You Soon May Pay More to Camp in SW Idaho

By Pete Zimowsky, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

Nov. 28–An increase in camping fees from $3 to $5 in national forest lands across Southwest Idaho will be reviewed at a public meeting Thursday in Boise.

Fee increases for more than 100 recreation sites will be discussed by members of federal resource advisory councils from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Boise District Office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, 3948 Development Way.

The meeting is open to the public.

The increases in fees were announced in September and are being proposed because recreation demand is increasing rapidly in national forests as the state’s population grows.

Because of the demand, the U.S. Forest Service can’t keep up with maintenance at what it calls an acceptable level.

To make ends meet, the federal agency is looking at higher fees and also adding new fee sites in the Boise National Forest.

The proposed nightly fee for premier campgrounds is $13 to $15, up from $10.

Currently, the maintenance and operations budget for the Boise National Forest is $760,000 annually.

Revenue from recreation fees and and appropriations from Congress amount to roughly $650,000.

The Boise National Forest is also dealing with $1.6 million in maintenance and improvements that are not getting done.

Campground fees also are proposed for the Payette National Forest.

Here is a list of campgrounds and recreation sites in the Boise National Forest where fee increases are proposed:

Big Roaring River Lake, Big Trinity Lake, Curlew Creek, Dog Creek, Elks Flat, Shafer Butte Complex, Bad Bear, Black Rock, Edna Creek, Grayback Gulch, Hayfork, Ten Mile Whoo-Um-Up Equestrian, Amanita, French Creek, Picnic Point, Rainbow Point, Shoreline, South Fork Salmon River, Warm Lake, Barney’s, Bonneville, Bull Trout, Cozy Cove, Deadwood, Helende, Hower’s, Kirkham, Mountain View, Park Creek, Pine Flats, Riverside, Antelope Annex, Antelope, Big Eddy, Boiling Springs, Canyon, Cartwright Ridge, Cold Springs, Eastside, Hardscrabble, Hollywood Point, Hot Springs, Rattlesnake, Sagehen Creek, Silver Creek, Swinging Bridge, Tie Creek, and Trail Creek.

Some rental cabins and boat ramps will also have fee increases.

Pete Zimowsky: 377-6445

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