RAPID CITY, SD (KOTA) – It’s been more than 20 years since the Forest Service changed its recreation fees, and it’s accepting public comments on its new proposal to increase fees in the Black Hills.
The fee changes include: Motorized trail permits will increase from $25 per year to $50 per year, the Summit Ridge Cabin will increase from $35 per night to $100, the Meeker Cabin will be $50 per night, and the Jenny Gulch picnic area and rutted rock climbing area will increase from $0 to $5.
Revenue from recreation fees goes towards projects to improve the quality of the sites and supports the forest service in maintenance.
According to an email from the Forest Service, the proposed increase would help hire staff, erect fencing, upgrade stream crossings, reroute trails, expand connecting trails, upgrade equipment, create trailhead maps and increase funding for education and outreach programs.
One place in the Black Hills that has benefited from recreation fees is Sheridan Lake, where the Forest Service has created more accessible trails around the swimming beach and picnic area.
Bradley Block, recreation program manager for the Black Hills National Forest, said current fees are not enough.
“But given the number of trail users, the number of projects that need to be done on the trails, the potentially resource-stressing situations that we have to deal with on a routine basis, the current fees simply do not do justice to or complement what we need to do on the ground,” Block said.
The public comment period ends on November 26. The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board will then review the proposal and decide how to proceed.
You can find more information about the proposed increases here.
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