Permit Required for Tonto Nat. Forest access??

[inkpot]

Howdy! Just got my power bill from SRP, and I found an interesting article in their newsletter. It states that now the Tonto requires a permit for boating and hiking at over 50 locations. Daily pass is $6 per vehicle and $4 per watercraft and must be purchased in advance. They are not available on location. More info at 602-885-5200, or at <www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/tp/index.shtml>. Is this the predicesor to the infamous "Copper Sticker"?? I haven't checked out the website yet, but I will when I get home from work, later. John

 

[Tools R Us]

It doesn't look like it effects our wheeling activity's, more for camping at improved campgrounds, etc. From the FAQ, http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/tp/tp_faq.shtml Who will need to purchase a pass? This is a pass for use in developed recreation sites on the Tonto National Forest.

Also from the FAQ; You will not need a pass when simply traveling through the forest or when stopping for activities incidental to through travel (stretch break, photo-opportunity, restroom use, stopping for information at ranger stations, visitor centers and other Forest Service offices, etc.). Volunteers and educational institutions, such as schools that bring children to the forest for an outing, are also exempt when issued an administrative pass.

This looks to be a list of places where it's needed?
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/Fees/valid_tonto_pass_sites.shtml

But, yes it's nice, just what we need, MORE TAXES!

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Friggin rediculous. It's Federal land.

 

[Tools R Us]

Just talked to the Mesa Ranger Station, according to them no new pay sties have been added and the same rules apply that have for years, only the method of payment has changed. They are removing the pay boxes, machines at the sites and you now buy the permits at Circle K, ranger stations, etc. and they can be purchased in advanced.

The same rules apply at the same sites. For example if you go to the coves, there is no permit need to pass through Butcher Jones. If you want to stop, park, picnic, etc. at Butcher Jones you will need a permit, but no permit is needed in the Rolls or on any other forest roads.

 

[rick_d]

well they eliminated the Golden Eagle upgrade to the Park's pass on 1.1.2007 which was the last loophole to bypass most of these fees. (mine expires in July 2007)

Introduce state legislation to override these fees. If you can proved you filed a 1040 to the federal government, you fulfilled your requirements to support these lands.

I reaaalllly want to know what I get for hiking on trails. Certainly not trail maintenance. for the fees on Mt Lemmon we get two pick up trucks and wages for ticket writers. Oh, I forgot the toilets and the trash can at windy point.

....and to those who say it's only $20. It was $5 to get into Grand Canyon in 1984, or the Golden eagle was $20, All the AZ NF's were free, and public roads like Catalina Highway were unregulated. Now it will be $20 at everyplace you want to go and none of the 'permits' transfer to one another. You want to go to 5 NF's, it's $100 etc etc.

And I'm sorry, how much did I send to the US treasury last year? This year in estimated it's been $18,000 already. And that dough is not even paying for the Iraq debt.

 

[re_guderian]

I stopped in and talked to the campground hosts at Burnt Corral on Apache Lake, and they reminded me of the new system, but also said they weren't hired to be enforcers either. It'll take a while for people to get used to the pre-pay, and I'm sure a lot of folks will show up without the permit and no method to pay on-site. At least those folks were being reasonable about it.