This Land is Your Land

Hike, Explore Free in Forests this Weekend

To visit many popular areas in southern California's four national forests, you usually need to buy a permit, called an Adventure Pass ($5 a day, $30 a year). It’s controversial with some folks, because national forests are public lands.  They say Congress should allocate adequate funds; after all, millions of tax-payers live near southern California’s national forests. Opponents also complain that not enough of the revenue goes to forest improvement projects. Forest managers, of course, disagree, citing trail maintenance, restroom and picnic ground improvements, and other upgrades.

In any case, in honor of National Public Lands Day, the fee is waived this weekend.

For the rest of the year, you can buy passes at forest information and ranger stations, some outdoor stores, and online.