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Fees to increase at some National Forest sites
Release Date:
Contact(s): Rebecca Robbins (540) 265-5173
Roanoke, VA—April 5, 2019—The USDA Forest Service will increase fees at several recreation sites on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests beginning this year. The changes help align National Forest fees with other nearby recreation areas, and will help the recreation sites be more financially sustainable.
The increase in fees affects 19 campgrounds and day-use areas in 12 counties on National Forest lands in the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. The fee increases for 2019 range between $2 and $4. Most recreation opportunities remain free. The Forest has not raised prices at some of the recreation fee areas in 20 years.
Additional fee increases go into effect in 2020 or 2021. The following table outlines these changes:
|
Fee Increases at George Washington and Jefferson National Forest Recreation Sites New fees effective when site opens for the 2019 season; opening dates vary |
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|---|---|---|
|
Previous Fee(s) |
New Fee(s) beginning 2019 |
|
|
Bark Camp Campground, Clinch Ranger District, Scott County |
$12 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $16 single site, $32 double site. |
|
$5 E hookup fee |
In 2020, increase fee to $18 single site, $36 double site. |
|
|
$12 dbl site (same as single) |
In 2021, increase fee to $20 single site, $40 double site. |
|
|
High Knob Day Use, Clinch Ranger District, Wise County |
$3/vehicle |
In 2019, increase fee to $5/vehicle up to 8 passenger capacity, and $1 per person for buses and large vans carrying more than 8 passengers and walk-ins. |
|
White Rocks Campground, Eastern Divide Ranger District, Giles County |
$4 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $8 single site. |
|
In 2020, increase fee to $12 for single site. |
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|
In 2021, increase fee to $15 for single site. |
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|
Cave Mountain Lake Campground, Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District, Rockbridge County |
$15 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $18 single site, $36 double-site. |
|
$30 double site |
In 2021, increase to $20 single site, $40 double site. |
|
|
Cave Mountain Lake Day Use, Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District, Rockbridge County |
$5/vehicle. $1 on foot, in large van and buses. |
Increase the fee in 2021 to $8/vehicle up to 8 passengers and $2 per person for vans and buses carrying more than 8 passengers and walk-ins. |
|
North Creek Campground, Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District, Botetourt County |
$10 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $12 single site, $24 double site. |
|
$20 double site |
In 2021, increase fee to $15 single site, $30 double site. |
|
|
Sherando Lake Campground, Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District, Augusta County |
$20 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $22 single site, $40 double site, $6 E hookup fee. |
|
$30 double site |
In 2021, increase fee to $25 single site, $40 double site, $7 E hookup fee. |
|
|
$5 E hookup |
|
|
|
Sherando Lake Day Use, Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District, Augusta County |
$4 - $8 per vehicle, depending on occupancy or $1 per person. |
In 2021, increase fee to $8/vehicle up to 8 passenger capacity. $2 per person for vans and buses carrying more than 8 passengers and walk-ins. |
|
Elizabeth Furnace Campground, Lee Ranger District, Shenandoah County |
$14 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $16 for single site. |
|
In 2021, increase fee to $20 for a single site. |
||
|
Trout Pond Campground, Lee Ranger District, Hardy County, WV |
$19 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $22 single site, $40 double site, $5 E hookup fee. |
|
$27 double site |
In 2021, increase fee to $25 single site, $7 E hookup fee. |
|
|
$3 E hookup |
|
|
|
Trout Pond Day Use Area, Lee Ranger District, Hardy County, WV |
$3/vehicle |
In 2019, increase fee to $5/vehicle for up to 8 passengers and $1 per person for vans and buses carrying more than 8 passengers and walk-ins. |
|
In 2021, increase fee to $8/vehicle up to 8 passengers and $2 per person for vans and buses carrying more than 8 passengers and walk-ins. |
||
|
Hurricane Campground, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Smyth County |
$16 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $18 for single site and $36 for double site. |
|
$32 double site |
In 2021, increase fee to $20 for single site and $40 for double site. |
|
|
Raccoon Branch Campground, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Smyth County |
$14 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $16 single site and $6 electric hookup fee. |
|
$4 elect hookup |
In 2021 increase to $20 single site and $7 hookup fee. |
|
|
Stony Fork Campground, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Wythe County |
$12 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $14 single site. No change to hookup fees. |
|
$10 full hookups |
In 2020, increase fee to $16. No increase to hookup fees. |
|
|
|
In 2021, increase fee to $20. No increase to hookup fees. |
|
|
Brandywine Lake Campground, North River Ranger District, Pendleton County, WV |
$16 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $18 single site primary rec season and $8 single site for winter season. |
|
$5 winter |
In 2021, increase fee to $20 primary rec season and $10 winter season. |
|
|
Brandywine Lake Day Use, North River Ranger District, Pendleton County, WV |
$5/vehicle |
In 2019, increase fee to $5/vehicle for up to 8 passengers and $1 per person for vans and buses carrying more than 8 passengers and walk-ins. |
|
In 2021, increase fee to $8/vehicle up to 8 passengers and $2 per person for vans and buses carrying more than 8 passengers and walk-ins. |
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|
Todd Lake Campground, North River Ranger District, Augusta County |
$16 single site |
For 2019 implementation increase fee to $18 single site. |
|
In 2021, increase fee to $20 for single site. |
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|
Todd Lake Day Use, North River Ranger District, Augusta County |
$5/vehicle |
In 2019, $1 per person for vans and buses carrying more than 8 passengers and walk-ins. |
|
In 2021, increase fee to $8/vehicle up to 8 passengers and $2 per person for vans and buses carrying more than 8 passengers and walk-ins. |
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|
Hidden Valley Campground, Warm Springs Ranger District, Bath County |
$10 single site |
In 2019, increase fee to $12 single site. |
|
In 2021, increase fee to $15 for single site. |
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“Revenue from fees remain on the forest to maintain and improve sites, and are used with appropriated funding and grants for construction and maintenance of trails, campground operation, user education, and to provide patrol and security at recreation sites,” says Forest Supervisor Joby Timm.
In the fall of 2017 the Forest asked the public to provide feedback to determine what level of an increase would be acceptable to Forest visitors. The response indicated support for some fee increases as long as they result in improvements to facilities or services. There were some concerns expressed that higher fees would reduce the number of recreation visits for some families. To address these concerns, the Forest is phasing in many of the fee increases over three years. We are employing a conservation corps crew to make improvements to some recreation sites in the spring and summer of 2019.
For further information on the specific camping and day use area increases and for season opening dates for 2019, check the Forest’s website at www.fs.fed.us/gwj.
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