National parks around the country continue to release proposals to increase fees in an effort to help fund their operations. Among the latest proposals is one for a $20 day pass at Rocky Mountain National Park.
“A sizable portion of Rocky Mountain National Park’s visitation is one day in length,” said Superintendent Vaughn Baker in a release. “Currently, all visitors who do not opt for an annual pass purchase a single-entry pass that is valid for seven days. As an alternative to the seven-day pass, we are proposing to add a single day pass to the park’s option of fees.”
Currently, it costs $20 to enter Rocky Mountain National Park and stay for seven days. Under the proposal now up for public comment, the park would charge $20 for a single-day pass, while the weekly pass would bump up to $30, a 50 percent increase.
Other fee proposals released this week include one from Joshua Tree National Park, where officials are proposing to increase the current $15 week-long pass to $25, and one from Yosemite National Park, which is seeking a 50 percent increase in the week-long park pass, from $20 to $30. Joshua Tree also is proposing a $5 per night increase in nightly front-country camping fees, and an $8 fee for backcountry camping, which so far has been free. Yosemite officials are considering increases in front-country camping fees, which currently range between $5 per night to $20 per night for family sites and $40 per night for group sites. The park is proposing to raise camping fees with fees ranging from $6 per night to $24 per night for family sites and $48 per night for group sites.
Some parks, such as Rocky Mountain, are being creative in seeking new revenues. Officials at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore have proposed a $5 feet for visitors who want to explore the "ice caves" that form on the Lake Superior shores in bitterly cold winters, and Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk has indicated some interest in shortening the seven-day pass to, perhaps, a three-day pass since the average visitor spends 2.8 days in his park.
The creativity is needed in a National Park System that is underfunded, according to park officials across the country.
“The idea of increasing fees on our public lands is always troubling, especially at times when we are trying to make our parks accessible to all Americans,” said Joshua Tree Superintendent David Smith. “But the fact of the matter is, we now depend on those fees to provide the basic services that people expect. Our annual appropriation is insufficient to serve the 1.5 million visitors who will enter the park this year while also protecting their parklands.”
At Rocky Mountain, where a 50 percent boost in the week-long pass to $30 is also being proposed, officials say they need the extra dollars to provide for various enhancements to visitor services and facilities.
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) is the legislation under which parks currently collect entrance and amenity fees. This law allows parks to retain 80 percent of the fees collected for use on projects that directly benefit visitors. The remaining 20 percent is distributed throughout the National Park System.
Since the beginning of FLREA and its predecessor program Fee Demo, more than $66 million has been spent in Rocky Mountain on repairs, renovations, improvements and resource restoration, according to park officials.
Along with the proposed increase in entrance fees, Rocky Mountain staff is proposing that campground fees increase from $20 a night to $26 a night in 2016.
“We are committed to keeping Rocky Mountain National Park affordable and we also want to provide visitors with the best possible experience,” said Superintendent Baker. “We feel that our proposed fee changes are still an incredible value when considering other family and recreational experiences one can enjoy. Plus, 80 percent of those funds stay right here in Rocky to benefit visitors. As we celebrate Rocky’s Centennial, these funds are critical as we move forward into the next one hundred years.”
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Comments
All these proposals to offer one day or three days or whatever passes instead of (or in addition to) seven days: has anyone considered the cost of enforcing this? My experience is that once inside a Park, no one ever asks to see proof of payment. It's assumed that you went through the entrance station and paid, otherwise how did you get there? Since very few people overstay their seven day pass, there's little or no need for rangers to go around checking for payment, and that frees them up for more productive tasks. If the entrance stations start offering various lengths of stay for various prices, that's going to have to be enforced by asking to see peoples' proof of payment all the time. Otherwise people would buy the cheapest one day pass and then stay as long as they like.
PS I know that many parks have back road entries and that it's also possible to enter very early or very late in the day when the entrance stations are closed. I think that's such a trivial number of visitors who evade the entrance fee that way that it simply doesn't pay to try and catch them. At least I've never seen anyone trying.
KB - you check their pass on the way out.
BTW - when I hiked Half Dome earlier this year we went into the park about 6AM and the gate was open but noone was manning the booth. Our two carloads went in for free (though mine would have anyway with my pass) When you consider that a single car would cover an hour's cost of having someone there, one can only wonder why those booths aren't manned earlier/later.
At the parks I'm familiar with, this would double the staffing needs in each fee booth. The exit side always says "Pass on through" and there is only one person inside.
What, you didn't seek out a ranger later in the day and pay your second car's fee? You don't make a voluntary donation whenever you use your senior pass?
The gate was empty when we left as well. An no I don't pay an additional contribution when I use my pass.
Of course, what I do is not the issue. Its what the majority do and I suspect (and observed) the majority passing by the gate.
The fee floodgates are open. Houses swept downstream. Park enthusiasts drown in rising tides of bureacratic dissonance weighted down by heavy yokes of "civic engagement" twisted to support the poor, underfunded National Park Servce bureaucrats.
It is my guess, if these fees are increased, that they will result in fewer visitors, and LESS money coming in. People do not have to visit and there are still free areas, thank goodness. It is just like here in Tennessee when our wonderful politicians jacked the tax way up on cigarettes. They had great plans for all the money it would raise. What they failed to consider it that we are bordered by 8 states with lower tax on smokes and no matter where you live you are no more than 1 1/2 hours from the border. Tax revenue plummeted.
He earlier said that he doesn't pay a voluntary donation that is not solicited. Goddess only knows his tipping policy.
"...we now depend on those fees to provide the basic services that people expect..."
Hogwash.
First, what "basic services?"
Secondly, have you ever heard of the Federal Income Tax, Federal Gas Tax, etc.......? We have to make do. You should also.
Thirdly, if you can't do it, step aside and let someone else do it.
For crying out loud!
Perhaps - or it could be fully automated.
Said the guy who gets into the parks with his $10 senior pass. Rick, is it at all possible for you to get into a conversation without personal attacks and insults?
I might ask the same. And yes, I get into discussions here all the time without ad hominem.
A 50% increase seems more than a little steep and avoidable if other parks that are now free required a modest entrance fee.
Ah, the American Entitlement Mentality.
I want it! I want it! I want it!
Pay for it? Are you crazy!!!!!!!
Ah, the great "who cares where the money comes from" mentality.
We already pay for it. The problem is the NPS mismanages the money they get.
Lee Dalton's tired old mantra. The NPS does no wrong club president. Talk about old. I guess you think taxes are irrelevant parts of a government budget. I guess you think we need to give the air force another donation every time they bomb some Afghan village or a policeman a tip when he writes a ticket. Man, have you become drunk on the NPS kool aid. Absolutely incredible. Then you attack people who dare question the holier than thou NPS.
No wonder the NPS is crooked.
It isn't the people who question the NPS.
It's the blind rage of the "NPS is always wrong" folks. Just as blind as the NPS is always right.
Life exists in the shades of grey. Not being able to see them is a sad weakness.