COEUR d’ALENE— The Bureau of Land Management has implemented new fee schedules at several recreation sites to improve the visitor experience. 

Killarney Lake Campground, Windy Bay Boater Park, Mica Bay Boater Park and the Huckleberry Campground incorporated fee changes. 

“After more than a decade without adjustments, these updated recreation fees ensure we can maintain safe, clean and sustainable sites that keep pace with rising public use and operational costs,” a BLM spokesperson said. 

Operational costs include trash removal, vault toilet pumping, picnic site improvements, vandalism repairs and road and trail maintenance.

Some sites have undergone improvements, including site furnishings and pavement resurfacing. BLM believes the new fees will help keep the new features in good condition.   

The approved business plans outline a potential sliding scale for future fee adjustments over the next decade.    

The day-use fee is $5 at Killarney Lake, Mica Bay Boater Park and Huckleberry Campground, but it could increase to $10.

Overnight use at Mica Bay, Windy Bay and Killarney Lake Campground increased from $10 to $20.

Group-day use of the Mica Bay Boater Park Pavilion will now cost $80, but could increase to $100.   

Visitors with an America the Beautiful Pass or the Coeur d’Alene BLM Field Office Access Pass are exempt from the day-use fee but will still need to complete an on-site fee envelope. 

BLM first approved the fees in 2024 but waited until 2026 to implement them to avoid confusion and inconvenience for visitors in the middle of the 2025 season.

“Delaying implementation of day-use fees until spring 2026 allowed us to prepare thoroughly — updating signage, training staff and putting strong fee collection procedures in place to best serve our visitors,” a BLM spokesperson said. 

The fee changes were determined through a cost review of similar public and private facilities in surrounding areas. Other recreation sites have increased their fees as well.

“We’re not creating new fee sites — these locations have long had fees for overnight camping— but we are introducing day use fees to reflect the growing number of visitors who use the sites for daytime activities,” said a BLM spokesperson.

Use of the locations has increased over the past decade as Kootenai County continues to grow rapidly. 

The Coeur d’Alene BLM Field Office had 628,859 visits during the 2023 fiscal year and has averaged 710,331 visits over the past five years. 

The Coeur d’Alene Field Office has seen an increase in day-use recreation at traditional overnight sites and a general increase in use at all sites. 

For more information, visit blm.gov.