$50 picnic fees coming to Ouachita—adventures now cost extra
Published Date: 9/8/2026
Notice
Summary
The Ouachita National Forest plans to start charging fees at some picnic and recreation spots to help keep them clean, safe, and fun. Groups using picnic sites like Cedar Lake will pay $50 a day, and reservations will cost an extra $8 online. These changes could start about six months after this notice, making your outdoor adventures even better!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Group Picnic Sites: $50 Daily Fee
The Forest Service would charge a $50 per day expanded amenity recreation fee for group picnic sites at Cedar Lake Day Use, Charlton Day Use, and Shady Lake. If you use a group picnic site at any of those locations, you would pay $50 for each day you reserve or use the site.
Reservation Platform Transaction Fee
Reservations for campgrounds and cabins could be made online at recreation.gov or by phone and would cost an $8.00 fee per reservation. The $8.00 is a transaction fee kept by the recreation.gov service provider and is not a Forest Service recreation fee.
Local Use of Fee Revenue (80% Local)
At least 80 percent of the proposed recreation fees would be spent where they are collected to improve the visitor experience, including operation, maintenance, and site improvements. Fee revenue would be used to enhance recreation opportunities, improve customer service, and address maintenance needs at the sites.
Six-Month Advance Start Date
If approved, the proposed recreation fees would not begin earlier than six months after this notice was published in the Federal Register (publication date September 8, 2026), so fees could start no earlier than March 8, 2027. This gives visitors at least six months' notice before the fees take effect.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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