The U.S. Forest Service has installed a new automated fee station at Fish Creek Falls in the Routt National Forest, giving visitors an on-site option for day-use payments at the popular recreation site.

“I’m excited to announce this improvement and offer new, convenient ways for Fish Creek Falls visitors to pay the fee at Steamboat Springs’ most popular attraction,” District Ranger Michael Woodbridge said in a news release on Monday, March 27. “This is a good example of how the Forest Service strives to make visiting the Routt National Forest easy and enjoyable for everyone.”

The fee at Fish Creek Falls is $5 per vehicle per day. Credit card, cash or check payments will all be accepted at the on-site fee station. Online payments are also available at Recreation.gov.

The lower Fish Creek Falls Trail is temporarily closed from the parking lot to the bridge for safety reasons due to heavy snowpack and avalanche danger. Also, because of structural integrity concerns, the bridge will remain closed during spring runoff.

Engineers will assess the condition once spring flows abate, with the possibility of repairs later this year. The picnic site and upper overlook trail remain open to view the falls.

Locations for additional automated fee stations on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests are under consideration at several recreation sites.

The Forest Service’s recreation fee program is administered under the Federal Lands Recreation Act and helps to fund the forest’s recreation program. According to the Forest Service, the act authorizes the Forest Service to keep 95% of fees collected locally to stay at the forest level, contributing to things like trash services, toilet pumping, picnic tables, capital improvements and staffing.