minnesota state parks camping

An informal survey of other campers at the park 30 miles northwest of Portland seems to confirm what park officials say: Oregonians are willing to pay for their parks.

Park officials say rates have been the same since 1996, when user fees provided about three-fourths of the money used to keep the parks open and running smoothly. But today, with inflation and other cost increases, fees only account for a bit more than half of the needed money.

TIME LAPSE VIDEO OF ROBERT OWEN AND FAMILY SETTING UP CAMP AT L.L. STUB STEWART STATE PARK

"We work hard to operate efficiently and keep our costs down," said John Potter, Oregon State Parks assistant director for operations. "State parks remain one of the most affordable, quality ways to enjoy an outdoors vacation close to home."

A day pass that costs $3 would go up to $5; a tent site would rise from $16 to $20; and an RV site, which costs $20, would run $24.

Moises and Maria Barragan of Grandview, Wash., and their two children, Moises Jr., 3, and Tania, 6, fled the Oregon Coast earlier this week when the weather turned chilly and set up at a nice shady campsite at Dairy Creek West loop at Stub Stewart.

Moises Barragan paid $22 for a full hookup site, and said he'd be willing to fork over another $4 to go camping.

"Staying in a hotel is like staying at home," he said. "I'm doing this for my kids ... to give them an outdoor experience. It's worth the cost."Chris Havel, a state parks spokesman, said most other states get tax revenue to fund their parks, but not in Oregon, where lottery revenue and a portion of RV registration fees along with camping fees pays the bills.

"Oregonians have always been willing to pay for parks," Havel said. "California and Washington were threatening to close some of their parks to make up shortfalls, but we're not doing that here."

Havel said park use was up 5 to 10 percent during May and June. The numbers for July and August aren't in yet, but most parks are already full during those months.

He said Oregon's state parks attract 2.3 million campers and 42 million day visitors each year, which ranks Oregon in the nation's top 10 state park systems.

"Visitor revenue is invested right back into the park system to provide quality camping, trails and fun nature and history programs," said Tim Wood, Oregon State Parks Director.

Wood estimates the increase would generate about $4.3 million between January 2010 and June 2011. If approved, the cost of day use permits would go up as early as Jan. 1, and camping rates as early as May 1.

After a series of public hearings around the state next month, the proposed increase will be presented to the Oregon State Parks & Recreation Commission, a seven-member panel of volunteers appointed by the governor from across the state.

Back at Stub Stewart, Patricia Millard of Portland and her son, Duncan, 13, spent a night in the campground's Mountain Dale cabin village, 15 cabins with a sweet view of the Coast Range that cost $39 a night. The cabins are spartan, but comfortable.

Millard said if increasing the fees means the parks will continue to maintain the parks, she is all for it.

"I think the rates right now are very reasonable," she said. "Paying a little bit money to keep maintenance up would be totally fair."

Stuart Tomlinson, Geoff Houghton and Doug Adair/Special to The OregonianAshland resident Jay Almarode telemark skis at Crater Lake on a crystal-clear winter day, with Wizard Island in the background.