Fees on a number of Shoshone National Forest campgrounds will increase rise from $5 to $10 per single slot, under a proposal before the public.
Also, the forest will start charging to stay at some currently free campgrounds. Extra charges may be levied for double spaces and/or hookups.
The Sunlight Ranger Cabin will see the highest hike, to $225 per night from the present $150 per night.
The additional income will enable the forest “to keep the staff on those sites and maintain them,” said Paul Rau, SNF outdoor recreation planner. “Supplies are getting super expensive, and contracts for trash and pumping have seen dramatic increases.”
The last fee changes occurred in 2006, so “they’ve been static while inflation increased,” he added.
Public comments on the proposed increases will be accepted through Tuesday, Oct. 31, and can be emailed to Shoshone@usda.gov.
A new fee of $10 per night will be levied at three Meeteetse-area campgrounds – Deer Creek, Wood River and Jack Creek.
On the North Fork,
- Big Game will go from $10 to $15
- Newton Creek, Threemile, Wapiti and Rex Hale $15 to $20
- Elk Fork $10 to $20
- Eagle Creek $15 to $25. If water isn’t available on Elk Fork, the fee will drop to $15.
- Clearwater Group Campground will cost $90 per night, now $60.
In Sunlight Basin/Clarks Fork area,
- Little Sunlight will go from 0 to $10, Dead Indian
- Lake Creek $10 to $15
- Crazy Creek $10 to $20 – Without water, Crazy Creek will drop to $15
- Hunter Peak $15 to $20.
In the Beartooths,
- Beartooth Lake and Island Lake will rise to $25 from $15
- Fox Creek to $30 from $20
- Lily Lake to $10 from 0.
To get detailed information and to comment online, visit: https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=c6ccf2cf19e44e39995868ccf0ce70fc&f
