The USDA Forest Service, including the Tonto National Forest, will waive fees at most day-use recreation sites Feb. 17 in honor of Presidents Day. The fee-waiver day is the second in a series of such opportunities offered by the agency in 2020. 

Presidents Day honors our nation’s presidents, with emphasis on President Washington and President Lincoln. On observed holidays such as Presidents Day, all Tonto National Forest Ranger District offices along with the Supervisor’s Office will close. Offices will resume normal business hours the following day.

The USDA Forest Service also is waiving fees on:

•  National Get Outdoors Day: June 13

•  National Public Lands Day: Sept. 26

• Veterans Day: Nov. 11

The fee waiver program is offered in cooperation with other federal land management agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Fees generally are waived for day-use areas, such as picnic grounds and developed trailheads.

Fees charged at facilities operated by concessionaires, as well as fees for overnight camping at Forest Service-developed campgrounds, will not be waived.

For the remainder of 2020, a Tonto Pass usually is required at day-use sites and can be purchased at over 200 vendor locations or local Forest Service offices. Tonto Daily Pass vendor locations are available at the Tonto National Forest website, and can also be purchased at fee machines located across the Forest. For information regarding passes, call the Tonto National Forest at 602-225-5200 during standard business hours.

Tonto National Forest recreation sites scheduled to participate in the Feb. 17 fee-free day include:

Apache Lake - Burnt Corral Picnic Site & Boating       Roosevelt Lake - Schoolhouse Boating

Apache Lake - Lower Burnt Corral Shoreline             Roosevelt Lake - Windy Hill Boating

Apache Lake - Three Mile Wash Shoreline                 Roosevelt Lake - Bermuda Flat Shoreline

Apache Lake – Upper Burnt Corral Shoreline             Roosevelt Lake – Cholla Bay Shoreline

Bartlett Lake – Rattlesnake                                     Saguaro Lake - Saguaro Del Norte Boating

Bartlett Lake – Jojoba                                             Saguaro Lake - Butcher Jones

Bartlett Lake - Yellow Cliffs                                     Saguaro Lake - Saguaro Del Norte

Bartlett Lake - Bartlett Flat Shoreline                       Salt River - Blue Point

Bartlett Lake - SB Cove Shoreline                            Salt River - Coon Bluff

Canyon Lake – Acacia                                             Salt River – Goldfield

Canyon Lake – Boulder                                           Salt River - Granite Reef

Canyon Lake - Palo Verde                                        Salt River – Pebble Beach

Canyon Lake - Laguna Picnic Site & Boating              Salt River - Phon D. Sutton

Canyon Lake - Palo Verde Picnic Site & Boating         Salt River - Water Users

Roosevelt Lake - Cholla Boating                               Verde River - Box Bar Shoreline

Roosevelt Lake - Grapevine Boating                         Verde River – Needle Rock