The Gifford Pinchot National Forest will be implementing a “scan and pay option” at many recreation sites across the forest beginning May 16, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service.
Visitors will now be able to pay recreation day use fees through the recreation.gov app loaded on a mobile device. Scan and pay will work in areas with cellular or WiFi connectivity and offline as well, as long as the app is downloaded to the device prior to the loss of service, according to a news release from the Forest Service.
Scan and pay will be available at the following locations:
• Northwest Forest Pass day use sites and trailheads:
- Cowlitz Valley Ranger District: Woods Creek Watchable Wildlife, Blue Lake ORV Trailhead, Packwood Lake Trailhead, Berry Patch Trailhead.
- Mt Adams Ranger District: Crest Camp Trailhead, Cultus Creek Trailhead, Indian Heaven Trailhead, Falls Creek Falls Trailhead, Ice Cave Day Use, Thomas Lake Trailhead, Trapper Creek Trailhead, Whistle Punk Day Use
- Mount St. Helens Ranger District and National Monument: Trail of Two Forests, Ape Cave, Lava Canyon, Bear Meadows, Cascade Peaks, Meta Lake/Miners Car, Norway Pass, Smith Creek Picnic, Windy Ridge, Coldwater Lake Boating and Picnic area
• First-come, first served campgrounds
- Cultus Creek Campground, Forlorn Lakes Campground, Government Mineral Springs Campground, Lewis River Horse Camp, Mount Adams Horse Camp, Tillicum Campground, Trout Lake Creek Campground
• Mt. Adams Climbing Activity Pass
Visitors can also purchase the Northwest Forest Day Use Pass and the Mount Adams Climbing Activity Pass on recreation.gov ahead of their visit. Fees for first-come, first-served campgrounds can only be paid via scan and pay (or cash) on site at the time of the visit, the release stated.
Additionally, automated fee machines, or cashless collections, will be available at the Coldwater Science and Learning Center and at Coldwater Lake Picnic and Boating Day Use Site.
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest continues to implement the fee changes approved by the Recreation Advisory Committee from the spring of 2023. This year, that implementation includes the Coldwater Lake Picnic and Boating Day Use Site and Snowgrass Trailhead as new $5 per day Northwest Forest Pass day use sites. The $5 fee at Snowgrass Trailhead will go into effect once the new vault toilet and other required amenities are installed, which should occur by the end of July.
For a list of local recreation pass vendors, visit https://tinyurl.com/uth8ymc.
For more information about forest passes, visit https://tinyurl.com/yanffx7f.
