Public comments sought for proposed new or increased recreation fees at seven sites on INF
Contact Information: Public Affairs Officer: Lisa Cox (760) 873-2427 lisa.cox@usda.gov
BISHOP, Calif., May 15, 2025— Inyo National Forest is proposing to introduce or increase new fees at seven different recreation sites to improve services and protect resources, with anticipated implementation of Spring 2026. The public is invited to provide input in this process by June 30, 2025.
“These fees will help us maintain our sites at the level and quality our visitors have come to expect, especially at a time when we are experiencing increases in operating costs that have not kept up with use,” said Adam Barnett, Public Services Staff Officer for the Inyo National Forest.
The proposed changes will increase the permit cost for Mt. Whitney Trail and also introduce new fees for six off-highway vehicle campgrounds located on the White Mountain and Mono Lake Ranger Districts, which currently require no fee at all.
Under the proposal, Hartley Springs, Grandview, Upper and Lower Deadman, Glass Creek, and Big Springs campgrounds will have a new single site fee of $20 per night, and a new extra-vehicle fee of $5.
Also, the Whitney Portal Trailhead permit fee will increase from $15 to $25 per person. Reservations for the trailhead will remain available on Recreation.gov for an additional $8 fee.
How to Comment
The comment period is set to end by close of business on June 30, 2025. To ensure that your comments are considered, please send your comments no later than the above date to: Inyo National Forest, Attention: Andrew Kennedy, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200, Bishop, CA, 93514 or by email at sm.fs.r5_fee_prop@usda.gov.
Comments can also be provided via the online Storymap at: https://arcg.is/iXXmz.
Oral comments must be provided in person at the Inyo National Forest to Adam Barnett during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) or by calling 760-920-3522 and indicating you would like to provide comments on the proposed recreation fee changes.
Once public involvement is complete, these recreation fee changes will be reviewed 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 recreation fees. The committee will submit their recommendation to the Regional Forester for a final decision.
Background
In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) which allows the Forest Service to retain at least 80% of the money collected at recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain, and improve these sites. Revenue collected through recreation fees would help the forest fund additional temporary, seasonal, employees during the recreation season and perform heavy deferred maintenance at trailheads and campgrounds.
Recreation fees help provide quality recreation opportunities that meet the modern expectations of visitors and creates a more financially sustainable recreation program for future generations.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.