Forest service offering 'fee-free' days

Throughout the year, the U.S. Forest Service will waive fees several times at most of its day-use recreation sites.

The first fee-free day is set to honor Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 18.
These fee-free days are our way of thanking our millions of visitors but also to encourage more people to visit these great public lands," said Chief Tom Tidwell with the forest service. "These lands belong to all Americans, and we encourage everyone to open the door to the great outdoors."

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.

The Shawnee National Forest campgrounds included in the fee waiver are: Garden of the Gods, Pounds Hollow, Camp Cadiz, Pine Hills, and Johnson Creek. Please note that concessionaire operated campgrounds are not included in the fee waiver.


Set fee-free days include:

Jan. 18: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which honors the legacy of the civil rights leader and encourages Americans to participate in the MLK Day of Service.

Feb. 15: President's Day, honoring our nation's Presidents with particular attention towards commemorating President Washington and President Lincoln.

Jun. 11: National Get Outdoors Day, a day when federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and the recreation industry encourages healthy, outdoor activities.

Sept. 24: National Public Lands Day, the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort in support of public lands.

Nov. 11: Veterans Day, commemorates the end of World War I and pays tribute to all military heroes past and present.

Visit Recreation.gov to see what destinations charge a fee. Fees are used to help cover the cost of safe, clean facilities. The fee-free program is in cooperation with other federal land management agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.