Annual trail permits, required to ride horses or mountain bikes on Hoosier National Forest trails during 2017, are now available and may be purchased at forest offices and some local businesses in the forest area.

The cost of annual permits remains at $35. A daily permit is $5.

There are about 172 miles of trails designated for bike use and 197 miles of trails for horse use on the forest, according to a news release from the forest service. Most of the income collected from trail permits remains on the forest and is used to maintain trails, enhance trailheads and provide visitor services.

Permits may be purchased from forest offices at Bedford or Tell City with most credit cards. People also may call and use a credit card to purchase permits and have them sent by mail.

To order a trail permit by phone, call the forest office at 866-302-4173. The forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/hoosier provides a list of businesses that sell trail permits.