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What you need to know about the New Forest Service Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) Fee Areas in the Cottonwood Canyons

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Visitors to Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon should be aware of Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) fee areas that took effect June 1, 2026.  

These fees apply within designated areas managed by the U.S. Forest Service and help fund recreation facilities, trail maintenance, visitor services, and other improvements. Parking within an REA fee area requires a valid day-use pass or accepted recreation pass, including roadside parking inside posted boundaries. 

For the most up-to-date information on REA fee areas, including maps, passes, and status updates, visit the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/uinta-wasatch-cache/passes

What are REA fees and what are they used for?

REA fees help improve visitor experience and recreation opportunities in national forests and on other federal lands. Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), at least 80% of fees collected remain with the national forest where they are generated except for online sales of America The Beautiful Interagency passes. 

These funds support continued access and maintenance in high-use recreation areas. In the Cottonwood Canyons, REA fees support: 

  • Trail and recreation site maintenance 
  • Parking and access improvements 
  • Sanitation and site services 
  • Resource protection and restoration 
  • Visitor safety and infrastructure

Where are the REA fee areas in the Cottonwood Canyons?

REA fee areas are designated zones managed by the USDA Forest Service. These zones include parking lots, trailheads, and roadside parking within posted boundaries.

There are five REA fee areas in the Cottonwood Canyons.

Big Cottonwood Canyon

  • Mill B / S-Curves > summer only 
  • Cardiff Fork (both sides of the road) > year-round 
  • Donut Falls > summer only
  • Spruces Winter Trailhead > winter only 
  • Silver Lake Recreation Complex > year-round
A U.S. Forest Service recreation fee information sign is mounted in a large wooden frame beside a creek in a wooded canyon. The sign explains recreation fee requirements, accepted passes, and payment options for visitors. Surrounded by leafy trees and natural vegetation, the sign stands near flowing water and rocky terrain, with sunlight filtering through the forest canopy.
A U.S. Forest Service recreation fee station at Cardiff Fork stands beside a mountain trail in a forested canyon. The solar-powered payment kiosk, labeled “Buy Your Pass Here,” is positioned next to a large wooden-framed sign explaining recreation fees and accepted passes. In the background, a snow-covered mountain peak rises above dense evergreen and aspen trees under a clear blue sky, highlighting the alpine setting.
A U.S. Forest Service recreation fee information sign is displayed in a large wooden frame outside the Solitude Silver Lake Information Center. The sign outlines recreation fee requirements, accepted passes, and payment options for visitors. Behind it, the information center building features the “Solitude Silver Lake Information Center” name and bird logo, with aspens, landscaping, and a pedestrian walkway visible in the foreground.

Little Cottonwood Canyon

  • Grit Mill Trailhead > year-round 
  • White Pine Trailhead > year-round
A U.S. Forest Service recreation fee information sign is mounted in a large wooden frame within a canyon landscape. The sign provides details about recreation fees, accepted passes, and payment options for visitors. Surrounded by sagebrush, rocky terrain, and dense green trees, the sign sits below a steep granite mountainside, highlighting the natural setting of the recreation area.
Alt-text: A solar-powered U.S. Forest Service recreation fee station at White Pine stands beside a wooden information sign in a forested mountain setting. The payment kiosk, labeled “Buy Your Pass Here,” is mounted on a black post with solar panels above and accepts credit card payments for recreation fees. Next to it, a large wooden-framed sign displays information about recreation passes, accepted permits, and fee payment options. Aspen trees and green vegetation surround the site under a clear blue sky.

Do I need to pay if I park outside a parking lot or along the road?

Yes. REA fee areas are boundary-based, not limited to designated parking lots. 

If you park within a posted fee area, including roadside parking, you must have a valid pass displayed. 

Visitors are responsible for identifying the posted boundaries of the fee areas before parking.

How do I pay the REA fee?

Payment is required when parking within an REA fee area unless a valid pass is displayed.  

Passes must be clearly displayed, double-check before you leave your vehicle that your pass is easy to see. 

The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest has made a substantial investment in technology to provide a convenient way to purchase a day use pass at select sites across the forest. The Salt Lake Ranger District has the only cashless recreation fee sites in the forest, Cardiff Fork/Mill D North Trailhead being one of those sites.

👉Payment options include:

  • On-site fee kiosks at Cardiff, Donut Falls, and White Pine near trailheads and parking areas
  • 3rd party vendors
    • Brighton Store
    • Cottonwood Canyons Foundation at Silver Lake Visitor Center
    • Gear Room 
    • IME/International Mountain Equipment
    • Skimo Co
    • Solitude Mountain Resort
  • Online at www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74405 
  • In person at the Salt Lake Ranger District office ( Mon, Wed, Fri, 6914 S 3000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84121

👉Accepted passes include:

What are the REA Fee Rates?

REA fee rates in the Cottonwood Canyons and across the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache are:

  • $10 – Three-day pass
  • $20 – Seven-day pass
  • $60 – Uinta-Wasatch-Cache Annual Pass
  • $80 – America the Beautiful Pass
  • Senior, Military, Fourth Grader, and Access America the Beautiful Passes are also available at the Salt Lake Ranger District for discounted rates.  Contact the Salt Lake Ranger District for more information.

Fees are charged per vehicle, not per person, and apply within designated REA fee areas.

For additional information and maps, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/uinta-wasatch-cache/passes

👉Buy a pass: https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74405

Before you leave your vehicle

  • Confirm whether you are parked within an REA fee area.
  • Purchase and clearly display the required pass.
  • Remember that parking within posted fee area boundaries, including roadside parking, requires a valid pass.

For more information, contact the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Salt Lake Ranger District:

Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/uinta-wasatch-cache/ 

Call: (801) 733-2660

Email: sm.fs.uwc_info@usda.gov

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