For the first time since 2008, Rocky Mountain National Park is considering a bevy of fee increases on everything from camp sites to entrance fees.
Under the proposed changes, the weeklong entrance pass would change from $20 to $30. Park officials would introduce a day-use pass at the $20 level. The annual park pass would increase from $40 to $50. By 2017, the price for an annual pass would be $60.
Also under consideration is a change in campground fees to $26 per night from $20.
According to a press release from RMNP, the fee schedule is intended to pay for improvements to visitor services and facilities. In recent years, fees have paid for changes to the park shuttle, renovation of public restrooms at campgrounds and hiking trail signs.
Basic operations of the park are paid for by direct appropriations from Congress. According to a park press release:
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) is the legislation under which the park currently collects 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, the park has spent over $66 million in repairs, renovations, improvements and resource restoration.
The proposed changes at RMNP are part of a larger effort by the National Park Service to raise fees at 131 of its 401 public properties. In an August memo, NPS chief Jon Jarvis outlined the changes and said park superintendants don’t have to raise fees if there is not general public support.
To that end, Rocky Mountain National Park officials are seeking feedback on the proposed fee increases. Comments can be sent to ROMO_Information@nps.gov. The deadline for comments is Dec. 1, 2014.
