Sawtooth National Recreation Area Fees & Policies

*No senior discounts apply to utility fees, goods, services,  or day use passes.

All persons entering a Forest Service facility operated and maintained by an authorized concessionaire is subject to paying use fees for camping, parking and occupying fee sites, day use, or other associated service fees. All vehicles and or persons associated with these use areas must provide the proper documentation that a fee has been paid for the use of the campground or day use areas. Failure to do so may result in legal law enforcement action. Federal statutes and State guidelines regarding “Inn Keeper” Laws cover the authorized concessionaire. Enforcement of these provisions lie within the jurisdiction of the Forest Service & the respective County Sheriff’s Department as the primary Law Enforcement agencies.

There may be individual campsite designs that are capable of accommodating additional vehicles or camp units. Also there may be campsite designs that will only accommodate 1 camp unit. The standard design capacity for Sawtooth National Recreation Area Campgrounds is 8 persons at one time with a 2 vehicle per site limit, as applicable. The second vehicle campsite limit is what is allowable or the carrying capacity of the campsite and not how the site is to be charged. Individual circumstances will be addressed with the appropriate fees applied.

Double sites occupancy is based on the same information doubling PAOT to 16 individuals and up to 4 vehicles. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th vehicle campsite limit is what is allowable or the carrying capacity of the campsite and not how the site is to be charged. Individual circumstances will be addressed with the appropriate fees applied.

The authorized concessionaire will comply with all applicable forest orders affecting the operations of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area facilities.

The standard stay limit under Forest Order #0414-04-134 is:

• Camping for not more than 10 days in any one location. A camper or group of persons camping together may not relocate within the same developed recreation fee site (campground) for 14 days after utilizing the 10-day stay limit during any successive period. See Appendix 4, Applicable Forest Orders, Order #0414-04-134.
• The concessionaire recognizes that each Forest may extend or limit stays based on its particular needs and the concessionaire will comply with any such orders.

The authorized concessionaire will work with each Ranger District to enforce allowable stay limits and clearly post them in all campgrounds. In addition any special Forest orders that affect campground or recreation area operations or adjacent areas will be posted and conveyed to the public.

Campground picnic hours will be allowed from 10 am-2 pm. The appropriate picnic or day use fees will be paid prior to use or by 2 pm. After 2 pm the full campground use fee shall apply to the occupied campsite. Any amount previously paid prior to 2 pm will be deducted from the campground fee if the occupants wish to remain on the site overnight. Campground picnic day use fees have an hourly charge with a 2 hour minimum.

All camp units are defined in the concessionaire's fee collection policy as: 

• vehicles,
• motor homes,
• trailers,
• tent trailers,
• tents,
• motorcycles, or
• other transportation or conveyances used in the commission of camping, providing shelter, sleeping or otherwise occupying campsites in designated campgrounds. 

Fee will be applied to all camp units at full rate of the established campground fee.

Placards or signs will be posted through campground bulletin boards explaining fee collection definitions. The National Reservation System does not collect the second vehicle fees. Second vehicle fees are collected at the campground by campground hosts or by self -pay stations during registration.

Additional (second) vehicles are defined as vehicles joining or accompanying persons already registered on a campsite. Second vehicles will be charged at 50% of the same rate as the 1st camp unit. Second vehicle occupants using tents only will not be required to pay surcharges for electric or sewer if no hookup is initiated.

The National Reservation System does not collect the second vehicle fees. Second vehicle fees are collected at the campground by campground hosts or by self-pay stations during registration. Persons arriving early and setting up another camp unit in anticipation another will be joining them on their site will be charged the additional camp unit fee upon the vehicles arrival. Additional vehicle occupants have the option to purchase an alternative campsite, if available.

Second, third and fourth vehicles will only be allowed to camp at the rented site identified as a Single or Double Family Site if the site has an adequate amount of space for the parked vehicle and camping contrivance without blocking or obstructing traffic or causing resource damage. Additional Vehicles will be required to rent an additional site if vehicles exceed the required space or person at one time requirements.

Many campers, both those with reservations and first-come customers, will arrive with an extra vehicle in addition to their RV or camping unit. Extra vehicles are defined as a tow vehicle brought into camp by tow bar and are considered an extra vehicle with no associated additional fee. Extra vehicles will not be charged as long as the occupants do not pitch a tent or sleep in the extra vehicle or otherwise use it in anyway as an additional camp unit. Extra vehicles will be registered and given a hang tag and post tag to display on their vehicle while at their site. Extra vehicles will be considered the second vehicle at a particular site only allowing two vehicles per site. 

Extra vehicles are permitted in most managed areas provided there is sufficient space at the campsite (or in nearby parking areas) and the total number of visitors does not exceed the carrying capacity or site limit for the permit area. Concessionaire staff will collect the appropriate extra vehicle fee according to the current fee schedule. Extra vehicles unable to be accommodated on the camp site will be instructed to place the vehicle in overflow parking areas or purchase their own site if no over flow parking is available at the facility.

The authorized concessionaire has implemented a “No Hassle” refund for visitors paying by cash. Refunds will be handled in the following manner:4

• Camping Cash Refunds — Cash refunds will be handled at the local level. For approved situations, campers who depart before 2 pm and who have already paid in cash for subsequent days will be granted a refund. After 2 pm, the visitor forfeits that day’s refund and is only eligible for subsequent day(s). Refunds, regardless of the situation, are allowed within 30 minutes from the time a camper enters the recreation site. 

  The visitor will be given a refund in full, without delay or hassle, upon returning to the host responsible for registrations. The visitor must return the original receipt to the concessionaire's employee, who will make the refund. The visitor must sign their receipt and follow other instructions from employee. The visitor’s original receipt will be given back to the host, who will enter the refund notations on the ledger. The receipt will be submitted with the revenue recap and daily tally. Refunds from fee tube collections will not be granted.

• Picnic and Day Use Refunds — Refunds generally will not be given towards picnic or day use unless it is reasonably determined that insufficient time has elapsed to participate in a picnic or other activity (less than 30 min). Extended purchased hours (up to 4) will be refunded on un-used hours after the 2-hour minimum. Golden Age or Golden Access passes will not be used for picnics or day use. Some campgrounds may be subjected to picnic restrictions during peak camping seasons. Host discretion may apply in certain circumstances. Hosts will always suggest alternative locations, as applicable.
• Reservation Refunds — The concessionaire will comply with the refund provisions outlined by the National Recreation Reservation System contractor. The contractor will handle all visitor refunds. The concessionaire will have the visitor fill out a “Request for Refund Form” and returned to Managers. This form is forwarded to the National Recreation Reservation System point of contact, who will process the refund. The National Recreation Reservation System will refund the customer any remaining registered days and the amount authorized by the concessionaire. The complete refund process takes 10 -14 days to complete. The concessionaire has no control over contractual provisions established by the National Recreation Reservation System contractor.

Golden Age, Golden Access, and Interagency Passes will be discounted by 50 percent and applied to the first camp unit / campsite fee only. Pass holders will not be allowed to make multiple reservations for multiple sites within the same campground for the same period of time.

Pass holders may not use their cards to rent sites for non-cardholders. Pass holders will be required to show identification during registration. If a pass holder fraudulently uses a pass to secure discounts on fee campgrounds, the transaction will be void and the customer will pay full price. The pass holder information may be turned over to Forest Service law enforcement personnel.

Discounts will not be given for day use, electrical or full hook up charges, sewage dumping, or firewood purchases. Golden Age, Golden Access, and Interagency Pass discounts are applied to only the cardholder. No other discounts from other agencies will be accepted.

Unless a visitor has prepaid the use fees by means of the National Recreation Reservation System and has the documentation to verify prepayment, all incoming visitors to concessionaire-managed areas will be charged the approved use fee according to the fee schedule for that specific area.
 

There are three exceptions:

• Interagency Senior or Golden Age Passports (issued to senior citizens);
• Interagency Access or Golden Access Passports (issued to physical disabled citizens);
• Partnering Government Agency (Employees conducting official business for the Forest Service and its agents are not charged a fee when entering the fee area. This does not apply, however, to employees recreating on their own time.

Holders of the Golden Age or Golden Access passes mentioned above shall be given the current approved rate of discount  — currently 50 percent — of the regular fee. 

The concessionaire recognizes the following:

• Golden Age or Golden Access passes are not transferable and may not be used by anyone other than the legitimate cardholder. We check visitor identification to verify that the card is presented by the actual cardholder.
• We do not accept the “Golden Eagle,” “National Pass,” or “Interagency Annual Pass” discount card, which are valid only in National Parks.
• Golden Age or Golden Access passes provide a discount on regular use fees for camping only, and may not be used to discount promotional or already discounted fees.
• Discount Passes do not apply to Day Use fees.

Beginning in 2007, Federal agencies implemented the new America the Beautiful passes, also known as the multi-agency annual pass. These passes are generally accepted at all Federal recreation sites, depending on the conditions stated on the passes. Although there has been some confusion regarding the implementation and acceptance of these passes in concession-operated recreation areas, the concessionaire is not required to accept them and does not accept them at this time on the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

Hang Tags are sequentially numbered receipts with a perforated receipt and are issued to paid visitors. They are typically used in Forest Service recreation areas that have a pay station at the entrance and where fee collection is not performed solely by fee envelope or during compliance checks. The tags used by the concessionaire will vary in color on a random schedule as a means of keeping visitors honest.

• Camping hang tag receipts are given to visitors after being registered and paying the appropriate use fee. On the back of the receipt, concessionaire staff will use a bold marker to record the site number, departure date, and vehicle license number. Staff will instruct visitors to display the hang tag on the vehicle’s rear view mirror so the information can be clearly seen. A tear off stub is hung on the site post equipped with a clip to indicate registration. This stub also acts as a receipt to the customer upon departure. The hang tag portion is then kept with the vehicle to indicate passage to the day use areas and boat launches.
• Day Use tags will be used for picnicking or day use activities. Day use fees will be collected from the visitor at entrance stations or by personal contact and provided a numbered day use receipt. This tag will be punch with the day of sale and acts as a receipt to the customer.
• Vehicle passes are generally used for control of visitors or will be issued to overflow parking situations.
• Annual Day Use pass is sold by our area managers, selected host personnel, contact stations, and through the concessionaire's corporate office. These passes are generally sold to local persons utilizing day use facilities frequently during the season.
• Receipts displayed at a campsite will be displayed so the recorded information can be clearly seen by concessionaire staff performing compliance checks. For tags hung in visitor vehicles, the pre-printed information on the tag also provides visitors with local rules and other pertinent information. In the event the visitor’s vehicle does not have a rear view mirror, staff should provide a piece of tape and ask the visitor to display the receipt in such a manner that it can be clearly seen from the outside of the vehicle (for compliance purposes). 

The concessionaire prefers to have host personnel on staff in the campgrounds. However, there are recreation areas, i.e. dump stations and low use campgrounds that have such low visitation it is not economically feasible to locate or pay personnel to reside on site. Additionally there may be times during the shoulder seasons visitation does not warrant a full time presence.

During these times, the concessionaire has implemented a fee plan to accommodate these situations. Visitors will use fee envelopes to pay required fees by means of an honor system, placing their fee payment in an envelope, recording their own registration information, and then depositing the envelope in a securely locked collection device. The concessionaire will keep the blank fee envelope storage box stocked with plenty of envelopes for visitors to use.
Upon collection of fee envelopes, staff will verify that the receipt, or envelope tear-off tab, is posted on the site post or is displayed in the vehicle windshield.

Customers are asked to fill out the following information:

• Check if they are day use, camping, parking, or other;
• Date;
• Name;
• Site Number;
• Nights paid;
• Total fee paid;
• Vehicle license number;
• State vehicle is registered;
• Number of persons in group; and
• Golden Age or Golden Access passes number, if applicable.

Although very rare, the concessionaire still receives Camp Stamps as a means of paying for recreation services, such as camping and day use. If presented with Camp Stamps, the concessionaire will honor them with the understanding that when redeemed, they will only have an 85% face value.

The concessionaire will schedule staff in such a way that our fee collection process works smoothly for visitors and efficiently for RRM of A. Following are some general guidelines for our fee collection procedures:

• The hours for any contact station operation will be clearly posted.
• As a rule, RRM of A staff do not attempt to collect fees prior to 7:00 am or later than 10:00 pm. We do not wish to violate posted quiet hours rules by disturbing visitors during that period of time.
• Collecting after 10:00 pm may be acceptable during high visitation weekends (i.e. holidays, special events, etc.) when registration is expected to be very active generally through a manned contact station.
• At times, visitors may arrive late and attempt to “escape” early the following morning without paying their appropriate use fees. Although this may frustrate our loyal staff members, we may have to accept the fact that some people will simply attempt to get around the rules. At times we will schedule staff to begin before 7 am to help catch some of these unpaid guests as they depart. Staff are instructed to get as much information as possible, i.e. vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers, etc., and give it to local law enforcement officers. Concessionaire employees avoid the potential of “overzealous” fee collection techniques by never:
  • engaging in vehicle stops or road chases,
  • “holding hostage” a visitor’s personal property as a means of ensuring fee collection,
  • entering a visitor’s vehicle or R.V. without permission in an attempt to collect a fee,
  • misrepresenting their level of authority by threatening a fine (or worse) as a means of collecting a fee, or
  • representing themselves as agents of the U.S. Forest Service or any other official public agency as a means of intimidating a visitor to pay a fee.

In order to mitigate potential revenue losses, RRM of A will prosecute bad checks through the County Attorney’s Office. RRM of A instructs all staff to observe the following guidelines:

• The concessionaire’s standard policy is that only in-state personal checks are accepted for fee payment. Exceptions are permitted with the self-pay fee envelopes, as we may not have adequate change available for the fee envelope visitors.
• Checks are made out to “Recreation Resource Management” or “RRM”.
• When accepting a check, staff will always request a bank guarantee card or a photo Id and record the vehicle license plate number. This information is written on the face of the check.
• The concessionaire will accept well-known traveler’s checks (i.e. American Express). Traveler’s checks must be signed in the presence of our staff.
• No third-party checks are accepted, including checks written by a third party payable to the visitor or checks signed by a person other than the person making payment.
• If a visitor’s checking account appears to be new (indicated by check numbers below 1000), three pieces of personal identification are required.