| Page 1111 | National Parks Traveler

We need to clarify a few points, Megaera. (1) Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not the most heavily-visited of the 394 units in the National Park System. Although Great Smoky attracted a hefty 9.4 million visitors last year, that tally was eclipsed by both Blue Ridge Parkway (14.5 million) and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (14.2 million).

May 3rd - 23:28pm | Megaera

I have another brilliant idea. Figure out a way to circumvent the legalities that prevent the park service from charging fees at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So far as I know, it's a) the only major national park that *doesn't* charge fees, and b) the most-visited unit in the national park system. This is incredibly unfair to the rest of the parks, and the visitors to the rest of

May 3rd - 19:59pm | Bill

I think that those who support these fees beleive they are well spent on the parks they see that have many visitors and NEED additional funding. Where most of the money goes, however, is actually to typical government wasteful administrative positions and initiatives, to bloated regional offices and external programs. When this agency sees new money, it doesn't go towards more rangers, better

May 3rd - 19:30pm | Rangertoo

Don't forget, only about 1/3 of the parks charge an entrance fee. This is the biggest problem with fees. The money goes to the parks that collect the fees - which is not necessarily the same parks that need the money. Some parks cannot charge fees because it is not practical or they are prohibited from doing so. Those parks are left to fend for themselves in the era of diminishing budgets.

May 3rd - 16:39pm | Bob

I give a lot of talks on the national parks to senior-heavy groups. I always ask them how they feel about fees. They unanimously would like to pay higher fees. Most of the seniors also like the idea of "young people" (variously defined) cheaper or free access, for the same reasons many people mentioned above.

May 3rd - 15:27pm | Anonymous

You've got to be kidding me. Use the fees for the cost of collecting fees? So the purpose of collecting fees is to provide employment for fee collectors. Of course we could eliminate fee collectors and charge nothing under the same partial train of thought.

May 3rd - 13:19pm | Rick Smith

Here's an idea to consider: I am not in favor of eliminating all entrance fees, but I think the fees should be limited to cover the cost of their collection. The entrance stations at many parks are some of the Service's most valuable law enforcement and visitor contact resources. The entrance station ranger gets to see and talk to everyone who enters the park. They are too valuable to give

May 3rd - 13:06pm | y_p_w

If all you want is to visit a few sites, then you can get passes for a specific unit( (or combination thereof). I know Muir Woods NM has a $20 annual pass, and it's good for everyone travelling in the same vehicle. Without some sort of pass, it's $5 per person. Five people in a car and it's more than covered in one visit.

May 3rd - 11:28am | rdm24

Honestly, I think that the $10 fee is so ridiculous we might as well let seniors in for free. As a southern Californian, the pass is a bit more expensive than getting the $35 National Forest Adventure Pass, and going to Joshua Tree several times a year (at $15 per day).

May 3rd - 11:04am | Dave Crowl

I enjoy buying the annual Pass and I usually plan to do my next vacation in 11 months and that way I can get 2 years worth out of my pass. I say raise my Taxes and lower fees but unfortunately this is up to congress. Even if they raise taxes, they do not choose to spend the money the way we might like.

May 3rd - 10:23am | [email protected]

Thoughtful article. I have always supported reasonable entrance and camping fees to our parks. By reasonable I mean 15-20 dollars. I agree us seniors get a heck of deal, we could pay more as suggested by your analysis. We should lower fees for the annual pass, no question about it.

May 3rd - 10:11am | Lonesome Traveler

I wrote a comment on this subject on 3-9-11, noting that Congress's need to provide money for bankers and bailouts leaves the NPS chronically underfunded. Interestingly, this was followed on 3-28 by an article about Congress slashing the NPS budget. Obviously, since the NPS can't make campaign contributions this is not a situation that will change any time soon.

May 3rd - 10:04am | richp39

While I don't wholly disagree with your point, I'm not sure you've fully accounted for the effect of raising the price of the senior pass. If lowering the price of the regular pass will increase the number sold (and it should), then raising the price of the senior pass AND making it expire in a year will reduce the the number sold in any given year.

May 3rd - 09:18am | S C R

Great article. I actually don't mind the fees, but I agree with you on making them more equitable.

May 3rd - 08:46am | debra

Definitely. Last autumn I went on a roadtrip that included several NPS units over the course of several weeks. It was cheaper to buy individual passes everywhere I went.

May 3rd - 07:27am | Lee Dalton

Lone Hiker -- so it's the Peyote? Dang. And all this time I thought it was my eyes. Just to the right of the Captcha box are three little emblems. If you click the top one, it will bring up another set of letters. Click it enough times and you'll be bound to finally find one you can read. (I had to click only twice this time . . . )

May 3rd - 06:32am | Lone Hiker

Shall I lead off?

May 3rd - 06:03am | Davey J

I agree. When the pass was $50 I would buy it annually whether I used it enough to offset the cost or not (often it did not). Now I never purchase it becaus there is not an instance that I would even come close to attaining that goal and I vacation each year in a NPS site. I would purchase it again regularly if the fee were decreased.

National Parks Road Trip 2011: Into the Lone Star State

May 4th - 09:02am | Ron and Lynda

We have decided to keep up with your trip as a reader this year.We missed a lot of your last trip and vow to "ride along" with you this time. Thanks for such practical tips; they will be particularly helpful when you get a bit closer to our area in the Northwest.

National Park Mystery Spot 24: A Movie Critter Provides a Clue

May 4th - 08:53am | Bob Janiskee

Steve K has figured it out too.

May 4th - 08:47am | Bob Janiskee

Ed123 has also figured it out. That makes three.

May 4th - 08:13am | Bob Janiskee

Anon 9:09 a.m. has also nailed it. That makes two so far.

May 4th - 06:17am | Bob Janiskee

Kudos to Davey J, who nailed it at 7:08 a.m. We'll continue to embargo the answer so other readers can take a crack at it.

May 4th - 05:46am | Bob Janiskee

Sorry, Chip; not Shark Valley.

May 4th - 05:12am | Chip

Is it the Everglades Shark Valley?

To Build, Or Not To Build, A New Bridge Over St. Croix National Scenic Riverway

May 4th - 07:06am | Anonymous

At this late hour, the day of the congressional hearing about this bridge, I suggest they consider building a tunnel instead of a bridge. If they can go under the English Channel, why not under the St. Croix?

The Case of the Indian Trader: Billy Malone And the National Park Service Investigation At Hubbell Trading Post

May 3rd - 22:46pm | Good Read

I recently read this book and it is a MUST READ for any NPS employee, especially law enforcement personnel. It is well written and sourced. Mr.

May 3rd - 17:50pm | Reality Check

Good advice, anonymous! Have some "REAL" world experience, get humbled and bring it back to the Service and you will be of real value. Of course you may be without a job if you aren't smart about it but you will bring something good to the conversation :). Can't do it if you are looking for easy, lol!

May 3rd - 15:35pm | Anonymous

Just as Senator Palpatine embraced the young Anakin Skywalker. Walk away from the Dark Side. It's a Trap!!!

Reglueing Prehistoric Pots at the National Park Service's Western Archaeological and Conservation Center

May 3rd - 21:01pm | Anonymous

Wow. A vital part of the NPS and most of us may be completely unaware of its existence.

Array Of 17 Stations Will Help National Park Service Track Climate Events in Alaska

May 3rd - 14:31pm | d-2

Brad makes an interesting point. Will these instruments compromise the park integrity and leave them impaired?

May 3rd - 08:53am | Brad

Don't really fancy seeing this metal technological contraptions when backpacking in a remote location expecting to only see nature at its wildest.

May 2nd - 16:50pm | Kurt Repanshek

Is "near real-time" good enough? These observations will be posted to the Western Regional Climate Center’s (WRCC) web site in near real-time (http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/NPS.html)

May 2nd - 16:44pm | Reality Check

Can the information from the sites be accessed in "real time, thus being less likely the information could be altered (This has happened before). It is such now days that agendas take precedent over "reality" in more cases than one would expect. Science has had a free ride until those interpreting data have let their personal inclinations and financial interests overcome better judgement.

May 2nd - 15:44pm | Kurt Repanshek

Good point. Should be "climate" throughout.

May 2nd - 15:37pm | Anonymous

Is it "climate" stations or "weather" stations. We've long been told not to confuse the two terms.

Reader Participation Day: Does Low Visitation Justify A National Park?

May 3rd - 10:14am | BRT Muir Woods hiker

I love hiking at Muir Woods National Monument in spite of the crowds. I support preserving low visitation parks, but their staffing and facilities budgets need to be kept within reasonable limits.

Corporate Relations And The National Parks: Good Deal?

May 3rd - 08:49am | Brad

Lady Bird Supporter, great example, and I agree with you 100%.

May 2nd - 20:17pm | y_p_w

samsdad1: What food do you prefer to hike in and out with? Share the recipes of the wild...?

May 2nd - 16:24pm | Ed123

Beggers can't be choosers NPS could plaster ad's on the side of the shuttles is some parks

May 2nd - 14:03pm | samsdad1

I fully agree and that documentary was great where I also agree that those bars are not great trail food. How about what that guys teeth look like that left the mountain scene in his granola bar... Now there is another great idea for an article... What food do you prefer to hike in and out with? Share the recipes of the wild...?

Reflecting On The "State Of The National Parks" In The Wake Of National Park Week

May 3rd - 06:39am | samsdad1

" " oops there you go... just kidding here is where it came from. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1568/is_9_30/ai_53747403/

May 2nd - 17:48pm | Anonymous

Could you provide a reference for the alleged comments of David Graber? I have to think you are paraphrasing some statement of his, due to the lack of quotation marks.

May 2nd - 17:07pm | Ryan

Behind the scenes from one perspective...

May 2nd - 13:59pm | samsdad1

Typical enviro... Ignore the facts and point out the irrelevant. Please notice I simply showing all sides what has gone on behind the scenes that no one on this site wants to show.

By the Numbers: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

May 2nd - 18:18pm | Richard Smith

Some photovoltaics are no more green than their predecessors, as the water pumps used to be hand operated. I liked the older ways better, nostalgia I guess.

Road Trip 2011: The National Park Lodges

May 2nd - 13:26pm | Craig Kenkel

There's another hotel in a national park in San Francisco--the wonderful Argonaut at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Kimpton Hotel Group rehabilitated the historic California Cannery warehouse seven years ago and still operates this boutique, four-star hotel today. The building also houses the park visitor center and the NPS Pacific West Information Center, and is ideally sit

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