NEWS RELEASE

Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands

2113 Osuna Road NE

Albuquerque, NM 87113

(505) 346-3900

www.fs.usda.gov/cibola

www.facebook.com/cibolanf

twitter.com/cibola_nf

Cibola National Forest adjusts Recreational Fees
at Select Facilities

Albuquerque, NM – April 29, 2024. Starting in May of 2024, the Cibola National Forest and Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands will begin implementing a new fee structure at several developed sites on the Forest. Increasing costs of maintenance and operations are driving the need for the USDA Forest Service to increase fees for use at some developed recreation sites. The new fee structure will be phased in from May 13, through September 8, 2024.

In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which allows the Forest Service to retain 95% of revenue collected at recreation sites and use those funds locally to operate, maintain, and improve these sites. Revenue is reinvested into forest recreation sites in the form of trash collection, septic and vault toilet pumping, painting, cleaning, addressing the backlog of deferred maintenance, conducting patrols, maintaining high-use trails, campsites, and more.

The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands (NF & NGs) conducted public outreach from 2019 through 2022 seeking comments on the fee proposal. The comments received were taken into consideration when preparing the final fee change proposal. The proposed changes were based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operations and maintenance, and market assessments. 

Forest Service Photo: Installation of a new vault toilet at Sandia Ranger Districts 9 Mile Recreation site.

The fee changes come after the Bureau of Land Management Northern and Southern New Mexico Resource Advisory Council (RAC) approved the proposed fee changes. The RAC members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable fee changes. The Southwestern Regional Forester reviewed and approved the final fee changes which will be phased in over time. Ultimately, new or increased fees will be implemented at 65 out of 174, or about 41% of developed recreational facilities on the Cibola NF& NGs.

Mount Taylor and Sandia Ranger District’s fee changes will go into effect on Monday, May 13, 2024.

Magdalena Ranger District, Mountainair Ranger District and Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands are due to go into effect by September 8th, 2024. 

Fees for recreation sites are posted to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/cibola/recreation.

Day use fees will be increasing from $3 to $5 per day, single family campsites ranging from $5-$7 will increase to $10 per night and equestrian campsites will increase from $7 to $12 per night. Some group picnic and overnight areas may have increases, but prices will vary based on amenities present as well as the site’s capacity.

Visitors are encouraged to check the status of sites on-line or contact the appropriate ranger district office ahead of time. Before heading out, always check the weather forecast, road conditions nmroads.com and know before you go.

Magdalena Ranger District Office: 575-854-2281

Mountainair Ranger District Office: 505-847-2990

Mt. Taylor Ranger District Office: 505-287-8833

Sandia Ranger District Office: 505-281-3304

Black Kettle NGs Ranger District Office: 580-497-2143

Kiowa and Rita Blanca NGs Ranger District Office: 575-374-9652

Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Supervisor’s Office: 505-346-3900