Proposed Changes to Recreation Fees on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Contact Information: Public Affairs, Lisa Herron 530-721-3898 lisa.herron@usda.gov
(SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif., July 31, 2026) — The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is proposing new recreation fees and changes to existing recreation fees at various national forest recreation sites at Lake Tahoe. Also, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, in conjunction with the Eldorado National Forest, is proposing a fee increase for specialized recreation permits for overnight use in the Desolation Wilderness Area.
Not all recreation sites on the forest require a fee. Including the sites in this proposal, over 37% of sites on the forest would still not require a recreation fee. The forest will continue to honor all nationally recognized fee-free days.
The proposed fees by site are listed in the tables below.
| Site Name | Site Type | Current Fee | Proposed Fee Year 1 | Proposed Fee Year 5 |
| Luther Pass Overflow Campground | Campground | Single Site Fee: $0 | Single Site Fee: $20 | |
| Watson Lake Campground | Campground | Single SiteFee: $0 | Single SiteFee: $20 | |
| Kiva Beach | Day Use Area | Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle | Day Fee: $10 rateper vehicle | Day Fee: $15 rateper vehicle |
| Taylor Creek Visitor Center | Interpretive Visitor Center | Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle | Day Fee: $10 rateper vehicle | Day Fee: $15 rateper vehicle |
| 64 Acres Riverside | Picnic Site | Day Fee: $0 rateper vehicle | Day Fee: $10 rateper vehicle | |
| Eagle Falls PicnicArea and Trailhead | Picnic Site and Trailhead | Day Fee: $5 rate per vehicle | Day Fee: $10 rate per vehicle | Day Fee: $15 rateper vehicle |
| Kiva Picnic Area (Tallac Historic Site) | Picnic Site | Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle | Day Fee: $10 rateper vehicle | |
| Big Meadow Trailhead | Trailhead | Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle | Day Fee: $10 rateper vehicle | Day Fee: $15 rateper vehicle |
| Echo Trailhead | Trailhead | Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle | Day Fee: $10 rateper vehicle | |
| Christmas TreePermit Program | Christmas Tree Permit | Permit Fee: $10 rate pergroup | Permit Fee: $20 rate pergroup | |
| Desolation Wilderness Overnight Permit | Pass/Permit | Permit Fee: $5 rateper person Annual Pass: $20 | Permit Fee:$10 rate per person Eliminate Annual Pass | Permit Fee: $15 rate per person
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Desolation Wilderness overnight permits are reservable on www.recreation.gov for an additional $6.00 fee per permit and Christmas Tree Permits for an additional $2.50 fee per permit.
In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 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 improve infrastructure and public services at recreation sites during the season of operation. Recreation fees help provide quality recreation opportunities that meet the modern expectations of visitors and creates a more sustainable recreation program for future generations.
The public is invited to comment on the proposed recreation fee changes. The comment period is set to end by close of business on Sep. 29, 2026. To ensure that your comments are considered, please send your comments no later than the above date to Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Attention: Recreation Program Manager, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 or by email at SM.FS.R5.LTBMU.FeeProposal@usda.gov. Comments can also be provided online at https://arcg.is/iXXmz.
Oral comments must be provided in person at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/laketahoebasin.
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.
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About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.
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