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Fee Increases Coming To More National Parks

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Entrance to Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming is increasing to $15/NPS, S. Carter

You can add Isle Royale National Park, Saguaro National Park, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and Devils Tower National Monument to the units of the National Park System that will have higher entrance fees in the coming months.

At Isle Royale in Michigan, the new rates take effect January 1 for visitors planning a trip any time after the park opens on April 16. The new entrance fee will consist of:

  • A $7 per person daily entrance fee. It is charged to enter or remain within the park per calendar day.
  • The Isle Royale Season Pass (valid April 16, 2017, through October 31, 2017) will cost $60 and include up to 3 adults traveling with the pass holder as is consistent with other Federal Recreation Passes.
  • All Federal Recreation Passes (Annual, Senior, Access, Military) will be honored. Entrance fees will be waived for the pass holder and up to 3 adults traveling with the pass holder.
  • The $150 season boat rider pass will be discontinued. Boaters may purchase the $60 Isle Royale Season Pass instead.
  • Children ages 15 and under will be exempt from paying entrance fees.

Park fees have not increased since 1997, while the costs of managing the park and providing visitor facilities and services has increased significantly, according to Park Service staff. All fees collected at Isle Royale remain in the park and are primarily used for trail and dock maintenance projects. Daily entrance fees may be paid ahead of your trip online at pay.gov (search Isle Royale National Park).

The Isle Royale Season Pass may be purchased ahead of your trip from the Houghton Visitor Center. All Federal Recreation passes may be purchased in person upon arrival to the Houghton, Rock Harbor, or Windigo visitor centers; when purchased from this park, all fees support Isle Royale National Park.

At Saguaro National Park in Arizona, the seven-day private vehicle entrance fee will increase from $10 to $15 beginning January 3. This fee increase will bring Saguaro into alignment with similar-sized parks in the National Park Service, the park said.

"This fee increase will help us to continue addressing our deferred maintenance needs," said Leah McGinnis, acting superintendent, "because 100 percent of the fees collected stay in Saguaro National Park."

The last time the seven-day vehicle entrance fee increased at Saguaro National Park was in 2005.

The fee increase applies only to private vehicles. Annual passes, commercial permits, wilderness camping permits, and walk-in and bicycle permit fees are not changing; motorcycle permits will remain at $10. Visitors who recreate in the park more than a couple times a year may find that the $35 Saguaro Annual Pass is an economical alternative.

Juniper Campground, Theodore Roosevelt National Park/Kurt Repanshek

While entrance fees are increasing at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, camping fees are not/Juniper Campground, Kurt Repanshek

At Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, the per-vehicle fee for a seven-day pass will go up $5, to $25. The motorcycle fee also goes up $5, to $20, while visitors entering on a bike will pay $12, a $2 increase from current rates. 

Camping fees at Theodore Roosevelt are not increasing from current pricing. 

Also increasing entrance fees on January 3 is Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. The cost of a seven-day vehicle pass will go up by $5, to $15. A motorcyclist will be charged $10, while cyclists in will be charged $5. The monument's annual pass will cost $30, and campground fees will be $20 per night.

Entrance fees have supported a wide range of projects at Devils Tower, including trail maintenance, replacing flooring in historic structures, replacing campground fire grates and water hydrants, addressing traffic congestion and parking issues, and the monitoring/suppression of mountain pine beetle.

Comments

Sounds fair.....now lets raise the fees for businesses extracting resourses from Federal lands (oil, gas, timber, minerals, grazing, water, etc.) to realistic market price levels.

 


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