Fees At Trailheads

National forests

There’s no free lunch, and even a good hike is going to cost you a fee if you park at certain national forest trailheads this year.

A Trail Park Pass will be required at the most popular trailhead parking areas of 14 national forests in Washington and Oregon.

Trail users may purchase either a $25 annual pass or a $3 day-use pass for the vehicle they intend to park at the trailhead. The passes can be purchased at ranger stations.

Passes also are available from the Forest Service information center in the Spokane downtown Post Office building at Riverside and Lincoln, telephone 353-2574.

The season pass is valid at any of the participating forests in Washington and Oregon, said Linda Schulte, agency spokeswoman.

Participating forests in Washington include the Gifford Pinchot, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, Okanogan, Olympic, Umatilla and Wenatchee.

In Oregon, the forests include the Deschutes, Mount Hood, Rogue River, Siskiyou, Siuslaw, Wallowa-Whitman, Willamette and Columbia Gorge National Recreation area.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests are not participating in the program, Schulte said.

Beginning this season, Mount Rainier National Park will require a $15 permit for each person camping in the backcountry. Info: (360) 569-2211.