These guys get free entry into Zion National Park, but your cost is going up a bit on July 1/Kurt Repanshek
By the time you read this, it already will be more expensive to visit Cedar Breaks National Monument this year than it was a year ago, and higher fees are coming to nearby Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks, too.
Higher fees went into effect for Cedar Breaks on Friday -- from $4 per person to $5 per person, and in 2017 the entrance fee will inch up to $6 per person. At Bryce Canyon and Zion, the per-vehicle charge will go from $25 to $30 on July 1 in both parks. That fee is good for seven days in the parks. Higher fees also are being implemented for camping and backcountry travel in Zion and Bryce Canyon. Those increases are outlined below.
The higher fees were recommended by National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis in August 2014. At the time, the director called for the 131 units of the National Park System that charge fees to be structured in four tiers, and recommended entrance fee levels for each tier.
At Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Cedar Breaks, all in southwestern Utah, entrance fees had not been raised since 2007.
'During the public comment period, very few of the comments were negative. Politicians, visitors and local community members alike seemed to understand the need for additional funding to help with deferred maintenance projects at parks, especially with the increases in visitation we have seen recently,' said Cedar Breaks Superintendent Paul Roelandt.
'By law, these funds can only be used to help cover costs that are directly related to providing visitor services,' added Bryce Canyon Superintendent Lisa Eckert. 'For example, entrance fees have supported a wide range of projects that improve the park and visitor experiences, including rehabilitating trails, developing and installing exhibits in visitor centers, improving park water systems and other infrastructure, and improving ADA accessibility.'
'This modest increase in fees will allow us to continue to improve facilities and services important to visitors,' said Zion Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh. 'After carefully considering the impact of a fee increase on visitors and community members, we came to the conclusion that this is the right course of action to help us protect, preserve and share these special places with current visitors and future generations.'
National Park entrance fees are not charged for persons under 16 years of age. Costs for passes covered under the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program will not be changed at this time. All Interagency Passes available for admission to federal fee areas will remain at the current rates: Annual ($80) ' valid for one year from month of purchase; Senior ($10) ' valid for life for U.S. citizens, 62 years and older; Access Pass ($0) ' valid for life for permanently disabled U.S. citizens; and Military Pass ($0) ' valid for one year from month of purchase for active military personnel.
Zion National Park
Entrance Fees
Current Fee
New Fee
Effective Date
Per Vehicle
$25
$30
July 1, 2015
Per Person
$12
$15
July 1, 2015
Motorcycle
$12/person
$25/motorcycle
July 1, 2015
Zion Annual Park Pass
$50
$50
No Change
Watchman Campground Tent Sites
$16
$20
January 1, 2016
Watchman Campground RV Sites w/Hookups
$18
$30
January 1, 2016
South Campground
No Hookups
$16
$20
January 1, 2016
Watchman Group Camp
$3/person
$50 for 7-15 people
$90 for 16-25 people
$130 for 26-40 people
January 1, 2016
Wilderness Permits
Current Fee
New Fee
Effective Date
Wilderness Permit 1-2 people
$10
$15
January 1, 2016
Wilderness Permit 3-7 people
$15
$20
January 1, 2016
Wilderness Permit 8-12 people
$20
$25
January 1, 2016
Bryce Canyon National Park
Entrance Fees
Current Fee
New Fee
Effective Date
Per Vehicle
$25
$30
July 1, 2015
Per Person
$12
$15
July 1, 2015
Motorcycle
$12/person
$25/motorcycle
July 1, 2015
Bryce Canyon Annual Park Pass
$30
$35
July 1, 2015
Commercial Tour Rate
$150
$150
No Change
Camping
Current Fee
New Fee
Effective Date
Sunset and North Campground RV Sites
$15
$30
July 1, 2015
Sunset and North Campground Tent Sites
$15
$20
July 1, 2015
Backcountry Camp Sites
$5 1-2 people
$10 3-6 people
$15 7+ people
$5/person
July 1, 2015
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Entrance Fees
Current Fee
New Fee
Effective Date
Per Person
$4
$5
$6
May 22, 2015
May, 2017
Cedar Breaks Annual Park Pass
$20
$25
May, 2017
Camping
Current Fee
New Fee
Effective Date
Point Supreme Campground
$14
$18
$20
May 22, 2015
May, 2017
Comments
Overcrowding in popular parks is a serious problem. Yet, there seems to be a reluctance to some form of peak season and peak weekend reservation system.
Without a reservation system what other options are there: (1) do nothing and let the UT State Highway Patrol close the park down due to traffic concerns, (2) build more roads and parking lots, (3) build more parking lots out of the park and implement a mandatory shuttle system like in Zion NP, (4) charge cars $100.00 per vehicle during peak hours? There's no easy solution, but the status quo isn't acceptable either.
After all, when there's a conflict between intensity of park use and the protection of park resources and the visitor experience, stated NPS policy is that protection of park resources and the provision of a quality visitor experience should have top priority. First time visitors who experience overcrowding, might be reluctant to return for a second chance to visit.
Personally, I'm all in favor of some form of a park reservation system for entrance by private vehicle, along with a shuttle system alternative.
Yeah, nobody goes there anymore - its too crowded.
Last year in the height of the summer I spent two week traveling and went through 8 different park units including Yosemite and Yellowstone. Not once did I get a sense of overcrowding or have difficulty parking. Are there occasions when a park might get crowded? I am sure there are but it certainly isn't a systemic issue. Peak period pricing and optional shuttle systems could be useful in certain situations but I would be reluctant to endorse a reservation system. And as to the article Lee posted - the issue was clearly identified as a bottleneck at the entrance not overall crowding within the park.
Sounds like yet another variation on Yogi's "If people don't want to come out to the ball park, nobody's gonna stop 'em."
Obviously, EC is an overcrowding denier, with reports of recent surges in park visitation and traffic congestion exceeding park's capacities being merely the outcome of the limited and local effect of traffic bottlenecks.
But is the solution really merely one of constructing and operating additional lanes for the entrance station and hiring more ranger-fee collectors? If the issue is only a short-term traffic bottleneck, why not simply stop charging fees, open the entrance station gates wide, smile big, and wave everyone through, allowing them to enter unencumbered and park their cars wherever they find roadside space? Simple isn't it? The local communities will be happy too when the crowds come back into town after their day in the park to find a place to eat and sleep.
On the other hand, isn't it prudent planning to look ahead and consider what might be feasible and effective to limit or even reduce traffic on park roads? We have reservations for backcountry use. Why not the front country too? Isn't it the responsibility of the NPS to ensure resource protection and a quality park experience?
The current surge in park traffic congestion is likely due to an increase in organized public relations efforts promoting tourism of UT parks. There's also the commensurate spike in vacation travel among baby boomer retirees. I suspect park visitation will only increase further in the future with a rising population, and the subset of that population seeking relief from the daily routine of urban and semi-urban environments. However, we might also expect future park visitation to increase markedly when the majority of Americans finally wake up to the fact that their earned vacation time woefully pales in comparison to what other developed nations offer their employees. Hike the inner canyon of the Grand Canyon and just listen to the diversity of languages being spoken.
http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865629809/Jammed-highway-lights-fire-un...
More background on the traffic jam at Arches National Park and the reluctance of local businesses to endorse a park reservation system.
That is the same article Lee posted. The one that said the issue wasn't a crowded park but rather a back up at the entry.