Forest Service Celebrates National Trails Day
This Saturday, June 4th, marks the 19th annual National Trails Day. People can join the celebration by enjoying a hike at a favorite trail without paying a day-use fee or by participating in a planned volunteer activity such as a trail work project or dedication.
The Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service will help celebrate National Trails Day by waiving fees at all National Forest recreation day-use fee sites operated by the Forest Service on June 4th. These sites normally require a $5 fee per vehicle or recreation pass, such as the Northwest Forest Pass, Interagency Annual Pass, Interagency Senior Pass, Interagency Access Pass, Golden Age, or Golden Access Passport.
There are more than a thousand National Trails Day events planned across the country. For more information or to find an event near you, visit www.americanhiking.org/NTD.aspx
Revenue from recreation fees are used to maintain the facilities and services associated with trails and other outdoor recreation sites. In 2010, recreation fee sites, including campgrounds and cabin rentals, generated approximately $9 million in the Pacific Northwest for. Many of these dollars fund trail maintenance and other recreation projects completed by youth crews or were combined with money from grants or partnerships to fund larger projects. To see how these funds were used, please visit the Forest Service website at: www.fs.fed.us/r6/passespermits/accomplishments
More: Upcoming Free Days include the following:
• National Get Outdoors Day - June 11, 2011
• National Public Lands Day - September 24, 2011
• Veterans Day - November 11, 2011