***UPDATE! On September 12, 2012 Bark filed suit in federal court as part of nationwide litigation, challenging fees at numerous recreation sites including Bagby and Big Eddy, which we believe to be illegal.*** Despite a strong showing of public opposition, the Forest Service handed over management of 28 recreation sites in Mt. Hood National Forest, including the iconic Bagby Hot Springs, to private concessionaires in February 2012. These sites represented all the remaining publicly managed campgrounds in Mt. Hood National Forest. Bagby Hot Springs was the only free hot spring in the area and is one of our regions ' gems. Since February, California Land Management, a for profit company going by the name Mt. Hood Recreation, is now collecting fees at 28 recreation sites including a new per-person soaking fee at Bagby Hot Springs, and a parking fee at Big Eddy on the Clackamas River. The Forest Service ceded management of these areas, citing budget constraints. However, turning our favorite places over to for-profit companies is not the only solution. Non-profit management, increased volunteer engagement, and lobbying Congress for additional recreation funding are all better possible solutions for maintaining safe and affordable access. Although Bark appealed the Forest Service's decision to privatized Mt. Hood's remaining concessionaire sites, the Fores Service denied our appeal in May of 2012. Bark is pursuing national litigation to hold the government accountable for keeping public lands free and accessible to the public.

• Estacada News: Forest Service faces lawsuit regarding concessionaire program
  Portland-based environmental nonprofit takes exception to private company operating sites at Mt. Hood National Forest
  More...
 
• OPB: Suit Filed Over Mt. Hood National Forest Fees
  Environmentalists filed a lawsuit Wednesday aimed at the fees being charged to use the Mount Hood National Forest.
  More...
 
• Stakeholders Sue Forest Service over Concessionaire Fees
  A nationwide policy of privatizing recreation sites on National Forests is being challenged in federal court by a diverse group of stakeholders in three western states.
  More...
 
• OPB: USFS Turns Management of Popular Hot Springs Over To Private Company
  The US Forest Service has decided to hand management of more than two dozen recreation sites on Mount Hood to private companies. That includes the popular Bagby Hot Springs.
  More...
 
• Mail Tribune: Ruling Affects Forest Use Fees
  A ruling in an Arizona case by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco may ultimately cut fees for visiting undeveloped sites on national forestland in the Pacific Northwest.
  More...
 
• National Forest visitors burn billions of calories per year -- study
  The agency can use this data to help garner support for investments and programs with public health benefits, such as developed camping, which leads to longer visits and greater energy expenditures.
  More...
 
• National forest survey gauges recreation's economic impact and who uses the forest
  People make more than 11 million recreational visits to the eight national forests within Oregon, sustain nearly 15,000 jobs and spend an estimated $440 million annually, according to a new U.S. Forest Service survey.
  More...
 
• Hazardous trees cause closure of Indian Henry Campground near Estacada
  A popular Mount Hood National Forest camping site on the Clackamas River is being closed today due to hazardous trees.
  More...
 
• Open House Tuesday For Bagby Hot Springs Plan
  The move to privatize oversight of Bagby Hot Springs and more than two dozen other sites in the Mount Hood National Forest comes before the public at an open house Tuesday.
  More...
 
• Mt. Hood National Forest sets meeting on idea of privatizing management at Bagby Hot Springs
  Open house Tuesday, January 18th from 4-7pm at Forest Service Headquarters in Sandy.
  More...
 
• At Mt. Hood's troubled, beautiful Bagby Hot Springs, the possibility of change soaks in
  "Our question is, is a company going to manage Bagby in a way that reflects the values of the people using it?"
  More...
 
• Forest Service ignores public in Bagby changes
  Without any public oversight or comment period, the Forest Service has made drastic changes to the historic hot springs
  More...
 
• Video: Privatizing Bagby Hot Springs without public input
  The Forest Service has recently begun deconstructing the scenic and historic Bagby Hot Springs and will soon privatize its management without seeking public comment.
  More...