Forest Service Proposes Fees for Campgrounds and Cabins
Published Date: 10/19/2026
Notice
Summary
The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest wants to start charging fees at some campgrounds and cabins to help keep them nice and fun for visitors. Fees would be $10 to $55 per night depending on the site, with most money staying local to improve your experience. These changes could start about six months after this announcement, and you can book spots online with a small reservation fee.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
New nightly campground and cabin fees
You may have to pay new nightly fees at specified Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest sites: $10 per night at Mill Falls Campground, $15 per night at Pine Grove and Falls Creek Campgrounds, and $55 per night to rent Forest Lake and Highwood Cabins.
Online reservation transaction fee
If you reserve a campsite or cabin online or by phone at recreation.gov, you would pay an $8.00 reservation transaction fee per reservation; this $8 is charged by the reservation service and is not a Forest Service recreation fee.
Most fee revenue stays local for improvements
At least 80 percent of the recreation fees collected at the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest would remain available to be spent on-site to improve visitor experience, maintenance, and customer service.
Six-month advance start notice
If approved, these fees would not start earlier than six months after this notice was published in the Federal Register (publication date October 19, 2026), giving you notice before fees begin.
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Key Dates
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