Day Use Areas Coming to Red River Gorge - Red River Gorge Kentucky - Daniel Boone National Forest

[@BackpackingWithJason]

I’ve been to Natural Arch a few times. Such a beautiful area and a must see

[@ExploringWithDRob]

Yessir, great area! Hope you have a speedy recovery from your injury man!

[@BackpackingWithJason]

@@ExploringWithDRob thank you. It’s killing me just sitting here at the house right now. Lol. Hopefully I can get a boot on my foot shortly.

[@admay316]

It'll be interesting to see how the new pay system works out. In the past, I've gotten a yearly pass to hang when I'm on an overlook in the middle of the night for some nightscape photography. This avoids a ticket even though I'm not camping. With going to day passes for day use, and reserved camp sites at night, I'm not sure where that leaves me.

[@ExploringWithDRob]

The hang tags are for day use parking/overnight parking. The new system will require both paying for the hang tag and paying for camping. So for you, since you’re not camping, you’ll just have to pay for the hang tag like you’ve always done.

[@admay316]

Ah, I wasn't aware the tag was for night parking, too. Thanks, D_Rob. Will campers have to pay for both camping and parking?

[@fernwogteveril6935]

​@@admay316 It seems that way that we will pay for both. The Smokys implemented parking fees and now we need both a parking permit and backcountry campsite permit. Backcountry camping permits went from $4 to $8 per night and i have to get a $15 parking pass. I feel like this is going to turn a lot of people away from nature and backpacking but I guess that is what they want. Either NC or TN specifically have laws against putting tolls on the roads through GSMNP but this is sort of a loop hole they are going to enjoy. They even admit it won't necessarily help with overcrowded trailheads, you aren't guaranteed a parking spot if you're backpacking. I guess this is the world we're living in inflation is hitting every aspect of our lives.

[@admay316]

@@fernwogteveril6935 Is camping only going to be allowed in reserved spots, and all other locations banned? If so, that could be a tough one to enforce.

[@fernwogteveril6935]

@@admay316 Designated sites like the smokys was part of the proposal. Not sure what they have officially decided to implement. I agree they dont even enforce people camping right on Auxier ridge, no way they will go off trail looking for someone. I'll be pretty bummed if that does get implemented, it totally goes against the spirit of D Boone.

[@Crackle1983]

Thanks for the info. Hocking hills State Park is so busy that they are adding free shuttle service from Logan, Ohio, on weekends. Hope RRG does not get that crazy busy.

[@ExploringWithDRob]

Same here, it’s already way too busy. I think the fees may help weed out some of the riffraff tho.

[@RyanSchell]

Do you know how the meeting on June 11th went? I am ok with paying a little more to help support the area, I know it needs it. I also liked the idea of locals getting a discount, that seems pretty common in areas.

[@ExploringWithDRob]

I heard there wasn’t much of a turn out. I reckon they pretty much just went over what we’ve seen posted about the new fees and then had some Q&A afterwards. They definitely need the revenue from day use areas but they need to put that money to work instead of it going in somebody’s pocket. I think it’s dumb that money from parking tickets goes to something besides Forest Service, I feel like that’s why parking ain’t enforced like it should be. If they enforced a lot of the things that’s already in place there would be no need to add new stuff.

[@RyanSchell]

@@ExploringWithDRob Are you saying the parking fines don’t go to the Forest Service? That doesnt seem right. I hope the money goes where it should as well. Not right otherwise.

[@ExploringWithDRob]

Yeah parking fines go toward some kind of fund that’s not related to Forest Service. I’ve seen it mentioned but I can’t remember right off what the fund is that it goes to. All of the new proposed fees for parking/camping will be money going to the Forest Service.

[@fernwogteveril6935]

@@ExploringWithDRob In my experience once getting a ticket for parking illegally at Auxier we mailed the check to like Washington DC or Philadelphia or something. It definitely seemed like it was going to Uncle Sam and not the NFS. Edit: in case someone is mad at me this was before they put up all of the signage clearly marking where to park and not park at Auxier Ridge trailhead

[@jonnyboom5993]

It was bad enough 20 odd years ago enforcing overnight fees. But now we have to pay 5 bucks to take a day walk on OUR LAND!?!? What a crock.

[@ExploringWithDRob]

A lot of people feel the same way you do. But, this is much needed revenue for the Forest Service, I’m surprised they hadn’t tried the day use thing years ago honestly.

[@fernwogteveril6935]

Part of the proposal was that it would go to $10 per night per site with an $8 reservation fee for backcountry camping. Is that being implemented as well?

[@RyanSchell]

I hadn’t heard much lately on the backcountry camping fees. They are still talking about creating designated areas, and would it be $8/night/person or just for that camp?

[@ExploringWithDRob]

I didn’t see anything about a reservation fee. The fees they had listed was $10/night for backcountry sites, $15/night for front country sites and $35-$55/night for large group sites.