Angeles Forest Begins Phasing In Fee Policy

The Angeles National Forest will take advantage of the Memorial Day weekend crowds to debut the National Forest Adventure Pass, with forest rangers informing visitors of a new fee policy for recreational use.

Although they are not yet mandatory, the $30 annual passes will be on sale weekdays beginning today.

Angeles National Forest passes will be available at the Saugus Ranger Station, 30800 Bouquet Canyon Road; the Tujunga Ranger District, 12371 Little Tujunga Canyon Road, San Fernando; and the Valyermo Ranger Station, 29835 Valyermo Road.

There also will be a $5 daily pass for sale beginning June 9, and both passes--to be displayed on the windshields of visiting cars--will be mandatory at the national forests beginning June 16.

In the past, the only money collected by the forests were fees paid by campers, vendors and for special permits. That money will still go to a U.S. Treasury general fund.

Now, as part of a three-year test project, individual forests are able to charge an entrance fee and the money collected will remain locally to maintain and improve the forests.

Forest officials said the program should provide cleaner restrooms, more frequent trash removal, better trail maintenance and better care of land and its resources.

For more information call the nearest Forest Service office: in Saugus at (805) 296-9710, in Valyermo at (805) 944-2187 and in San Fernando at (818) 899-1900.