Forest Service drops cost for Oregon wilderness permits

SALEM, Ore. — The cost to hike and camp in three of Oregon’s most popular wilderness areas won’t be as high as expected.

The Statesman-Journal reports the U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday that it would cost $1 for a day permit and $6 for an overnight permit to enter the Three Sisters, Mount Jefferson and Mount Washington wilderness areas beginning this summer.

That’s a drop from the $4 to $11 per person, per day, that was proposed earlier this year and received an overwhelmingly negative response from over 13,000 public comments.

The permit system is intended to limit overcrowding and environmental damage in 450,000 acres of Oregon’s most beautiful but fragile backcountry.

Permits will go on sale at Recreation.gov beginning April 7 and be required from May 22 to Sept. 25, even though some key questions about the system still need to be finalized.

Under the limited entry system approved earlier this year, each trailhead in the three wilderness areas will have a quota of permits people must buy before entering.