The U.S. Forest Service will waive fees at most of its day-use recreation sites five times in 2015. The next fee-free day is Monday, Feb. 16, in honor of Presidents Day.
“Our fee-free days touch on every season and serve as an enticement to new and repeat visitors to come out and enjoy their national forests and grasslands,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “These public lands offer rich experiences for everyone, from the avid sportsman to the casual hiker or nature observer.”
The remaining three fee-free days in 2015 are the Saturdays of June 13, National Get Outdoors Day, a day when federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and the recreation industry encourage healthy, outdoor activities, and Sept. 26, National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort in support of public land. The third and final fee free day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
The first fee-free day was Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Day.
No fees are charged at any time on 98 percent of national forests and grasslands, and about two-thirds of developed recreation sites in national forests and grasslands can be used for free. Check with your local forest station or visit Recreation.gov to see if a forest destination charges a fee.
Contact the San Bernardino National Forest office for more information about events, especially on National Get Outdoors Day and National Public Lands Day.
The fee-free program is in cooperation with other federal land management agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Fees are waived generally for day-use areas, such as picnic grounds, developed trailheads and destination visitor centers. Concessionaire-operated sites may be included in the waiver, if the permit holder wishes to participate.
