What is the
Permit Program for Trail Use?
This program is authorized under the Recreation
Enhancement Act which permits federal land management agencies to continue
charging modest fees for some recreation uses. This law replaces the
Recreation Fee Demonstration Program which was a pilot program to test
various fee collection possibilities.
Trail use fees on the Hoosier N.F. have been implemented by requiring an
annual or day-use tag for horse and bicycle use on trails. Most of the income collected from the
trail tags will remain on the Hoosier N.F. and will be used to maintain trails, improve
visitor services for trail users, and enhance trailhead areas.
All horse and bicycle users on the National Forest, 17 years of age or
older, are required to have a trail permit tag. Trail tags are
available at
the Forest offices and vendors.
Where are trail tags required?
Tags are required when using a horse or bicycle on a Hoosier N.F. trail,
trailhead, or campground. Tags are
not required on public roads or on the Hardin Ridge beach access trail.
Horses and bicycles are required to stay on designated trails. Tags must be carried
on your person or displayed from your horse or bike. There are approximately
175 miles of trails designated for bike use, and 202 miles of trail for horse use on the Forest.
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Who needs a trail tag?
A tag is required for each adult rider. The tag is issued to the
individual rider and may not be loaned to another person. Pack stock and foals without a rider are not
required to have tags. Although Indiana Department of Natural Resources requires bridle tags for horseback
riding on State lands, the tags are not interchangeable. Horseback riders or bicycle
riders 16 years of age or younger are exempt from the permit requirement.
Please note the following change: Under the old Recreation Fee
Demonstration program, holders of Golden Age and Golden Access passports
were entitled to a free tag. Under the guidelines for the new law, this is
no longer the case and senior riders must buy a trail tag. The
passports are still valid for many other types of discounts such as camping.
Cost of trail tags, and where to get them?
The cost of an annual tag is $35.00 and a daily tag is $5.00/day (as of
January 1, 2008). There are no refunds for lost or stolen trail tags.
Trail tags can be purchased at either the Tell City or Bedford offices of the Hoosier
National Forest, through the mail, or from several local stores. A
list of local vendors selling trails tags is
linked here.
A mail order form is attached and can be sent in with a check or money order payable to
USDA Forest Service.
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To Order Tags:
To order trail tags by mail send in the order form below to:
Hoosier National Forest
811 Constitution Avenue
Bedford, IN 47421
(812) 275-5987
Federal Relay System for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Callers:
1-800-877-8339
***************************************************************
Trail Tag Order Form
#___ Annual Tags ($35/each _______________
#___ Day Use Tags ($5/day) _______________
Day Use Dates __________________________
Total: # Permits _______, $______________
Total Enclosed $______________
Send To:
Name: ___________________________________
Address: _________________________________
City/State/Zipcode: _________________________
Make checks payable to USDA Forest Service
For more information
For more information on the Federal Land Recreation
Enhancement Act, and for information on how this new law affects other
Federal public lands, please visit the following webpage:
http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/about-rec-fees.shtml
You may also contact us at the phone number listed above.
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