Proposed changes to recreation fees identified by the San Bernardino National Forest

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., July 21, 2023 – The San Bernardino National Forest is proposing changes to recreation fees at nine developed recreation sites on the three ranger districts of the forest.

Currently, approximately 40 percent of day-use sites, overnight camping sites and other developed recreation sites are managed without user fees.

“We recognize how important these sites are to our local communities and those who use the sites,” said Jonar Rodrigo, Southern Zone Adventure Pass and Recreation Fee Program Manager with the San Bernardino National Forest. “These fee increases will help us maintain the sites to the level and quality people have come to expect, as well as make the fees more consistent throughout the state.”

The proposed fees by site and ranger district follow: at the Front Country District, the Applewhite Campground fee would increase from $10 to $25 for a single site. At the Mountain Top District, the Big Pine Flat OHV Staging Area fee would go from free to $5 per vehicle. At the San Jacinto District, the Pinyon Flats Campground fee would increase from $8 to $20 per night and $5 to $10 per additional vehicle; at the Marion Mountain, Fern Basin and Boulder Basin campgrounds the fees would be increased from $10 to $20 per night and $5 to $10 per additional vehicle; the Dark Canyon Campground fee would go from $12 to $20 a night and $5 to $10 per additional vehicle; the Ribbonwood Equestrian Campground fee would change from $15 to $30 per night, and; the Black Mountain Group Campground fees would increase from $50 to $100 (1-24 people), $75 to $150 (25-49 people), $110 to $200 (50-74 people) and $140 to $225 (75-100 people).

At the newly built OHV staging area at Big Pine Flat, the Annual Adventure Pass and the full suite of Interagency Passes would be honored.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed fee changes to the developed recreation program. The comment period is set to end by close of business on Oct. 1. Bring or mail your written comments to San Bernardino National Forest, Attention: Jonar Rodrigo, 602 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408 or communicate by email at sm.fs.BDFFEEPROP@usda.gov. Comments can also be submitted at https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=f6a8f81baf2843c8bd96c8035d8cc3bc