35 replies to this topic

[eVader]

it is a "parking fee", on foot or bicycle, entrance into Folsom Lake Rec areas is free.

As for $16-$18 to launch your boat being a total ripoff, go check out the cost of storing your boat at a marina. $18 seems pretty reasonable to me.

As for those that want hourly fees, be an entrepreneur, find some land near the entrance, buy it, build a parking lot with parking meters, staff it so as to write tickets to those that stay past their alotted meter time and see how much you have to set the parking fees to make a profit.

That is relatively cheap and besides if you plan to use a boat you will likely use it more than a half dozen times which is where a annual pass works.

For comparison, in\out ramp fees at Tahoe Keys Marina in South Lake Tahoe are $35, Cave Rock, NV on South Shore is $12 but all ramps require a mussel inspection that ranges from $10-60 with most boats costing $30. Folsom and the Sac river are cheap especially with a pass.

[bordercolliefan]

You could do a half-day pass. Green means you'll be out by 12 noon, Red means you'll be out by 5:00.

But what I was actually thinking was, revenue may have stayed the same with just keeping the fee around $4-5. I would be more likely to just "drop by" with the kids or dog at that price. I suspect others would, as well.

BTW, where is Folsom Point? I don't think I've heard of that.

[ducky]

You could do a half-day pass. Green means you'll be out by 12 noon, Red means you'll be out by 5:00.

But what I was actually thinking was, revenue may have stayed the same with just keeping the fee around $4-5. I would be more likely to just "drop by" with the kids or dog at that price. I suspect others would, as well.

BTW, where is Folsom Point? I don't think I've heard of that.

Folsom Point is what used to be called Dyke 8. It's the entrance across from Briggs Ranch.

[Inwit]

Folsom Point is what used to be called Dyke 8. It's the entrance across from Briggs Ranch.

Here's a map of the lake showing Folsom Point

[AMETHYST PRODUCTIVITY]

Increase set for state park day-use, camping fees
blindelof@sacbee.com
Published Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

Get ready on Monday to pay more for that favorite camping spot or visit to a state museum.

Reeling from state budget cuts, the California Department of Parks and Recreation will increase day-use parking fees by $2 to $5 and camping fees will increase $10 to $21 a night.

"In these dire economic times, we can no longer afford to keep our fees at their current levels," said State Parks Director Ruth Coleman. "The people of California understand that by charging more, we will be able to keep more parks open and preserved for these and future generations."

Despite the increases, about 100 state parks will be closed to save the state more money. The decision about which parks close is being studied, pending the formation of partnerships with entities such as cities and corporations that state parks officials hope can lend financial support.

Also being studied is how much day-use and camping fees will increase at each individual park.

Entrance fees currently range from about $8 to $10 per vehicle at state parks. Camping fees are $15 to $44 a night.

The fee increases will only generate about $200,000 this year because the busiest part of the state parks' season is winding down. Also, campers who have already made reservations won't have to pay the fee increases.

However, over the next three full years the increases are expected to bring in about $5 million. The increases are needed because the parks department budget took a $14.2 million hit to help solve California's $24 billion deficit.

Superintendents are looking at parks up and down the state to determine how much fees will be increased at individual parks. Parks that get the most visitors will probably have the highest increases, said Roy Stearns, state parks spokesman.

Parks in the Sacramento area that might see increases are Folsom Lake, the state Railroad Museum, Sutter's Fort and the old Governor's Mansion.

It is hard to know what the market will bear, Stearns said.

"Our very cautious procedure here is to not raise fees too much," he said. "We have had the experience of going up too sharply and visitorship drops. Then you don't gain revenue. The other problem is it starts to price people out of their public park system and we don't want to do that."

[bordercolliefan]

So Folsom Lake may be $10-$13 per day?

I can't imagine any circumstances in which I would pay that.

[Kerri Howell]

You can go to Lake Natoma by bike, cost = $0. I am not sure if there is a fee at Folsom Lake if you enter on foot or by bike. To the poster who lives across from Negro Bar, and wanted to drive there - really?????? Seriously, though gas prices are down, they are still over the top, greenhouse gases are killing us all, eventually any way, lack of oxygen - oh yeah, that is what we actually die of. How about we all think about finding a way to get somewhere without driving (look at it like an adventure) riding our bikes, teaching our children what it is like to actually walk somewhere (how about Snooks for an ice cream?).

[The Average Joe]

You can go to Lake Natoma by bike, cost = $0. I am not sure if there is a fee at Folsom Lake if you enter on foot or by bike. To the poster who lives across from Negro Bar, and wanted to drive there - really?????? Seriously, though gas prices are down, they are still over the top, greenhouse gases are killing us all, eventually any way, lack of oxygen - oh yeah, that is what we actually die of. How about we all think about finding a way to get somewhere without driving (look at it like an adventure) riding our bikes, teaching our children what it is like to actually walk somewhere (how about Snooks for an ice cream?).

I too live close to Negro bar...I cannot carry my kayak on my bike, so I must drive there. I would go far more often for an hour or so (which is just about right), if fees were reduced.

<wondering what the new annual pass is gonna cost...>

[EDF]

You can go to Lake Natoma by bike, cost = $0. I am not sure if there is a fee at Folsom Lake if you enter on foot or by bike. To the poster who lives across from Negro Bar, and wanted to drive there - really?????? Seriously, though gas prices are down, they are still over the top, greenhouse gases are killing us all, eventually any way, lack of oxygen - oh yeah, that is what we actually die of. How about we all think about finding a way to get somewhere without driving (look at it like an adventure) riding our bikes, teaching our children what it is like to actually walk somewhere (how about Snooks for an ice cream?).

Kerri... are you one of those global warming nuts.. with the "greenhouse" gases thang...

I thought you were to smart to buy into that stuff... dang girl...

[Kerri Howell]

Ed, Ed, Ed, Ed, Ed,

Tsk, tsk

Does being ultra-conservative mean you don't believe in science either? Are you not aware that we have some of the worst air quality in the region, due to auto exhaust from the Bay Area sitting right under the inversion layer given our elevation and location? Do you not believe that auto exhaust is a bad thing? I know you are smarter than that!

[Bill Z]

Increase set for state park day-use, camping fees
blindelof@sacbee.com
Published Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

Get ready on Monday to pay more for that favorite camping spot or visit to a state museum.

Not me, my favorite camping spot is free and will remain so. I don't use designated campgrounds, I just drive out into the National Forest and set up camp anywhere I darn well please (well not quite anywhere, I like to be next to streams). It has all of the benefits of communing with nature and none of the distractions of 100 other campers parked right next to you.

[Bill Z]

Ed, Ed, Ed, Ed, Ed,

Tsk, tsk

Does being ultra-conservative mean you don't believe in science either? Are you not aware that we have some of the worst air quality in the region, due to auto exhaust from the Bay Area sitting right under the inversion layer given our elevation and location? Do you not believe that auto exhaust is a bad thing? I know you are smarter than that!

Kerri, Kerri, Kerri, Kerri, Kerri,

Tsk, tsk

Before you said "greenhouse gases are killing us all"

and now you say "we have some of the worst air quality in the region, due to auto exhaust"

so which is it, the greenhouse gas CO2, or the pollutants, CO (carbon monoxide), Nitrous oxides, unburned hydrocarbons, that you are talking about.

I'm all for cutting down on air pollution, but I refuse to stop breathing which would reduce my CO2 footprint. Carbon dioxide is not air pollution, but it is the "greenhouse" gas at the center of the Global Warming/Climate change propoganda machine.

[4thgenFolsomite]

here is a shocker. if I'm reading the old fees correctly, an annual pass is $125 and a boat pass is $90. The annual pass does cover the use of boat facilities (like ramps, etc.). So in order for me to get my kayak into Negro Bar, it would cost $215 under the OLD fees. Am I reading that right???

[Inwit]

here is a shocker. if I'm reading the old fees correctly, an annual pass is $125 and a boat pass is $90. The annual pass does cover the use of boat facilities (like ramps, etc.). So in order for me to get my kayak into Negro Bar, it would cost $215 under the OLD fees. Am I reading that right???

Do you need the boat launch to launch your kayak, or can you just carry it from the picnic spot to the water? I know my inflatable kayak I don't pay for launch fees.

[4thgenFolsomite]

Do you need the boat launch to launch your kayak, or can you just carry it from the picnic spot to the water? I know my inflatable kayak I don't pay for launch fees.

I only know that when I used to go in and there was a person at the gate, they would charge me for boat and for car, so I am assuming that just having the boat would trigger the boat fee. My kayak is 16 feet long and although its kevlar and fairly light, it would be a bear to carry down those stairs to the picnic area.