The new fees are the result of a proposal process that started in 2017 and included a 46-day public participation period, publication in the Federal Register Notice and input from the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee, which is a federal advisory committee comprised of members of the public. 

According to a U.S. Forest Service press release, the changes aim to establish a consistent fee approach and improve visitor experiences through site upgrades financed through the fees. Current pricing at many sites has been static for more than a decade. Federal law allows the Forest Service to keep 80 to 95 percent of fees collected to operate, maintain and improve the recreation sites from which they were collected.

Fee changes include:

Campgrounds

• Bristol Fields Horse Camp, $8 per night ($3 increase) 

• Cheoah Point, $15-$20/night ($5 increase) 

• Cable Cove, $10/night ($5 increase) 

• Curtis Creek $10/night ($5 increase) 

• Horse Cove, $15/night ($5 increase)

• Jackrabbit, $15/night single sites ($5 increase); $30/night double sites ($10 increase)

• Mortimer, $20/night single sites ($10 increase); $40/night double sites ($20 increase to be phased in over two years)

• Rocky Bluff, $15/night ($7 increase) 

• Tsali, $20/night ($5 increase)

• Wine Springs Horse Camp, $10/night (new fee) 

• Wolf Ford Horse Camp $10/night (new fee) 

Day Use Areas

• Cheoah Point Beach, $5 vehicle fee, $30 annual pass (new fees) 

• Dry Falls, Whiteside Mountain, Whitewater Falls, $3/vehicle, $15 annual pass (new fee at Dry Falls, $1 increase at Whitewide and Whitewater, new annual pass) 

• Jackrabbit Beach, $5/vehicle, $30 annual pass ($2 increase, new annual pass)

Cabins

• Cheoah Point Cabins, $40/night ($5 increase) 

• McCall Cabin, $30/night or $200/week (new fees) 

Group Campgrounds

• Appletree Group Camp, $75 to $150/night ($25 to $50 increase)

• Rattler Ford Group Camp, $75/night ($25 increase) 

Shooting Ranges

• Dirty John, Moss Knob and Panther Top, $5/person, $30 annual pass ($2 and $5 increase; pass usable at all three ranges) 

Whitewater Launches

• Nantahala River Corridor, $2/paddler per day, $10 annual pass ($1 increase, new annual pass) 

Logan Free, 828.257.4256 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..