Forest Service waives fees Saturday for National Trails Day

The USDA Forest Service will waive fees at day-use recreation sites in Oregon and Washington on Saturday, June 2 for National Trails Day.

Celebrated annually on the first Saturday in June, National Trails Day is the country’s largest celebration of trails. National Trails Day events will take place in every state across the country and will include hikes, biking and horseback rides, paddling trips, birdwatching, geocaching, gear demonstrations, stewardship projects and more.

National Trails Day is also an opportunity to give back by volunteering on trail projects. Visit the National Trails Day webpage or contact your local national forest to find volunteer opportunities near you.

This fee waiver includes many picnic areas, boat launches, trailheads and visitor centers. Concession operations will continue to charge fees unless the permit holder wishes to participate. Fees for camping, cabin rentals, heritage expeditions, or other permits still apply. No fees are charged at any time on 98 percent of national forests and grasslands, and approximately two-thirds of developed recreation sites in national forests and grasslands can be used for free.

The Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region manages more than 24,000 miles of trails enjoyed by many different users. In 2017, Forest Service volunteers contributed more than 255,000 hours of service to trails work in national forests across Oregon and Washington. These volunteer contributions helped the Forest Service accomplish half of the Region’s trail accomplishments in 2017.

Each year, national forests in the Pacific Northwest receive over 15 million visitors, who spend approximately $738 million annually in communities near national forests. This spending supports approximately 6,080 year-long jobs, many in rural communities, and approximately $210 million in labor income for businesses and employees.

Mark your calendars for the following Forest Service fee-free days in 2018:

June 9: National Get Outdoors Day Sept. 22: National Public Lands Day Nov. 11 – 12: Veterans Day Weekend

To find a hiking trail near you, visit the Forest Service’s interactive recreation map.