2019 marks the beginning of new or increased fees at 24 recreation sites in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests.
The start of 2019 marks the beginning of new or increased fees at 24 recreation sites in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests.
Starting Jan. 1, 2019, the U.S. Forest Service will implement the following fees:
Campgrounds
Bristol Fields Horse Camp - increase from $5 to $8/night
Cheoah Point - increase from $15 to $20/night for single sites, $20 to $25/night for RV sites
Cable Cove - increase from $10 to $15/night
Curtis Creek - increase from $5 to $10/night
Horse Cove - increase from $10 to $15/night
Jackrabbit - increase from $15 to $20/night for single sites, and $30 to $40 for double sites
Mortimer - increase from $10 to $20/night for single sites, and $20 to $40/night double sites (phased in over a period of two years)
Rocky Bluff - increase from $8 to $15/night
Tsali - increase from $15 to $20/night
Wine Springs Horse Camp - new $10/night fee, effective January 6
Wolf Ford Horse Camp - new $10/night fee, effective January 6
Day Use Areas
Cheoah Point Beach - new $5/vehicle fee, new $30 annual pass, effective January 6
Dry Falls - new $3/vehicle fee, new $15 annual pass (usable at Dry Falls, Whiteside Mountain, and Whitewater Falls), effective January 6
Jackrabbit Beach - increase from $3 to $5/vehicle, new $30 annual pass
Whiteside Mountain - increase from $2 to $3/vehicle, new $15 annual pass (usable at Dry Falls, Whiteside Mountain, and Whitewater Falls)
Whitewater Falls - increase from $2 to $3/vehicle, new $15 annual pass (usable at Dry Falls, Whiteside Mountain, and Whitewater Falls)
Cabins
Cheoah Point Cabins - increase from $35 to $40/night
McCall Cabin - new $30/night fee or $200/week fee, effective January 6
Group Campgrounds
Appletree Group Camp - increase from $50 to $75/night for 25 person sites, and from $100 to $150 for 50 person sites
Rattler Ford Group Camp - increase from $50 to $75/night for 25 person sites
Shooting Ranges
Dirty John - increase from $3 to $5/person, annual pass increase from $25 to $30 (usable at all Nantahala National Forest ranges)
Moss Knob - increase from $3 to $5/person, annual pass increase from $25 to $30 (usable at all Nantahala National Forest ranges)
Panther Top - increase from $3 to $5/person, annual pass increase from $25 to $30 (usable at all Nantahala National Forest ranges)
Whitewater Launches
Nantahala River Corridor - increase from $1 to $2/paddler per day, new $10 annual pass
For sites that are seasonally closed, officials say fee increases will take effect on opening day.
ADVERTISING
Officials with the U.S. Forest Service say this is the result of a fee proposal process that began in 2017 and included a 46-day public participation period, a published Federal Register Notice, and review and recommendations from the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC).
Forest officials say the goal is to improve visitor experiences through site upgrades paid for by the collected fees.
