Oregon Hikers

The fee is not for parking.

removed

removed

removed

The initial question concerned backpacking in the Willamette NF next year...which means the NW Forest Pass may not apply to your situation since the Willamette NF wildernesses are going to a trail-by-trail permit system. They are still working out the draconian complexities to ensure maximum revenue, minimal communication tot he public and just plain good ole abuse of power. Okay, maybe that not fair...or maybe it is. We'll see next summer which interpretation is more accurate.

The current NW Forest Pass is indeed a parking permit. You can pull out any reg you want to disagree with this assessment, but the plain truth is that if USFS finds your car at one of the designated THs without a pass, they will put a ticket on your window. They do not need to try to figure out if you are backpacking, dayhiking, hunting, fishing, or just relieving yourself behind a tree...they put a ticket under your windshield wiper and drive to the next trailhead.

The next ripple in this so-called enforcement of the "unambiguously prohibited" pass (see Adams vs USFS; and Bark vs USFS) is that if the TH is near a campground (Wahtum Lake or Fish Creek on the Clackamas River or Eightmile Creek), the concessionaire will give you a ticket EVEN IF YOU HAVE A NW FOREST PASS. They want their cut too!

And this is just the national forests. State parks, BLM, national parks/monuments have their hands out too.

The Discover Pass (Washington) is ONLY A PARKING FEE. Go to Ilwaco and try to use the Discover Pass to get into either the interpretive center or the lighthouse. The rangers will gladly let you know your parking pass does not cover any other amenities.

So, enjoy your public lands. Just have your wallet ready.

Water wrote: ↑

July 15th, 2019, 12:37 pm

Not allowed to charge just to park. Not allowed to charge for walking through without amenities use. So go park and hike.

I believe the USFS considers the paved "trails" and viewing platforms around JRO to be amenities under this law. That said, there is *no* reason to hang a NWFP in the car there! None at all. It's not even signed as such. The only thing the pass is used for at JRO is to obtain a wristband, which in turn permits you into the visitor center and free roaming on the interpretive trails.

BigBear wrote: ↑

July 15th, 2019, 1:18 pm

The next ripple in this so-called enforcement of the "unambiguously prohibited" pass (see Adams vs USFS; and Bark vs USFS) is that if the TH is near a campground (Wahtum Lake or Fish Creek on the Clackamas River or Eightmile Creek), the concessionaire will give you a ticket EVEN IF YOU HAVE A NW FOREST PASS. They want their cut too!

I can't speak for the others but there has been an update to Wahtum Lake weather it was due to regular complaints from people like myself or some other reason but you can now park at Wahtum lake with a NWFP and the concessionaire has to honor it. Providing they don't catch you loitering in the "Day use area"

In getting back to OPs question. You can grab a NW forest pass for $30 and an Oregon State Parks pass for something around the same price. That covers most of the fun stuff in Oregon. If you don't use State Parks then don't bother.

I think there are valid arguments for not getting a pass, however, I typically buy one. I certainly wish we lived in a country with better funding for our public lands, or public goods in general, however we are seemingly destined to live free and die unsatisfied. But hey, gotta love the low tax base! My 30$ a year hopefully helps the USFS in some way and eases any stress related to getting a ticket or relying on dicta from a 9th circuit opinion (yes, I am unfortunately an attorney).

This doesn't mean I think the USFS does a great job of managing our national forests. I can both not agree with things they do and hope my $30 means some good work still gets done.

I guess the bottom line is, do what makes you feel comfortable.

removed

well said

the amount of complaining about $30 fee exceeds it's importance compared to other problems

in my opinion