National Forest Map Price Goes Up $2

Sun., June 11, 2000

Rich Landers Outdoors Editor

With no warning, the U.S. Forest Service increased the price of national forest maps last week by $2.

The increase was so sudden, the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Science/National Forest Information Center in the downtown Spokane Post Office didn’t have time to make the necessary changes on order forms.

That gives visitors heading to any of the forests in Idaho, Montana, Oregon or Washington another few months to get maps for the old price of $4. Maps purchased at Forest Service ranger stations cost $6.

Linda Schulte, who has staffed the information center in downtown Spokane for more than two decades, said a rent increase is forcing her office to move out of the Post Office this fall.

“Since I’ll have to change all the order forms at that time, I’ve been told to keep the map prices the same for now,” she said.

The last price increase was four years ago, Forest Service officials said. The cost of specialized maps for wilderness areas and ranger districts are not affected by the price change.

Schulte’s office also is the regional center for issuing the new Northwest Forest Pass, which must be displayed in vehicles parked at many of the most popular trailheads, lakes and camping areas in the region’s national forests.

Several sites on the Colville National Forest, including Browns Lake and Sherman Pass, were added to the parking permit system this year.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forest is among the few forests in the Northwest that has not required the pass at popular sites.

The Northwest Forest Pass, which costs $30 for a season or $5 a day, can be purchased at Forest Service offices, at the Forest Service Information Office in downtown Spokane or by phone. In Spokane, the number is 368-3131. For long-distance calls, the toll-free number is (800) 270-7504.

The new pass is designed to hang inside the car from the rear-view mirror and can be transferred between various vehicles owned by the same family, Schulte said.

Schulte also sells the Golden Age Passport, which gives seniors discounts at federal campgrounds and facilities, and the Golden Access permit, which offers discounts to the handicapped.

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