The U.S. Forest Service is asking for public input as it considers whether to raise rental rates for 184 public cabins in the Chugach and Tongass national forests.
According to the Forest Service proposal, the rate increases would be implemented in stages across three years. For some of the most popular Juneau-area cabins, the final rates are expected to be more than double current rates.
At Dan Moller, Peterson Lake and Eagle Glacier cabins, for example, rates would rise from $35 per night to $75. Other cabins, such as Taku Glacier, would see lower increases. That daily rate would rise from $35 to $45 per night.
Many less-visited cabins would see no increase or even a decrease. No cabin in the Petersburg Ranger District will see a rate change, except for the Beecher Pass cabin, which will become $5 cheaper per night.
According to the Forest Service, the higher fees are needed to keep the cabins maintained and are in line with similar increases implemented by the Alaska State Parks system at its cabins.
The deadline to offer comments is Nov. 10.
For more details on the proposal or to offer comments, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r10.recreation/?cid=fseprd476640.
At West Turner Lake Cabin, the U.S. Forest Service is proposing a $10 per night increase, bringing the total for one night’s stay to $45, up from $35.
