Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

Tonto National Forest joins other federal agencies in offering fee-free days on public lands in 2015, beginning Jan. 19 in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The 2015 fee-free days honored by national forests are the following:

• Jan. 19 - Martin Luther King, Jr Day

• Feb. 16 - President's Day

• June 13 - National Get Outdoors Day

• Sept. 26 - National Public Lands Day

• Nov. 8-11- In honor of Veterans Day

Encouraging use of public lands supports the goals of America's Great Outdoors, an effort with a premise that the protection of the nation's natural heritage is a non-partisan objective shared by all Americans.

America's Great Outdoors turns to communities for local, grassroots conservation initiatives and seeks to rework inefficient policies and to make the federal government a better partner with states, tribes and local communities.

Traditionally, fees are not charged on 98 percent of national forests and grasslands, and approximately two-thirds of developed recreation sites in national forests and grasslands can be used for free. This includes opportunities such as camping and picnicking.

The fee-free program is in cooperation with other federal land management agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Day-use fees will be waived at all standard amenity fee sites operated by the forest for these listed dates. Camping and campground fees are not waived.

Dry Wash In Tonto National Forest

During all other times, the Tonto Pass is required at more than 50 recreation sites including Salt and Verde river locations, boat-launch ramps, swimming areas, day-use areas, and campgrounds.

Tonto Pass vendor locations are available at the Tonto National Forest Web site, http://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto, or call the Tonto National Forest at (602) 225-5200.

The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.

For more information, contact Carrie Templin at (602) 225-5290.