PUBLIC LANDS -- The cost of camping or using pay-for-use recreation sites on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests will increase this season, generally $1 to $2 per use.  

Read on for specifics from the Forest Service:

Due to increasing operation costs the Idaho Panhandle National Forests have approved a request from American Land & Leisure to increase recreation site fees at several locations in north Idaho. The fee increases will be implemented as each site opens for the 2014 spring and summer seasons. Fees for individual sites will increase $1.00 to $2.00 a day, while group site fees are scheduled to increase from $5.00 to $15.00 a day depending on the size of the site.

Requests to increase fees charged to the public are highly scrutinized by the US Forest Service to ensure they are necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the forest’s recreational sites. In this case, increasing utility costs and cost of living increases for American Land & Leisure’s operations are the reasons for the approved increase in fees. The last time fees were increased was in 2010. The current increases are expected to remain stable through at least 2015.

American Land & Leisure operates approximately 15 unique recreation sites throughout the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, mainly on the Coeur d’Alene River, Priest Lake and Sandpoint Ranger Districts. At all of these locations American Land & Leisure provides cleaning, garbage removal and site maintenance in addition to on-site hosts at each campground. In addition to these recreation sites, the Idaho Panhandle directly manages dozens of additional day use areas and campgrounds without fees across north Idaho. For more information on recreation site fees or recreational opportunities on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests please visit www.fs.usda.gov/ipnf.