The U.S. Forest Service will waive fees at day-use recreation sites Monday in honor of Presidents’ Day.
This fee waiver includes many picnic areas, boat launches, trailheads and visitor centers. Concession operations will continue to charge fees unless the permit holder wishes to participate.
Fees for camping, cabin rentals, heritage expeditions or other permits still apply.
The fee waiver does not apply to SnoParks, although they might be located on national public lands.
The SnoPark permit program is sponsored by the states of Oregon and Washington.
“Public lands in the Pacific Northwest offer nearly unlimited opportunities for year-round recreation,” said Jim Peña, Pacific Northwest Regional Forester. “We hope this fee-free day encourages new and repeat visitors to come out and enjoy their national forests.”
The USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region manages more than 2,400 developed recreation sites, more than 24,000 miles of trails, 51 wild and scenic rivers and two national monuments.
No fees are charged at any time on 98 percent of national forests and grasslands and approximately two-thirds of developed recreation sites in national forests and grasslands can be used for free.
To find a recreation site near you, visit the agency’s online interactive recreation map.
The USDA Forest Service has four other fee-free days scheduled for 2018:
• June 2: National Trails Day.
• June 9: National Get Outdoors Day.
• Sept. 22: National Public Lands Day.
• Nov. 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend.
To learn more about the USDA Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest, go to www.fs.usda.gov/r6.
Hurricane Ridge Road will be open in Olympic National Park on Monday, weather permitting.
Ninety inches of snow was reported at the sensor on Hurricane Ridge on Wednesday.
The road is open weekends and holiday Mondays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., when road conditions permit. All vehicles must carry tire chains.
