The National Park Service is raising entrance fees at more than a hundred of its parks starting as soon as April 15 this year — but not by as much as previously proposed. The increases come after the NPS received more than 100,000 public comments, many critical, on potential fee increases.
Here’s what the increases look like for parks in Colorado:
Rocky Mountain National Park
- Per vehicle Day Pass will increase from $20 to $25 on June 1, 2018
- Per vehicle Seven-Day Pass passes will increase from $30 to $35 on June 1, 2018
- Per person (on foot) passes will increase from $15 to $20 on June 1, 2018
- Per motorcycle passes will increase from $25 to $30 on June 1, 2018
Mesa Verde National Park
- Per vehicle passes will increase from $20 to $25 on January 1, 2019
- Per person (on foot) passes will increase from$10 to $12 on January 1, 2019
- Per motorcycle passes will increase from $15 to $20 on January 1, 2019
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Per vehicle passes will increase from $20 to $25 on April 15, 2018
- Per person (on foot) passes will increase from$10 to $12 on April 15, 2018
- Per motorcycle passes will increase from $15 to $25 on January 1, 2020
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
- Per vehicle passes will increase from $20 to $25 on January 1, 2019
- Per person (on foot) passes will increase from$10 to $15 on January 1, 2019
- Per motorcycle passes will not increase.
NPS posted a breakdown of the fee increases across the country on its website.
The park service said on Thursday the increases will be implemented year-round, not just during peak periods, and are meant to chip away at the NPS’ $11.6 billion maintenance backlog.
Jeremy Barnum, a NPS spokesman, said the bump will raise an estimated $63 million dollars annually.
“It goes towards improving park infrastructure like roads, bridges, trails, campgrounds,” he said.
Last fall the service suggested raising entrance fees by significantly higher amounts during peak seasons, drawing significant blowback during a public comment period. Commenters from Colorado called the proposal “hugely stupid” and “horrendous.”
In a statement, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke thanked the thousands of commenters. He said by “making their voices heard,” they guided the department to decide for more modest increases.
“Your input has helped us develop a balanced plan that focuses on modest increases at the 117 fee-charging parks as opposed to larger increases proposed for 17 highly-visited national parks,” he said. “The $11.6 billion maintenance backlog isn’t going to be solved overnight and will require a multi-tiered approach as we work to provide badly needed revenue to repair infrastructure.”
The park service said the price of the annual America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass and Lifetime Senior Pass will remain at $80.
The new fees will remain in effect until 2020.
