraded/inaccessible amenities such as picnic tables and fire rings, and many other improvements.
• Fee prices are based on a market analysis of similar sorts of opportunities within Oregon and Washington.
• Most Forest sites still do not require a fee.
• Included in the upcoming changes is a brand new rental yurt at Trillium Lake.
• Among other improvements, climbing permit fees will be used to provide patrol along popular climbing routes, improve climber education, support existing search and rescue organizations, and reduce human impacts on the natural landscape.
• The climbing permit will only affect those who travel above 9,500 feet of elevation on Mt. Hood, which is well above the ski areas and the Timberline Trail. 
• There is not a limit on the number of climbing permits issued.
• The fee changes will begin throughout 2023; details are forthcoming. 
• The climbing permit will be required starting January 2024. 

Approved Changes

Zigzag Ranger District
Site Name	Site Type	Current Fee	New Fee
Trillium Yurt (New Site!)- Will not open in 2023	Lookout/Cabin	$0	$100 per night
Mt. Hood Climbing Permit- Takes effect January 2024	Mt. Hood (above 9,500 ft.)	$0	$20 single use permit, per person $50 annual pass, per person
Clackamas River Ranger District
Site Name	Site Type	Current Fee	New Fee
Two Rivers- Will not open in 2023	Campground	$0	$10 single site
Hood River Ranger District
Site Name	Site Type	Current Fee	New Fee
Polallie- Takes effect July 14, 2023	Campground	$0	$10 single site
Little John Sno-Park- Takes effect July 14, 2023	Campground	$0	$10 single site
Barlow Ranger District
Site Name	Site Type	Current Fee	New Fee
Badger Lake- Takes effect July 14, 2023	Campground	$0	$10 single site
Bonney Meadows- Takes effect July 14, 2023	Campground	$0	$10 single site
Fifteenmile- Takes effect July 14, 2023	Campground	$0	$10 single site
Keeps Mill- Closed indefinitely due to White River Fire closure.	Campground	$0	$10 single site
Little Badger- Takes effect July 14, 2023	Campground	$0	$10 single site
Underhill- Takes effect July 14, 2023	Campground	$0	$10 single site
White River Station- Closed indefinitely due to White River Fire closure.	Campground	$0	$10 single site
Fivemile Butte- Takes effect Oct. 1, 2023	Lookout/cabin	$50	$85 per night
Clear Lake Butte- Takes effect Nov. 1, 2023	Lookout/cabin	$50	$85 per night