Why are Wilderness Users Opposed to Recreation Fees?

Hikers, backpackers, and other wilderness and backcountry users feel that they are unfairly targeted by the Federal recreation fee program.

Consumptive users such as mining, ranching, and logging get Federal subsidies in the form of fees that are far below market values, or in the case of hard rock mining, non-existent. In contrast, recreational users are expected to pay nearly the full costs of maintaining trails, trailheads, as well as fee stations and the cost of hiring rangers to enforce the fee system.

At the same time, the Forest Service budget for trail construction and maintenance has been cut so that the agency expects volunteers (that's us, the recreational users) to maintain the trails!

Almost everyone understands and agrees with fees being charged for use of developed picnic areas and campgrounds, as well as for access to national parks and monuments. In these places, the fees go to support specific amenities, such as campsites, tables, restrooms, visitor centers, and ranger programs.

But paying fees to access primitive land, where the only amenities are trails and signs, runs against the grain. Everyone benefits from public lands- the watershed value alone is worth taxpayer support. In fact, one of the primary reasons for establishing the national forests was to protect watersheds. Most of the population of the western United States gets its water from public land watersheds. Other benefits of the public lands include wildlife, view protection, and open space.

Cracks Appear in the Recreation Fee System

In November 2009, a hiker received a citation for the U.S. Forest Service for parking at a remote trailhead on the Coconino National Forest without a Red Rock Pass. He defended himself in court with a provision of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) that prohibits fees from being charged at undeveloped trail heads and sites. On September 14, 2010, the Federal magistrate agreed and dismissed the case. As a result, the Forest Service is, at least temporarily, not charging fees at undeveloped trailheads and along unpaved roads while they develop a new fee plan.

The Coconino National Forest, which includes the Flagstaff and Sedona areas, has been charging recreation fees in a large area defined as the Red Rock Area since the controversial Fee Demo program. Even though the provisions of FLREA are different from Fee Demo and specifically exclude fees being charged at undeveloped sites, the Forest Service continued charging these fees in the Red Rock Area despite strong opposition. The Sedona City Council is opposed as well as many recreationists. 

For more information on the case including the court documents, see

http://westernslopenofee.org/index2.php?display=yes&pageid=33