Recreation Fee changes proposed for WNC national forests

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to change fees at three recreation areas on the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests in North Carolina.

The public is invited to provide input to proposed fee changes through Oct. 5, 2026.

While the Forest Service uses recreation fees for maintenance and im-proving visitor experiences, most recreation sites on the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests do not require a fee. The Forest Service will continue to honor all nationally recognized fee-free days.

The proposed fee changes the Forest Service seeks comment on include:

• Balsam Lake Lodge – an increase from $170 to $210 per night on weekdays and from $200 to $250 on weekends
• Picnic pavilion rentals at Poplar Boat Launch and Rocky Bluff Picnic Area – a new $50 fee per day for picnic pavilion group rental

The picnic pavilions are planned improvements to Poplar and Rocky Bluff. Use of the sites and the picnic pavilions outside of reserved group rentals will be free. Sites are available on recreation.gov with an additional reservation fee of $8.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed fee changes by Oct. 5, 2026. For more information, visit at fs.usda.gov/r08/northcarolina/recreation/recreation-fee-proposal. To provide comments about these fee proposals, visit arcg.is/1Gu8zH1 or contact Logan Free at 828.257.4256, sm.fs.nfsncfees@usda.gov or by mail a: ATTN: Recreation Fee Proposals, 160A Zillicoa St. Asheville, NC 28801.

Once public involvement is complete, these recreation fee changes will be reviewed by an advisory committee.