The Black Hills National Forest is proposing changes to recreation fees for facilities, as well as Special Recreation Permit (SRP) fees under the Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) Fee Program. These changes include new and increased fees at several fee sites and for motorized OHV use permits. If approved, the proposed fees would be effective in 2025.
“Usage at recreation sites on the Black Hills National Forest has changed over the past 15-20 years,” said Shawn Cochran, Forest Supervisor. “An increase of fees is needed to meet public expectations and the increasing demands of recreation activities across the forest.”
The proposed fees by site are listed in the below table.
| Site Name: | Current Fee(s): | Proposed Fee(s): |
| Black Hills Motorized Trails | Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle Week Fee: $20 rate per vehicle Season/Year Fee: $25 rate per vehicle | Day Fee: $10 rate per vehicle Week Fee: $30 rate per vehicle Season/Year Fee: $50 rate per vehicle |
| Meeker Cabin | Night Fee: $0 Group size: 4 | Night Fee: $50 Group size: 4 |
| Summit Ridge Cabin | Night Fee: $35 Group size: 10 | Night Fee: $100 Group size: 10 |
| Jenny Gulch Picnic Site | Year-Round: Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle | Year-Round: Day Fee: $5 rate per vehicle |
| Wrinkled Rock Climbing Area | Year-Round: Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle | Year-Round: Day Fee: $5 rate per vehicle |
In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) which allows the Forest Service to retain funds collected at certain recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain, and improve the sites and related facilities. At least eighty percent of the revenue from recreation fees remains on the Forest to operate, maintain, and improve facilities. Raising the revenue collected through recreation fees will help the Forest improve infrastructure at campsites and day-use areas and hire additional recreation staff. The resources derived through collection of fees helps provide quality recreation opportunities that meet the modern expectations of visitors and creates a more financially sustainable developed recreation program for the benefit of future generations.
These fee changes will be reviewed by the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board (NFAB) and the Wyoming Recreation Action Team (REACT) for those sites in Wyoming. Committee members represent a broad array of interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable new fees and fee changes.
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 November 29, 2024. To ensure that your comments are considered, please send your feedback no later than the above date to Black Hills National Forest, Attention: Bradley Block – Recreation Program Manager, 1019 N 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730 or bradley.block@usda.gov. Comments can also be provided online at https://arcg.is/qyij80.
Oral comments must be provided in person at the Black Hills National Forest to Bradley Block during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. MT) or by calling 605-673-9200 and indicating you would like to provide comments on the proposed recreation fee changes. For more information on the proposed project, visit the Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/blackhills/recreation/?cid=fseprd1198079.
Once public involvement is complete, the proposed fee changes will be reviewed by the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board (NFAB) and the Wyoming Recreation Action Team (REACT), who will provide a recommendation for a final decision.