New Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass GORP

[Elder]

As of January 1, 2012 the New Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass will be required for all hikers, cavers, climbers, etc. using any of the Wildlife Management Areas..like Chattahoochee, Blue Ridge.
$19.00 for all yearly, a three day and group rate.
But what affect for AT hikers?

[Sierra Echo]

Where did you see this???

[Northern Lights]

19.00 a year is reasonable if it goes toward the upkeep of the trail. I'll be back to hike Blood Mountain again someday, I'd like to see it without fog. And I wouldn't mind paying a fee. We have to pay fees in Canada for all the campgrounds and trails.

[Elder]

Where did you see this???

Southeast Climbers Coalition www.seclimbers.com and local cave grotto news (Dogwood City).

[Sierra Echo]

Southeast Climbers Coalition www.seclimbers.com and local cave grotto news (Dogwood City).

That link doesn't work!

[Elder]

www.georgiawildlife.com Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass
sorry the other links failed

[4eyedbuzzard]

I may be wrong, but I think the AT in Georgia is completely within the Chattahoochee National Forest (and Federal WMA's within the NF borders) and would not be subject to GA State permits / fees. The Approach Trail, however, may go thru Dawson WMA (State owned) from what I can determine. If so, who knows how GA will treat this situation for those hiking the Approach Trail.

If I'm wrong about the whole AT in GA being within the NF, GA could become the only mandatory toll booth on the AT for thru-hikers, a distinction once owned by NY at the Bear Mountain Bridge until they got rid of the 10 cent foot toll (I'm dating myself).

[moytoy]

www.georgiawildlife.com Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass
sorry the other links failed

There are 32 sites listed in that article that will be affected. None of them appeared to me to be on the AT or the approach trail. Someone with more knowledge of Ga. than me may find something.

[moytoy]

Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Public Fishing Area (PFA), Natural Area (NA)
1. Altamaha WMA, Butler and Champney Islands and McGowan Lake Tract, McIntosh County
2. Beaverdam WMA, Shooting Range, Laurens County
3. Big Hammock WMA, Shooting Range, Tattnall County
4. Big Lazer Creek WMA, Shooting Range and PFA, Talbot County
5. Bullard Creek WMA, Shooting Range, Jeff Davis County
6. Chickasawhatchee WMA, Shooting Range, Baker County
7. Clayhole Swamp WMA, Campground and Ponds, Glynn County
8. Clybel WMA, Entire Area including Marben PFA but excluding Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, Jasper County
9. Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA, Entire Area, Walker County
10. Dawson Forest WMA, North of GA Hwy 53, Dawson County
11. Dixon Memorial WMA, Shooting Range, Ware County
12. Dodge County PFA, Entire Area, Dodge County
13. Evans County PFA, Entire Area, Evans County
14. Flat Creek PFA, Entire Area, Houston County
15. Grand Bay WMA, Entire Area, Lowndes County
16. Hannahatchee WMA, Shooting Range, Stewart County
17. Hugh M. Gillis PFA, Entire Area, Laurens County
18. J.L. Lester WMA, Entire Area, Polk County
19. Mayhaw WMA, Shooting Range, Miller County
20. McDuffie PFA, Entire Area, McDuffie County
21. McGraw Ford WMA, Entire Area, Cherokee County
22. Ocmulgee WMA, Shooting Range and PFA, Pulaski County
23. Paradise PFA, Entire Area, Berrien County
24. Rich Mountain WMA - Cartecay Tract, Entire Area, Gilmer County
25. Richmond Hill WMA, Shooting Range, Bryan County
26. Silver Lake WMA (NA), Riding Trails Access, Decatur County
27. Sprewell Bluff WMA, East of the Flint River, Upson County
28. Tuckahoe WMA, Campground, Screven County
29. Walton WMA, Shooting Ranges, Walton County
30. Wilson Shoals WMA, Shooting Range, Banks County
31. Yuchi WMA, Shooting Range, Burke County
32. Zahnd WMA (NA), Entire Area, Walker County
###

[moytoy]

I may be wrong, but I think the AT in Georgia is completely within the Chattahoochee National Forest (and Federal WMA's within the NF borders) and would not be subject to GA State permits / fees. The Approach Trail, however, may go thru Dawson WMA (State owned) from what I can determine. If so, who knows how GA will treat this situation for those hiking the Approach Trail.

Dawson Forest is near Cumming. I lived in Cumming in the early 80's and remember seeing the signs. Thats south of the approach trail.

[upstream]

The state of Georgia manages only the wildlife on these federal lands, not the camping or hiking or forest. I was told it doesn't apply to any Federally owned lands. None of the WMA's within the eastern Georgia mountains are listed (Blue Ridge, Coopers Creek, Chestatee, Dukes Creek, Chattahoochee, Swallow Creek and Lake Burton). So you don't need a pass for hiking the AT, or the approach trail, in Georgia.

That said, I don't know how they listed the Rich Mountain WMA. I thought that was on Federal Land. Oh yeah, that's only the Cartecay tract, which is south of GA52, must be state lands. The Rich Mountain Wilderness is in Fannin County, North of GA52, and I think it is federally owned.

The Amicalola tract of the Dawson Forest is all south of GA183, which probably includes Mt Oglethorpe, or at least the valley to the east of it, but not Amicalola Falls.


So, don't worry. This mainly affects small scout troops that don't have much money and hate fund raisers, so we camp in WMA's in non hunting seasons to avoid state park camping fees. Most people didn't know you could camp on WMA campgrounds for free.

[FatMan]

The AT is completely on Federal Land. The pass only applies to some state land. Not an issue for AT hikers.

With that said, I would have no problem paying $19 a year to hike anywhere in the state. Seems very reasonable to me.

[Spokes]

.....With that said, I would have no problem paying $19 a year to hike anywhere in the state. Seems very reasonable to me.

For the sake of argument, let's say all 14 states that the AT meanders through enacts a yearly $19 Outdoor Recreation Pass "fee" for thru hikers. Then what would you think of paying $266 for the privilege to hike?

[FatMan]

For the sake of argument, let's say all 14 states that the AT meanders through enacts a yearly $19 Outdoor Recreation Pass "fee" for thru hikers. Then what would you think of paying $266 for the privilege to hike?

Still seems pretty darn cheap for a four month hike. User fees are the best way to manage our recreational resources in my opinion. All those hunting and fishing are already paying their share. Why should hikers, etal not have to help cover the costs. That is, as long as the fees are used directly for the resources charged for. If the fees are thrown into the state general funds then I would strongly object to the fees being charged. In this case here in GA the fees will stay with the DNR. And based upon the cuts to the GA DNR over the past three years they definitely need the income.

[Spokes]

Still seems pretty darn cheap for a four month hike. ......

The $5.00 a month Bank of America debit card fees seemed like a good cheap idea to the bank executives at the time too.....You know to help manage costs.

[FatMan]

The $5.00 a month Bank of America debit card fees seemed like a good cheap idea to the bank executives at the time too.....You know to help manage costs.

Pretty much apples and oranges. The marketplace has pretty much put an end to the debit card fees. But convenience is not always free.

You are obviously entitled to disagree with user fees, but I think they are the best way to manage our recreational resources. Otherwise, with the way fund are being cut I see our recreational resources disappearing.