Recreation Fees in Arizona's Red Rock Country: Not So Much

As a result of a judge's ruling in 2010, the Red Rock Ranger District on the Coconino National Forest, which administers the recreation areas around Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, has greatly reduced the number of sites where a Red Rock Pass is required. Basically, you don't need a Red Rock Pass to park at trail heads without developed amenities or along dirt roads in the red rock country. Although the forest is still selling Red Rock Passes as if they are needed for the entire area, they are not enforcing the passes in certain areas. Instead the Forest Service is issuing a "Notice of Required Fee". Although it looks like a citation, this "Notice" is not a ticket and requires no action on your part.

Final rules which restrict the requirement for Red Rock Passes to the trail heads around Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, and Arizona 170 between Sedona and I-17 are expected early in 2012. Even more important than the reduction in fees for the red rock area, this case sets an important precedent than can be used in future court cases challenging the fee program in areas such as the Pacific Northwest where passes are still being illegally required as parking passes where there are non of the amenities required by law.

For more information on the recreation fee program, see http://www.westernslopenofee.org/.