NATIONAL TRAILS DAY this Saturday!

Saturday, June 6, is National Trails Day, and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy many of the National Forests for free.

The Forest Service is waiving fees at National Forest recreation day-use fee sites, which normally require a $5 fee per vehicle or recreation pass, such as the Northwest Forest Pass, Interagency Annual Pass, Interagency Senior Pass, Interagency Access Pass, Golden Age, or Golden Access Passport.

June 6 marks the 17th annual National Trails Day. People can join the celebration by enjoying a hike at a favorite trail or by participating in a planned volunteer activity such as a trail work project or dedication. The United States has about 200,000 miles of community, state, and federal trails, according to the American Hiking Society’s website. The website lists more than a thousand National Trails Day events planned across the country. For more information or to find an event near you, visit www.americanhiking.org/NTD.aspx

Revenue from recreation fees are used to maintain the facilities and services associated with trails and other outdoor recreation sites. In 2008, recreation fee sites, including campgrounds and cabin rentals, generated approximately $8 million in the Pacific Northwest for the Forest Service in Washington and Oregon. Many of these dollars funded trail maintenance and other recreation projects completed by youth crews or were combined with money from grants or partnerships to fund larger projects. To see how these funds were used, visit: www.fs.fed.us/r6/passespermits/accomplishments