Camping discounts for pass holders remain in place (for now).
On St. Patrick’s Day, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said, in a news release, that holders of Golden Age and Golden Access Passports, and Senior and Access Passes, will continue to receive the half-off camping fee rates at Forest Service campgrounds operated by private contractors.
Late last year, the USFS floated plans to reduce or eliminate some discounts in the senior and disabled park pass programs.
“The response from the public–more than 4,000 comments–universally opposing the rate changes, convinced Tidwell that the proposed changes were not the best way to address services provided by private contractors at Forest Service recreation sites,” wrote Bob Difley in an item posted on RV Boondocking News.
“Each year more than 175 million people enjoy recreational opportunities on national forests and grasslands, and that includes more than 15 million visits to our campgrounds,” said Forest Service Chief Tidwell in the news release. “Particularly in these difficult economic times, it is very important to maintain affordable access to our national forests and grasslands, giving people easy ways to recreate and find respite in the great outdoors.”
Photo: Courtesy of U S Forest Service. Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah. Photo by Teresa Prendus. For other photos click here.
Best places for camping. thanks
Thank you so much! I have been counting on my golden access discount to make it possible for me to visit some national parks and stay in some forest service campgrounds while I am still able to drive. I hope I will have the discount for two years more, at least, so I don’t have to cram my whole dream trip into one summer, which would be more than I could manage either physically or financially.