BIG NEWS for Southern California Forests – the Adventure Pass may be on its way out … at least, for most of the Forest Areas.

In a press release sent out by the Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Region just a few moments ago, the Forest Service is asking for public comments on proposed changes that would result in more than 160,000 acres of National Forest land becoming fee-free for the public.

In addition to nixing the fees in the majority of the Forest, the Forest Service is proposing to “substantially reduce” the size of the Big Pines, Mount Baldy, Big Tujunga, and San Gabriel Canyon fee areas, eliminate six existing fee areas, and establish fees in three new locations.

In the summer of 2011, the Forest Service reviewed the 97 fee areas on National Forest System lands and has decided to eliminate fees in 73 areas and reduce the size of 24 others across the entire system.

If you would like to offer a public comment on the proposed changes, it must be submitted by January 6th, 2014. You may submit via mail to Tamara Wilton at [email protected], or go old school and send a letter to her attention at:
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 94592

But don’t get too excited … there are a lot of places where you’ll still need an Adventure Pass.

The Adventure Pass and the America the Beautiful ? the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass ARE STILL REQUIRED at the following sites and areas:

San Gabriel Canyon SAF Area
Mt. Baldy SAF Area
Big Tujunga SAF Area
Big Pines SAF Area
Icehouse Canyon Trailhead
Switzers Picnic Area
Mt. Baldy Wayside
San Antonio Falls Trailhead
Delta Flats Day Use Site
Stonyvale Picnic Area
Vogel Flats Picnic Area
Wildwood Picnic Area
Table Mountain Picnic Area
Mescal Picnic Area
Big Pines Clubhouse Day Use Area
Arch Picnic Area
Grassy Hollow Picnic Area
Westgate Picnic Area
three Rowher Flat OHV Staging Areas
Buckhorn Station Day Use Area
Buckhardt Day Use Area
Charlton Flat Day Use Area
Chilao Day Use Site
Devil’s Canyon Day Use Site
Eagle Roost Picnic Area
Islip Saddle Day use Area
Jarvi Vista Memorial Day Use Site
Shortcut Saddle Day Use Site
Three Points Day Use Site
Vista Picnic Area
6000 Foot Day Use Site
Littlerock OHV Trailhead
Chantry Flats Day Use Area
Millard Day Use Area
Red Box Day use Area
Skyline Park Picnic Area
Frenchman’s Flat Day Use Area
Vincent Gap Trailhead
Piru Ponds Interpretive Site
Elizabeth Lake Day Use Area
Big Rock Campground
Blue Ridge Campground
Guffy Campground
Lupine Campground
South Fork Group Campground
Sycamore Flat Campground
Appletree Campground
Peavine Campground
Streamside Campground
Zuni Campground
Winter recreation SRP locations (Mt. Baldy, Big Pines, and Angeles Crest).

Manker, Coldbrook, Crystal Lake, Bandido, Buckhorn, Meadow Group, Coulter Group, Horse Flat, Chilao-Little Pine, and Chilao-Manzanita campgrounds will continue to charge an expanded use fee.

And the following sites are now FREE:

West Fork Trail Camp
Trail Canyon Trailhead
Cabin Flat Trailhead
South Fork Trailhead
Bouquet Crossing Trailhead
Los Cantilles Picnic Area
Drinkwater OHV Staging Area
Cooper Canyon Trail Camp
Little Jimmy Trail Camp
Sulphur Springs Trail Camp
Cascade Picnic Area
Eaton Saddle Trailhead
Echo Mountain Picnic Area
Georges Gap Trailhead
Inspiration Point
Sunset Ridge Trailhead
The Pines Picnic Area
Bear Canyon Trail Camp
Devore Trail Camp
Hoegees Trail Camp
Idlehour Trail Camp
Mt. Lowe Trail Camp
Spruce Grove Trail Camp
Valley Forge Trail Camp
and San Gabriel Canyon OHV Overlook.

For the time being, the Angeles National Forest will not be enforcing fees in the FREE areas listed above. From their press release:

Consistent with direction on implementation of the national fee area review, the Angeles National Forest has not been issuing notices of required fees or enforcing recreation fees outside of the sites and reduced areas listed below.

Tags: adventure pass, Angeles National Forest, money, recreation fees, US Forest Service