The Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park allows hikers to view 10 waterfalls, including South Falls, on a 7-mile loop. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is implementing new fees at some of its day-use parks and raising fees for some of its busiest overnight camping parks.
The state waives day-use parking fees at more than 225 of its state parks, with only 25 parks charging the $10 fee for in-state visitors and $12 for people visiting from out of state. But on Oct. 1, the department will begin requiring the parking fee at an additional 21 of its day-use parks, including:
- Beverly Beach State Park
- Bullards Beach State Park
- Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint
- Crown Point State Scenic Corridor
- Dexter State Recreation Site
- Face Rock State Park
- Farewell Bend State Recreation Area
- Fort Stevens State Park
- Harris Beach State Recreation Site
- Hat Rock State Park
- LaPine State Park
- Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site
- Lowell State Recreation Site
- Oswald West State Park
- Prineville Reservoir State Park
- South Beach State Park
- Starvation Creek State Park
- Sunset Bay State Park
- Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site
- Tryon Creek State Natural Area
- Valley of the Rogue State Recreation Area
The fees won’t apply to visitors who walk, bike, use public transportation or have a valid 12- to 24-month parking permit from Oregon State Parks.
These parks are some of the busiest parks in the system, according to a news release from the department. For example, Harris Beach State Park experienced an estimated 2 million day-use visits in 2024.
The changes are meant to supplement a 14% budget shortfall because of increasing costs, record visitation and a reduction in lottery funds for operations. The fee adjustments, along with internal efforts to reduce costs, will help maintain current service levels and ensure the system remains accessible in the future, the department said in the release.
The park system raised day-use fees from $5 to $10 at the start of 2025, its first increase in 15 years.
Lottery funds cover a little less than half of Oregon State Parks’ budget, followed by 15% from recreational vehicle license plate fees and 35% from park fees from visitors.
“State parks are some of the most beloved spaces in Oregon, but we have struggled as a state to sustainably fund them,” Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Director Lisa Sumption said in the news release. “We’re working to reimagine the future of Oregon State Parks as a financially resilient system that will serve generations to come.”
The department is also increasing overnight rates at 29 of its busiest parks starting May 2025 to $29 a night for tents and $52 for full RV hook-ups. The rate change will apply from May 1 to Sept. 30 and apply year-round on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The parks include:
- Alfred A. Loeb State Park
- Ainsworth State Park
- Beachside State Recreation Site
- Beverly Beach State Park
- Bullards Beach State Park
- Cape Blanco State Park
- Cape Lookout State Park
- Carl. G. Washburne Memorial State Park
- Champoeg State Heritage Area
- Cove Palisades State Park
- Deschutes River State Recreation Area
- Detroit Lake State Recreation Area
- Devils Lake State Recreation Area
- Fort Stevens State Park
- Harris Beach State Park
- Humbug Mountain State Park
- Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
- L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park
- LaPine State Park
- Milo McIver State Park
- Nehalem Bay State Park
- Silver Falls State Park
- South Beach State Park
- Sunset Bay State Park
- Tumalo State Park
- Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
- Valley of the Rogue State Park
- Wallowa Lake State Park
- William M. Tugman State Park
Oregon State Parks will also increase all its cabin and yurt prices to a range between $72 to $129 a night, boat moorage fees will increase from $15 to $20 and overnight parking and overflow camping and primitive camping fees will increase from $10 to at least $15 a night.
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