SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif., — The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is proposing new recreation fees and changes to existing recreation fees at various national forest recreation sites at Lake Tahoe. Also, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, in conjunction with the Eldorado National Forest, is proposing a fee increase for specialized recreation permits for overnight use in the Desolation Wilderness Area.

Not all recreation sites on the forest require a fee. Including the sites in this proposal, over 37% of sites on the forest would still not require a recreation fee. The forest will continue to honor all nationally recognized fee-free days.

The proposed fees by site are listed in the tables below.
 

Site Name	Site Type	Current Fee	Proposed Fee Year 1	Proposed Fee Year 5
Luther Pass Overflow Campground	Campground	Single Site Fee: $0	Single Site Fee: $20
Watson Lake Campground	Campground	Single Site Fee: $0	Single Site Fee: $20
Kiva Beach	Day Use Area	Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle	Day Fee: $10 rate per vehicle	Day Fee: $15 rate per vehicle
Taylor Creek Visitor Center	Interpretive Visitor Center	Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle	Day Fee: $10 rate per vehicle	Day Fee: $15 rate per vehicle
64 Acres Riverside	Picnic Site	Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle	Day Fee: $10 rate per vehicle
Eagle Falls Picnic Area and Trailhead	Picnic Site and Trailhead	Day Fee: $5 rate per vehicle	Day Fee: $10 rate per vehicle	Day Fee: $15 rate per vehicle
Kiva Picnic Area (Tallac Historic Site)	Picnic Site	Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle	Day Fee: $10 rate per vehicle
Big Meadow Trailhead	Trailhead	Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle	Day Fee: $10 rate per vehicle	Day Fee: $15 rate per vehicle
Echo Trailhead	Trailhead	Day Fee: $0 rate per vehicle	Day Fee: $10 rate per vehicle
Christmas Tree Permit Program	Christmas Tree Permit	Permit Fee: $10 rate per group	Permit Fee: $20 rate per group
Desolation Wilderness Overnight Permit	Pass/Permit	Permit Fee: $5 rate per person Annual Pass: $20	Permit Fee: $10 rate per person Eliminate Annual Pass	Permit Fee: $15 rate per person

Desolation Wilderness overnight permits are reservable on www.recreation.gov for an additional $6.00 fee per permit and Christmas Tree Permits for an additional $2.50 fee per permit.

In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which allows the Forest Service to retain at least 80% of the money collected at recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain, and improve these sites.

Revenue collected through recreation fees would help the forest improve infrastructure and public services at recreation sites during the season of operation. Recreation fees help provide quality recreation opportunities that meet the modern expectations of visitors and creates a more sustainable recreation program for future generations.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed recreation fee changes. The comment period is set to end by close of business on Sep. 29, 2026. To ensure that your comments are considered, please send your comments no later than the above date to Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Attention: Recreation Program Manager, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 or by email at SM.FS.R5.LTBMU.FeeProposal@usda.gov. Comments can also be provided online at https://arcg.is/iXXmz.

Oral comments must be provided in person at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/laketahoebasin. 

Once public involvement is complete, these recreation fee changes will be reviewed by a citizen’s advisory committee. Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable recreation fees. The committee will submit their recommendation to the Regional Forester for a final decision.