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Autoflyer raises questions on social media about new recreation fee in Big Cottonwood Canyon

A flyer left on the windshield of a car at a popular resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon has caused a stir on social media, raising questions about whether it’s a scam or a new fee for forest visitors.

Chris Wadsworth, who hikes the Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons almost weekly, found the notice on his car after a recent hike on the Mill D trail that told him he hadn’t paid a newly implemented recreation fee.

“I hike, it’s kind of my thing,” Wadsworth said. “Coming to the mountains and not having to think or worry about everyday life.”

Wadsworth shared the flyer in a Facebook group. Many group members were unaware of the new fee, and some speculated that the flyer might be a scam.

“I saw someone posted that and thought, ‘Well, I haven’t scanned it yet.’ “I think maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t scan it,” he said.

However, according to Suzie Tenhagen, Recreation Fee Program Manager for the Wasatch Uintah Cache National Forest, the flyer is not a scam.

“We have a QR code that is not changed,” said Tenhagen. “It is now on official signs at all fee points throughout the forest. This is kind of a standardized thing. So if they’re not comfortable with that piece of paper, they can always use the signs.”

The 28-year-old recreation fee program helps offset the limited funding the U.S. Forest Service receives from Congress.

While the fee was last increased in 2008, increasing visitation and wear and tear on facilities led the Forest Service to expand the program to more areas and increase fees in recent years.

“More visits means more wear and tear on these locations,” Tenhagen said.

The updated fee structure includes a three-day pass for $10, a seven-day pass for $20 and an annual pass for $60.

Signs indicate the fee has been implemented in many locations, although Tenhagen acknowledged not everyone may be aware of the changes.

For regular visitors like Wadsworth, the fee may come as an unwelcome surprise, but it is part of the Forest Service’s efforts to keep recreation areas safe and accessible in the face of growing demand.

For more information about where fees are charged, please visit this website.

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